[CRAIF450]

Keep everyone posted on your findings ...

Hey Jim - no reply from Leardriver yet, but the bike has been starting on 1 kick! That's "1" - Consistently!

[JimDirt]

I am sure he will show up at some point , he is always on here

BUT

Glad to hear its starting good , that's a major plus !!

[mossman77]

The detriment is heat , a richer engine will run hotter than a properly jetted or lean engine (less fuel , less heat) , this is why you lean a engine in the summer and richen it in the winter

I always thought a richer engine runs cooler? I've seen countless posts where people say their header is glowing red and the answer is always "you're too lean". My understanding is that you richen the engine in the winter because the air is more dense and you lean the mixture in the summer because the air is less dense. Am I mistaken?

[JimDirt]

No your not mistaken but i am not talking about fuel/air mixture burning pistons , its just that a engine that is over rich with gas , will make the engine work harder to burn the extra fuel and will in turn run hotter temp wise , in other words , you will boil over easier , , i am not talking about melting pistons down because of a lean or rich mixture , i am talking about your engine overheating because its working harder to burn the extra fuel , in the same sense that slipping your clutch will over heat your engine , fuel will cool a engine , but only if its running efficiently and has enough air to burn it all , if its too rich you will have to give it more gas to go as fast as you would with a leaner engine , so its working harder to try to burn all the extra fuel

At least that is the way i understand it , all i can tell you is i have overheated more engines running rich than i have too lean , but i have also burned holes in pistons by running too lean , 2 different things ... (this was when i was drag racing boats, cars and bikes) **Blown Alcohol Hydro , Blow Gas Flatbottom , and Blown Gas Hydro and Super Stock cars and Pro Stock bikes back in the 70's and 80's**

[CRAIF450]

Okay men - we had a successful day at the track! Screwed in a brand new #48 pilot (the same size I took out initially). 2 turns out on the fuel screw, It ran like a champion, very fast and smooth, no hiccups.

I'm glad I've got the step seat, it probably saved my arms.

[JimDirt]

Congratz on the good day at the track !!

Although i still think you should be able to get your fuel screw to work with a 45 pilot , but if its working and idling and no bog , then i guess good deal !!

On a side note , i was in Washington (state) a few years back and at 500 ft elevation , i could not get mine to run well with a 45 , so i opted for a 48 and it ran great , i was actually at 48/180 , which was way too much , but it seemed to not like a 45 at all , it would not even start , same went for my 450X , both bikes had to have the 48 pilot and 180 mains , with the fuel screw almost 3 turns out , , ....go figure .. and never did figure out why

And keep bugging leardriver , maybe he can shed some light as to why that combo is working ....

[punkrockkiel]

wish I would have read this earlier, I had the exact same issue with my friends bike, I know valves were right cause I replaced them and cleaned the jets, but didn't have side by side jets to look at, well thanx to ethonal, it corroded the pilot jet. I replaced it with new and it fired right up second kick

[JimDirt]

Yep , the EPA has done wonders for parts companies , not so much for our bikes ....

[punkrockkiel]

even if its just a week, drain the gas outta the carb or suffer