TigerTriple.com

Tiger Time => Steamers (1993-1998 Tigers) => Topic started by: D-Fuzz on April 30, 2011, 07:20:21 AM

Title: Running rich?
Post by: D-Fuzz on April 30, 2011, 07:20:21 AM
I am trying to find out if my Tiger is running the way it should.

I've put on about 600 miles on my Tiger so far this spring.  The bike ran a bit crappy for the first tank of fuel, which I expected given the "high quality" gasoline left over from the winter.  With each tank, it has been running better and better.  At the beginning of the spring, I noticed a bit of black soot around the tailpipes, but that has since disappeared.  I do notice though that the exhaust smells rather rich.  When I go out for a ride and stop at a light, I can smell it.  I also notice a slight pop in the exhaust around 3000rpm on deceleration, but from reading on here, that is normal, so I am not concerned about that.

I have been getting around 35mpg for fuel mileage, so I'm not sure where that falls into things.  The weather for most of my rides has been pretty chilly as well (low 30s - low 40s Fahrenheit), so maybe that has an effect on things.  I am hoping someday the weather is going to improve and our little Ice Age will come to an end.
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Post by: CoolHandLuke on April 30, 2011, 10:26:24 AM
Yep, Mikunis will deliver around 35-40MPG as standard.
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Post by: Mustang on April 30, 2011, 02:35:31 PM
you need to get them mikunis off the bike and undo what the previous owner did to them .

although Mikunis suck more gas than the keihins , unless you are running around at 80 mph all the time you should be averaging approx 40-45 MPG (US gallon)
well setup miks will deliver mid 40's consistently. but at steady 80 -100 mph stuff you will only see 35-40 mpg
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Post by: dave NL on April 30, 2011, 10:53:21 PM
My tiger is doing 37,63 mpg (U.S.) that would be 16 km per liter for me. And im not easy on the throttle  :roll:

Almost forgot, 94 tiger so mikuni`s here
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Post by: D-Fuzz on May 01, 2011, 12:48:46 AM
On my last tank of fuel, I got 13km/L, running at about 120km/h (70mph).

I posted this info before, which I found while looking through the service records that came with the bike.

At the 6000 mile service, the work order says:

- #110 main jets installed
- needle raised 2 positions (would not run properly on richest position)


Mustang, you recommended #105 mains, the needle put in the middle notch and 1 1/2 turns of the pilot screw.  Is that still applicable?  Is that 1 1/2 turns out?  Should all three carbs be the same?

My understanding of carbs is pretty basic, but when the PO changed the mains to #110 it provided more fuel, but the needle had to be raised to lean things out.  Is that right?  Is there any advantage to setting the carbs up like this?
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Post by: Mustang on May 01, 2011, 02:23:31 AM
Quote from: "D-Fuzz"- #110 main jets installed
- needle raised 2 positions (would not run properly on richest position)


Mustang, you recommended #105 mains, the needle put in the middle notch and 1 1/2 turns of the pilot screw.  Is that still applicable?  Is that 1 1/2 turns out?  Should all three carbs be the same?

My understanding of carbs is pretty basic, but when the PO changed the mains to #110 it provided more fuel, but the needle had to be raised to lean things out.  Is that right?  Is there any advantage to setting the carbs up like this?
you are too rich with 110 mains in there if you are running stock air box with 1 snorkel open

your mikunis would have come stock with a 39 pilot jet
105 mains and needle in mid clip
the pilots would have been set by triumph at whatever CO2 reading they chose (1%) and then sealed

your bike should run awesome with decent mileage if you have
1 1/2 turns out on pilot screws with #40 pilots
the mains should be 105 with needle in the middle notch
it should run fine and get decent mileage
syncing the carbs helps gas mileage also
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Post by: D-Fuzz on May 01, 2011, 02:38:26 AM
The carbs were synched last fall after they were cleaned and had new o-rings put in.  I am running the standard airbox with 1 snorkel open.  When I got the bike, the cap was off the RH side of the airbox, I presume because it was likely running too rich.

