OK - just spend time with my best friend opening up my carbs... k&n filter, two brothers full system with c2 ovals... found a few missing parts from the k&n installation (now fixed), but now very concerned with jetting.

Directions for jet kit were 180/185 with needle #4 position 1997-1999 models. Fuel mixture on 2.5 turns out.

From the net found new directions indicating 190/195 with needle #5 position for 1997-2005. Fuel mixture on 2.5 turns out.

What was in my bike - 180/185 on the #6 position. fuel mixture 3.25 turns out. I am at sea level and feel like I have been fat... additional hole was drilled per directions.

What are you guys running with Dyno Jet setup?
Help and thoughts PLEASE!

 

well, every superhawk is different. For instance I am running dyno jet mains 185 and 190 needle slot 5 with the washer. My buddy springbubba with his DandD pipes stock filter is running stock mains with his needles on the 4th notch and he still may be a tad rich.

Make sure the slide was drilled along with the needle holding assembly. Those two parts are supposed to be together when you drill them. It is also important that once drilled you always use the shorter springs. Good luck. This job requires patience and many times taking the carbs off. You may never think that you have found the right setting since the only way is a dyno and air fuel gauge.

 

are you running k&n air filter? the washer you mentioned, is that just retaining the stock one when you installed the jet kit - as instructed, or is that another mod? thanks for the insight!

 

can you clarify - your starting point was the full system, K/N filter and a DJ kit - now you are just looking to fine tune the kit?
If so, its easier to say how it was running - especially at full throttle high in the rpm range, at midrange and at transitions?
Personally I could never get the DJ kit 'perfect'. ran well except for smooth partial throttle (1/8) conditions which made riding the bike fast smoothly hard in twisties.

Anyway, clarify what is going on with the bike and we can help more.

 

thanks Bill - i purchased new in 1998, had the dealer install after the first breakin service: k&n, dynojet kit, and two brothers full exhaust. the changes took out a big flat spot in the mid-range... but thats vs stock.

As my friend and i went in to do the manual ccts, took the carb apart to see where i am running vs the directions with the kit (and updated info to the kits sold after 1999 recommending larger jets not included in my kit). Discovered the filter was not installed with the airbox caps - leaving air leaks, they left a crank case breather un-hooked too... had the needle on #6 - maxed out... and and extra half turn on fuel mixture...
overall i dont think it was exactly a perfect sergery.
---more like making it as fat as possible with the parts i provided them... dealer serviced for most items, less my oil changes... (apparently big mistake(s)---bang head on wall)

Riding it does seem like its fat on the bottom and mid, then pulls cleaner on top. i ride the twisties and dont spend lots of time on the rev limiter, so looking for the mid to hit harder... it still feels a tad bit lazy in there...

any thoughts or history with you experiences will be appreciated... i am considering ordering the updated recommendation for jets 190/195 - then get a new baseline with the most updated kit specs... but considering i feel like its not running lean, dont want to go further in the wrong direction just to say thats a new place to start... thanks in advance.

 

I have only used the stock filter, so can't say what changes K/N introduces except it can be a problem to sort out. that said, yours sounds like its running OK, so would make careful changes to it. I do it the standard way, you can read about getting jetting right. You can test for the main jets by how it run WFO. To do that right though you need a long open stretch of road and see how it runs full throttle with a significant load - most people say 4th gear to redline - a small uphill helps a bit. but that is going pretty fast, so you know the roads near you - if you can do it, great. You are looking for it pulling cleanly to redline - if it starts to stutter much before redline it probably could use the bigger main jets. If not, its probably OK. If they are OK, for the needles position, just take it out in 2nd gear cruise about 5K and whack the throttle open - your looking for the crispest strongest initial pull from about 4500 - 5500 range. Just the initial pull, once the slides raise up with the RPM then its all main jet anyway. The only way to tell is comparing to another setting. So from where you are (bottom clip setting), you could go up 2 settings and compare - if stronger pull, keep going till its worse. Also be sure that at steady cruising at 4-5K you aren't getting lean surging - then you've gone too far. If it isn't pulling very strongly right from a fast throttle opening at 5K then you are probalby right and its too rich.
But, very important to be sure the main jets are sized right first - the amount of fuel they let in affects all ranges, just less down lower. So if they are wrong you'll chase your tail covering it up with smaller setting changes like needle position.

you coudl also talk to dynojet tech dept, I found them pretty useful. Also search this site for full exhaust and Dynojet and Im' sure someone has your set up with K/N filter and you can use that. I have old notes but my engine has more changes and I only used stock filter.

 

awesome! thanks for the help - i cant wait to get this thing back together and ride it!!

 

if you want more details, go to www.factorypro.com website

click technical support link at top
click motorcycle tuning tech
click CV carb tuning

it will take you to a useful overview of jetting by road testing.

 

My 2 cents;

If by "fat" you mean you think it's running rich off idle through mid range, but fine at higher rpm and strong throttle, it wouldn't make sense to me to go up two sizes on the main jets.

I'd leave the mains alone, put the needles in the fifth groove from the top and adjust the pilot screws back to 2.5 which is what both Honda and DynoJet recommend.

 

thanks RK1 - yes, i mean rich off idle through mid, top is fine... moved the clip to #5 and the fuel mixture to recommended 2.5 out - just trying to get some baseline from the forum before i go blind into the spring while its still in pieces on my table... i like the seat of the pants tests above - and that will happen... just hoping for a silver bullet before i re-create the wheel(ies) over where... crazy that the dynojet kit recommendations changed over the years and i was one of the early adopters

 

thanks for the help, i will put it to good use!! i love the twisties, but i may not be valentino with getting this thing dialed in...

 

Update:
Installed 190/195 mains, 2.5 turns on mixture, needle #5.

It was 40 degrees today, hard time starting, seems to now have more combustion in the exhaust especially off throttle, mid pulls WAY better (more hit and throttle was way more responsive on one wheel in 2nd)... pairs removal completed... pulls harder on top too, but feels like it may be rich... I think I may dial back the mains one size and see what happens next... thanks for the tips!