Wahoooo!!!
Just got back from my test ride and all I can say is YES! I finally got this CNS carb running GREAT! The bike idles great, has great pull through the entire throttle range and I hit a top speed record of 34.8MPH! I am sure it will go faster, I had to back off cause I was going so fast it didnt feel very safe! So the bike now goes faster than I want or need to go, and is just running really excellent! I also noticed it is running much smoother and seems quieter as well. She starts up like a dream, barely rolling, pop clutch and bike keeps rolling like nothing happened, pull in clutch and she is just purring like a kitten!
I just can't believe how good she is running now, and am glad I didn't order the NT carb this afternoon out of frustration, almost did, but definately don't need to change carbs the way this thing is running now! I did a plug chop on the way home but havent had a chance to let her cool and pull the plug to check it out.
Let me sum up what got my CNS carb roaring....
First off, check the float. With factory adjustments I had to hold the throttle to maintain an idle. Float was going too high letting in too much fuel. I figured this out when I rode with the fuel off once (by accident), after the fuel level in the carb dropped a bit she started running great. That is what first lead me to the float. After adjusting the float to lower the fuel level in the carb I had good idle and low end power, but no top end.
I fiddled with the float, idle and air screws a bit with no joy, still great low end but the only way I could get top end was to pull out the choke (enrichment circuit). This convinced me that the engine was fuel starved at the top end and I finally got the balls to drill out the main jet a bit.
I bought a machinest drill bit set on ebay for less than 5 bucks delivered (
20 Piece Micro Drill Bit Index Set- 61-80 - eBay (item 120761759302 end time Sep-08-11 17:26:04 PDT)) , covered bits from #61 to #80. I found my main jet was at #72 from the factory, have read factory should be #70, but mine wasnt. I ended up drilling her down to #69. It was really simple, didnt need a drill, did it by hand. I started out by hand, but worried I may make a sloppy hole, so I put the #69 bit in my drill press but just turned the chuck by hand. The drill press helped keep the bit streight up and down better than I could have done by hand.
After I adjusted the float and drilled the jet to #69 she idles well and had nice top end, but bogged mid throttle. I had my needle set to the middle notch, since I needed more fuel mid throttle I went two notches down to the last notch (closest to the point of the needle) I know I hear people say the top or second notch is best, but I clearly needed more fuel and you need to pull that needle further out to get more fuel, so bottom notch it is.
Once I did the needle adjustment the mid throttle range came to life and nothing else went to crap (thank god!) So I now have killer performance througout the entire throttle range, great idle, and impressive top end speed. I think my work here is done!!!
She is running so great I don't think I will tamper with it, but I am thinking if I were to drill the main jet out a size or two further I would get better top end performance and could probably move the e-clip on the needle more toward the middle position at that point.
If you're reluctant to drill out the main jet (like I was) I am giving you another real world scenario where that was exactly what need be done to get the CNS running properly. Before I did this I had either good high end or good low end, never both. Now I got it all, she screams! If you are worried about screwing up the jet I would say from the factory it's pretty screwed up, too small to run properly! If you do drill out your jet and have bad results you can either buy a CNS rebuild kit that comes with new jets, or you can solder closed your jet that is drilled too large and then drill back a smaller hole. I really don't think that is gonna happen, as long as you carefully widen the main jet to the size of a #69 drill bit you are going to be thrilled with the results. I have read two other brave souls that have drilled their jets before me, they were talking about going all the way down to #64. I am completely happy with top end speed of 35MPH and the way the bike is running now at #69 so I dont think I will push it any further. The other guys were raving about how their bike was running after they drilled out the main jet, so all you guys out there with CNS carbs that have you frustrated give this a try before you ditch it and get an NT carb. I never had an NT carb, I am kinda new to this, but I think my bike with the CNS carb adjusted like this performs at least as well as it would with an NT carb. There are a couple guys around town that have motorized bikes, I assume they have the NT carb cause they've been at this a while already, I am gonna have to flag one of them down one day and have a little race now that I got her all tuned up!
Good luck to all you CNS carb riders. Let this be a testimonial. It CAN be done! The CNS carb CAN be tuned to provide killer performance.
BTW My engine is a Grubee SkyHawk GT5 66, it has about 180 miles on it and is now running what will be my standard fuel mix of 32:1 using regular 2-stroke oil. I think some of the guys that run the fancy oil at 100:1 ratois may get their bikes to run more like mine simply because less oil in the gas makes more gas pass through the standard (under) sized jet, thus richening the mixture. (just a theory) I don't know why the CNS carb jets come so small, probably something to do with the EPA, but from my experience the main jet needs to be opened up a bit and then she comes to life...
Here is the result of the plug chop after a long ride with the new tuning...