So, my next question is, where is a good source to buy the parts I need for these carbs?  Is there a decent place to get them online?
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Post by: Mustang on May 01, 2011, 04:46:24 AM
scott
if you have 39 for pilot jets just open the pilot screws up to two turns and a quarter  out .

but you may have 40's in there as that s what bike bandit lists for stock

bike bandit is where you can get the mains and pilot jets online
they are pricey though
http://www.bikebandit.com/1995-triumph- ... #sch561509 (http://www.bikebandit.com/1995-triumph-tiger/o/m17543#sch561509)
the mains are $7.86 each and the pilots are $9.42 each

ouch 50 bucks + shipping for 6 little pcs. of brass with holes in them .


you need the 105 mains for twenty some odd bucks
what ever pilot jets you already have will work fine
see above for what to do if 39's
and if 40's set the screws at 1 1/2 turns out .
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Post by: D-Fuzz on May 01, 2011, 05:19:35 AM
I looked at BikeBandit.  The prices are what they are, I guess, but their shipping rates to Canada are a bit steep, mostly because they use the Brown Truck folks.  Not much I can do though.  Probably a good time to order an airbox and a couple other things to make it worth my while.
Title: Carbs for the Tiger, et al
Post by: Colonel Nikolai on May 01, 2011, 06:15:44 AM
Mustang, you need to write a book on Tiger carburation. You seem you have a deep acquaintance with the big cat and her lungs that I can't penetrate, but is clearly of great value to the community.
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Post by: nightrunner on May 01, 2011, 06:21:51 AM
Save Bike Bandit for the expensive and hard to find parts.  Jets are not factory parts; they just get marked way up if you buy them by make/model of bike.  Every bike shop will have a selection of jets in those flat boxes with all the tiny little compartments.  Just take a pilot and main in so you can match the series of jet and buy the 40 and 105.  They will be much cheaper than Bandit.
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Post by: CoolHandLuke on May 01, 2011, 08:54:43 AM
Quote from: "nightrunner"Save Bike Bandit for the expensive and hard to find parts.  Jets are not factory parts; they just get marked way up if you buy them by make/model of bike.  Every bike shop will have a selection of jets in those flat boxes with all the tiny little compartments.  Just take a pilot and main in so you can match the series of jet and buy the 40 and 105.  They will be much cheaper than Bandit.
+1

Here is a UK seller of cheap jets for Mikuni & Keihin on eBay.  Each jet is £1.99: (http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/cyril.motorcyclemailparts)

Keihin (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRASS-MAIN-JETS-KEIHIN-CARBURETTOR-RANGE-SIZES-/220769114320?_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D5%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D8837505356206188656)

Mikuni (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRASS-MAIN-JET-HEX-MIKUNI-CARBURETTOR-RANGE-SIZES-/270735446426?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item3f0917119a)
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Post by: Mustang on May 01, 2011, 02:49:33 PM
I don;t know what century you guys last bought those little brass jets in .............but the last bike shop I got a set of 105 keihin mains at cost me 9 bucks apiece (well cost the owner of the bike ). bandits prices are not that far out of line with reality ..........they are RETAIL......just sayin

metal prices have gone thru the roof lately , rifle brass for reloading is ridiculous , aluminum billet has gone up about 15% just this year alone
(hmmmmmm that reminds me of something I need to do )
manufacturers don't eat this cost consumers do !

never ever buy USED main jets ............they could have pear shaped holes from wear , someone like me :twisted: could have shoved a reamer thru them etc etc

New is the only way to go with jets then you at least know the size stamped on the jet is what you are getting .


