Really enjoying my HFs and wanted to start an informational thread on em. Please feel free to add any thing you'd like.
Spark plug replacement; NGK would be BKUR6ET and champion would be; KY7YKJCR. HF manual says gap is 0.027” to 0.031
(sources; Nanjing Huade Spark Plug Co.,(NHSP) and http://manuals.harborfreight.com/man...7999/97964.pdf )
I had forgotten to check the plug gap. The engine ran fine but when Elmo and I spoke about replacement plugs, I got around to it and made a world of difference. Now idles much lower and smoother. A really surprising thing is I had beaten the poor clutch to death so it stuttered at dead stops to 4 or 5 MPH. Gaped the plug and now is 1,000% smoother on take offs. I wouldn't have thought of that in a million yrs. Always some thing to learn I guess.
Air intake;
Test ridding a prototype at the end of this winter. I noticed my Carhartts would partially cover air inlet. Eventually removed cover all together as the engine governor arm is removed and runs at 5,000+ RPM and needs more air. I hold the filter and plate in with a chicken wire cover. (Pic below) TS is laughing at me. I plan on replacing it with some thing prettier for a show bike. (This is a test bike)
Fuel;
Manual states 89 octane or above. First few hundred miles. I ran 93 then switched to 89 and noticed no difference. Ethanol is reported to be ruff on any small engine and there are gas stations that sell fuel w/out it. None near me of course but hey. ethanol free gas stations - Google Search.
The low oil censor is easily disconnected. it just unplugs at front of engine, half way up the wire. Really simple)
The engine loves a st8 exhaust pipe and has great rumbling sound. Really old school MB thump-thump. I added a 8HP lawn mower muffler from ace hardware for the neighbors. Lost about 4 or 5 MPH. Cost about 8 bucks and change. But can be greatly improved and will be some day, snork. The 2do list grows by the day.
Cooling shroud;
The small pc that guides air from left to rt on top of the cooling fins. As an experiment, I ran with it for around 800 miles. The engine stayed so cool that you could comfortably touch the manifold after shutting down for 4 or 5 mins and touch most of the pipe during an hr long ride. But the engine gets more RPM and runs better hot. I took it off and have just a tad more umph. I live in CT so folks in warmer climates might want to experiment. One bolt holds it on and in place so not a biggie.
Pics; 1, Muffler. 2 Chicken wire air filter cover. 3, new kickstand from Spookytooth. 4&5 dash board. (Unfinished. GPS is attached with velcro and stays on even bouncing over rail road tracks at 35 MPH. It was rusticoRay's idea and works great!)
Spark plug replacement; NGK would be BKUR6ET and champion would be; KY7YKJCR. HF manual says gap is 0.027” to 0.031
(sources; Nanjing Huade Spark Plug Co.,(NHSP) and http://manuals.harborfreight.com/man...7999/97964.pdf )
I had forgotten to check the plug gap. The engine ran fine but when Elmo and I spoke about replacement plugs, I got around to it and made a world of difference. Now idles much lower and smoother. A really surprising thing is I had beaten the poor clutch to death so it stuttered at dead stops to 4 or 5 MPH. Gaped the plug and now is 1,000% smoother on take offs. I wouldn't have thought of that in a million yrs. Always some thing to learn I guess.
Air intake;
Test ridding a prototype at the end of this winter. I noticed my Carhartts would partially cover air inlet. Eventually removed cover all together as the engine governor arm is removed and runs at 5,000+ RPM and needs more air. I hold the filter and plate in with a chicken wire cover. (Pic below) TS is laughing at me. I plan on replacing it with some thing prettier for a show bike. (This is a test bike)
Fuel;
Manual states 89 octane or above. First few hundred miles. I ran 93 then switched to 89 and noticed no difference. Ethanol is reported to be ruff on any small engine and there are gas stations that sell fuel w/out it. None near me of course but hey. ethanol free gas stations - Google Search.
The low oil censor is easily disconnected. it just unplugs at front of engine, half way up the wire. Really simple)
The engine loves a st8 exhaust pipe and has great rumbling sound. Really old school MB thump-thump. I added a 8HP lawn mower muffler from ace hardware for the neighbors. Lost about 4 or 5 MPH. Cost about 8 bucks and change. But can be greatly improved and will be some day, snork. The 2do list grows by the day.
Cooling shroud;
The small pc that guides air from left to rt on top of the cooling fins. As an experiment, I ran with it for around 800 miles. The engine stayed so cool that you could comfortably touch the manifold after shutting down for 4 or 5 mins and touch most of the pipe during an hr long ride. But the engine gets more RPM and runs better hot. I took it off and have just a tad more umph. I live in CT so folks in warmer climates might want to experiment. One bolt holds it on and in place so not a biggie.
Pics; 1, Muffler. 2 Chicken wire air filter cover. 3, new kickstand from Spookytooth. 4&5 dash board. (Unfinished. GPS is attached with velcro and stays on even bouncing over rail road tracks at 35 MPH. It was rusticoRay's idea and works great!)
