Need some help.  Too lean or just right?  This is after about 80 miles of test cruising after rejecting the carb for about the 10th time.

I want to say “just right”, but it feels/acts a little lean at initial WOT.

This is fresh out the hole.  Untouched.  It seems to be going tan/brown/gray.  It’s definitely not wet.

#3

Thanks Mike.  You’re right about it being an overall average mixture condition reading.  And overall I’m pleased with it’s condition and overall running of the bike.

I haven’t tried the old school WOT plug reading test.  Too much hassle and there’s not really a good place to perform the test without taking the bike to a track.

I’m at a place tuning the PWK38 that has me a bit stumped.  Everything is pretty darn good, except I can’t tell if it’s a little lean or rich at initial WOT.

I did swap from stock flat panel air filter and air box to a 4” UNI foam pod filter directly connected to the carb.  Kept the #32 pilot jet, kept the e-clip in the middle groove, and I changed the main from 120 to 125 to 128.  It’s close with the 128, but it’s just not “clean” at WOT.  My diagnostic skills are failing me now.  More trial and error with the butt dyno.

Today I will be testing with the 128 main and the e-clip moved up to the 2nd groove (a notch leaner).  Kinda scary any time I move the clip up leaner.  I don’t want to fry it in the midrange where I normally do 90% of my riding.  I’m usually not a drag racer from stop light to stop light.  But when I am, I want the carb set up right to do it.  I may be moving the e-clip back down to the middle groove.  I’d rather err to the side of being a little rich.  Before this latest untested change, I got 53mpg doing mostly 60-65mph cruising with only a few WOT pulls where I didn’t like the action.  Couldn’t tell if it was stumbling, had the hiccups, bogging, or the WTHs).  Pretty good, but I want it better.  One simple solution - stop doing WOT pulls!

I should just install the dyna I have sitting on the shelf and start carb tuning for it.  But I’m kinda enjoying the quieter stock muffler and I like the look.  Plus, I haven’t found an adapter/midpipe I like to get the dyna aligned with the mounting bracket pretty and straight.  Stupid 10° angle!