and the other thing I have noticed lately is EFI only at the bike shops not to many left who actually have carb parts ON HAND, at least thats the scenario here in New England USA


edit**** found some cheap genuine Mikuni 105's at Rocky Mtn ATV
but you still need to pay 7 bucks shipping to US address so yo are still looking at almost 20 bucks for 3 little  pcs. of brass

http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/produ ... 04&ref=sho (http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/productDetail.do;jsessionid=08BDFACD56829B98A29878DB0A792D30?webCatId=16&webTypeId=80&navTitle=Intake/Fuel&navType=type&prodFamilyId=25091&stockId=204104&ref=sho)

and if you do a little checking you will find that a TTR125 yamaha uses round 105mains for mikuni same as tiger Mikunis
as well as a DRZ 125 Suzuki
Kawasaki KLX 125
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Post by: nightrunner on May 01, 2011, 08:11:04 PM
True I have not bought jets in a few years.  But the motorcycle manufacturers buy the jets (all third party parts) and mark them up further.  So my point is you save the mark-up by not buying them under a manufacturer's part number.  Just buy the jet directly.  The best reason to use the shop is to match the style/series you need.  

Yes metal prices have gone up but what fraction of the cost of a jet is in the brass bar stock as opposed to the machining?

But if $9 ea is really the bargain price, I may have to reconsider getting that Benelli SEI   :lol:
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Post by: D-Fuzz on May 02, 2011, 07:43:25 AM
Around these parts, if I go into a dealer and ask for a part for a 1996 Triumph Tiger, the guy on the other side of the counter looks at me like I have an extra head growing out of my shoulder.  If I were to take in a jet to use as an example, the first question asked would be, "What bike is it?"  If they can't find the bike in their catalogue, then it must not exist.  Now, being able to go in and ask for a main jet for a Suzuki or Yamaha dirtbike, I am reasonably confident I can get that part.
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Post by: D-Fuzz on May 04, 2011, 05:43:03 AM
Bugger!! :twisted:  I went for a ride today, pretty much the entire way battling a 40mph+ wind.  All but about 20 minutes was either into the wind or battling a heavy crosswind.  About 25 miles from home, I split off the pavement and took some backroads to get home.  At about the 140 miles mark, the bike all of a sudden bogged.  No matter how much throttle I gave it, I could only get about 40mph hour out of it.  Then it started to buck a little, so I turned it to reserve.  I continued on for 2-3 miles, then it died.  I looked at the inline filter I have was empty, so must be running out of gas.  I leaned the bike over onto its left side to get any remnants of fuel, but it sounded like there was still a fair bit in there.  I stood the bike back up, started it and rode home, no issues.  By the time I got home, I had about 160 miles on the tank.

When I got home, I drained the tank to see what was left, got about a gallon, so it wasn't that low.  I put everything back together with some new gas and started it up.  It seems to bog a bit around 1500rpm, then takes off.  I stalled it a couple times today, thought I was just being a ham-fisted amateur, but likely a result of that bogging.  As mentioned, I have an inline filter between the petcock and the carbs, and there is no crap plugging it, so I am not sure what the problem is.  

On a somewhat related note, I also notice that my fuel light is not working.  It worked fine when I put the bike away for the winter.  I checked the bulb, it was good.  I checked that there was power through the wires, they were good, so I assume it is the sensor in the tank.  Do I need a new one, or is there a magic fix?
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Post by: dave NL on May 04, 2011, 07:29:43 AM
Sounds like the carbs are clogged a bit, you might need to clean them. You can try a feul additive to clean the carbs, it will desolve the crap inside the carbs, but you need to use fuel with additive, i mean don`t let it inside the tank for a couple of weeks, coz then your sure you will have to take the carbs off! Had the same :roll: hahaa, all dirt came loose inside and clogged all the jets! After cleaning it runs like a charm!
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Post by: MtheTiger on May 04, 2011, 04:53:52 PM
QuoteBugger!!  I went for a ride today, pretty much the entire way battling a 40mph+ wind. All but about 20 minutes was either into the wind or battling a heavy crosswind. About 25 miles from home, I split off the pavement and took some backroads to get home. At about the 140 miles mark, the bike all of a sudden bogged. No matter how much throttle I gave it, I could only get about 40mph hour out of it. Then it started to buck a little, so I turned it to reserve. I continued on for 2-3 miles, then it died. I looked at the inline filter I have was empty, so must be running out of gas. I leaned the bike over onto its left side to get any remnants of fuel, but it sounded like there was still a fair bit in there. I stood the bike back up, started it and rode home, no issues. By the time I got home, I had about 160 miles on the tank.

