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Need to raise the throttle everyday to get the cold engine running? Does someone have the same bike as yours and are you tired of losing to him in drag races? Suddenly, the fuel efficiency has reduced after a service? Has the mechanic has screwed up your tuning? Engine gives hiccups when you open the throttle? Or your bike is just missing that smooth acceleration whenever you want? Or your engine overheats even if you did not race too much. May be the following will help you in tuning your mean machine for optimal power delivery and best fuel economy. This guide aims at tuning the fuel/air screw to give you an optimal air-fuel mixture. An optimal mixture gets maximum performance from your machine.
carbs, fats, water etc all are required in appropriate proportions with respect to each other for good strong body. There is another screw which sets the idle speed of the machine. This screw is not related to pickup or mileage. It just sets the engine rpm at idle run. 2stroke machines have an Air screw and 4 stroke machines have a Fuel screw. I hope you note this VERY well. Air screw is located on the carb away from the engine. [ Engine - Carburettor - Air screw] Fuel screw is located on the carb but its near the engine. [Engine - Fuel screw - Carburetor]. If the make of your carb is Mikuni (Pulsar, Yamaha, Fiero) the fuel/air screw probably will be of brass (golden colour). If you fully unscrew this screw and take it on your hand, you will see a needle like tip. Idle screw is closely linked with the throttle cable. Idle screw can be turned by the hand. Screw driver is not essential for it. Finding these screws are very simple. If you still cannot find the air/fuel screw, ask your mechanic or I can help. Ok now what? Apart from the above difference I gave between Air and Fuel screw, there is one more major difference. Fuel screw turned in (clockwise) gives a lean mixture and turned out (anti-clockwise) gives a rich mixture. Air screw turned in gives a rich mixture and turned out (anti-clockwise) gives a lean mixture. Lean means more air, less fuel. Rich means more fuel, less air. This ends the basics.
At this point the engine loses all the fuel efficiency and the mixture is not optimal. Repeat the process about 2-3 times. Count the revolutions each time and get the setting which you feel is correct. OK the engine is humming perfectly, now what? Decrease the idle setting screw to about 1000rpm in the tachometer. When the engine slows down, just twist the throttle. The response should be crisp and quick. It should not give any hiccups! Try shutting off the engine and restarting. The engine MUST start in a single kick or self with out giving throttle. If this happens, the setting is ok. Now get a ride and youll notice the difference for good or bad Youll immediately notice change in the engine sound and the throttle response. Your engine can become more smooth or harsh. Another important point is, Ride and Feel. Always take a ride and get the feel of the bike in each gears, check the response and the engine sound. Youll quickly come to know once you get the feel of the bike that you want to make the mixture rich or lean. It may take a few iterations before you fix a setting as permanent. Try calculating the mileage per liter and tally it with your setting and the feeling you get.
Troubleshooting
Ahwini, I messed up my tuning because of you! Here are some symptoms and their quick solutions: Engine dies while tuning. Try the process all over again. This time set the idle screw higher/faster. Engine gives hiccups while driving, specially while in higher gears. May be the mixture is too lean. Try again. Engine heats up. The mixture is too lean or too rich. Try again. Whenever I race up the engine, the rpm increases fast but very slowly comes down to idle. The mixture is not optimal, probably towards leaner side. Try again. Too much low end torque and the engine sound is very beaty/thumpy. Youll face a low mileage surely, when you drive below 40kmphr. You have tuned on the higher/richer side. I have doubts or I have other problems. Why dont you put in a comment? I hope this helps! Take care. Any comments are invited. Ashwini Kumar