When I got home, I drained the tank to see what was left, got about a gallon, so it wasn't that low. I put everything back together with some new gas and started it up. It seems to bog a bit around 1500rpm, then takes off. I stalled it a couple times today, thought I was just being a ham-fisted amateur, but likely a result of that bogging. As mentioned, I have an inline filter between the petcock and the carbs, and there is no crap plugging it, so I am not sure what the problem is.


I experience the same symptoms when switching to reserve .... cleaned and rinsed my tank cause the reserve copper mesh was clogged with white stuff coming off the tank  :shock:  Last liter of gas looked like milk !!
carbs were clean, inline filter was clean and putting her back off reserve and on mains made the symptoms disappear.
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Post by: D-Fuzz on May 04, 2011, 09:21:47 PM
Sounds about the same as what I have going on.  The next time I have the tank down near reserve, I will pull the petcock and give it a good cleaning.
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Post by: Mustang on May 04, 2011, 10:01:29 PM
Quote from: "D-Fuzz"Sounds about the same as what I have going on.  The next time I have the tank down near reserve, I will pull the petcock and give it a good cleaning.
you have an inline filter ..........I recommend pulling the nylon filter socks off the main and reserve pipes when you pull the petcock out, and when you rejet your carbs properly make sure the nylon filter in the fuel pipe at the carb end has been removed .gas will flow much better
Title: Brown Truck Folks.
Post by: fishnbiker on May 05, 2011, 08:48:26 AM
Quote from: "D-Fuzz"I looked at BikeBandit.  The prices are what they are, I guess, but their shipping rates to Canada are a bit steep, mostly because they use the Brown Truck folks.  Not much I can do though.  Probably a good time to order an airbox and a couple other things to make it worth my while.

Know anyone in the US who could take the USA only free delivery from UPS & redirect it through USPS?  This usually gets to me for just the postage. Once in a while the Canada Post add GST based on the customs declaration.

Make any trips across the 49th? I have a mailbox office just inside the border I check out everytime I visit Vancouver. So many online stores won't use the USPS that it forces us Northerners to get creative.
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Post by: D-Fuzz on May 06, 2011, 10:09:35 PM
So after draining the tank the other day, I put about 1/4 can of Seafoam in the tank with a couple gallons of gas.  I took it for a ride to get it circulating through the carbs, then let it sit for a couple days.  I started the bike up this morning, rode it over to the gas station and filled it up.  I then went for a nice ride in the country on some gravel back roads and gave it a good run.  It is running much, much better now.  The bogging is gone and I once again have the low-end power I was missing the other day.  The exhaust also didn't seem to smell quite as rich this morning, maybe because it was about 15 degrees warmer than it has typically been when I have been riding so far.  I actually got to ride without a liner in my jacket today.

I did notice a few oil drips on my garage floor.  Upon inspection, it appeared to be weeping a bit from the oil pressure switch.  I took a wrench and snugged it up a tiny bit and it appears to have stopped.  Life is bliss! :D
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Post by: Mustang on May 06, 2011, 10:33:32 PM
yep sea foam , I had to dump 1/2 can in my 98 and the rest in the 95 this spring . the ethanol f**ked everything up this winter .
the hacked 98 started and ran fine but I been using that one on and off all winter .

When the pilot circuit sits all winter with no use there are always cobwebs in the spring .

and BTW it will run better if it's rich in the cold than rich in the warm weather. :wink:
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Post by: Nick Calne on May 08, 2011, 09:26:08 PM
Is there no-one nearby you like these carb guys?

http://www.jrs.uk.com

Steamers are old bikes now, a proper restoration of the carbs might prove a good investment if you wanna keep it for a long time.
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