Rejetting for climate and altitude? Help or hurt?

[Ratrodcycle]

I just did a calculation on carbjet.com and it gives me a rejet of 120 and slow jet of 42 for southern California - this is with no or mild mods. Manual says 115/40. I only ask because I've been running lean, bike smells of gas and exhaust smell heavy. I just did plug change, air filter change (k&n) oil change, coolant change and got to carbs but decided I would see if all the other changes help before I tear down carbs. Now since I have k&n filter and not sure if exhaust is aftermarket should I just rejet if I tear down carbs? And will that hurt if bike doesn't need it?

[MikeB]

If you just changed plugs you have all the evidence you need to determine if your jetting should be changed. What did the old plugs look like?

[Ratrodcycle]

Originally Posted by MikeB

If you just changed plugs you have all the evidence you need to determine if your jetting should be changed. What did the old plugs look like?

Let see, the front plugs one was black with either gas or oil on it, the other front I think was black with gas on it, the backs were black no gas I think. The we're all way out of gap. I'm thinking to run plugs and see what they look like after. Also really considering that seafoam stuff in gas and oil because of the how dirty oil and plugs were. Not to Into putting stuff in my oil may just do another change instead. See how she runs for a while then do carbs.

[Aced It]

Originally Posted by Ratrodcycle

Let see, the front plugs one was black with either gas or oil on it, the other front I think was black with gas on it, the backs were black no gas I think. The we're all way out of gap. I'm thinking to run plugs and see what they look like after. Also really considering that seafoam stuff in gas and oil because of the how dirty oil and plugs were. Not to Into putting stuff in my oil may just do another change instead. See how she runs for a while then do carbs.

Why were the plugs way out of gap? Did you not set them before installing them? And remember, you'd much rather see gas on the plug than oil.

[sg29651]

Sounds like your running rich not lean to me

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[MikeB]

Definitely rich. Did you oil up the K&N filter yourself? Maybe you got too much oil into it.

[Ratrodcycle]

Your right sorry, running rich not lean. And the plugs that were way out of gap were the old ones not new ones. New are gap to spec. K&N air filter is a lightly oiled from factory filter and I don't think they say to oil it's almost like a stock replacement. The bike seems to start run well but really haven't ridden since I bought because I wanted to service. I will take out run it for awhile to see how it does, check plugs and see how they look. If running rich I will have to pull the carbs unless some knows other solutions. Thank.

[MikeB]

If you are still running rich with stock pipes, jetting AND a K&N filter (which should have a mild leaning effect) the most likely culprit left is float level.

But first check your spark to see that you have a nice, fat blue arc across the electrodes.

'Cause there are only three things that will cause a rich condition: too little air entering, too little spark (or spark at the wrong time, unlikely in your case), or too much gas.

[Ratrodcycle]

Originally Posted by MikeB

If you are still running rich with stock pipes, jetting AND a K&N filter (which should have a mild leaning effect) the most likely culprit left is float level.

But first check your spark to see that you have a nice, fat blue arc across the electrodes.

'Cause there are only three things that will cause a rich condition: too little air entering, too little spark (or spark at the wrong time, unlikely in your case), or too much gas.

Thanks, really appreciate the feedback. Only got to run it for a short minute to make sure it fired up after servicing. Will run it around for a bit see how the fuel smell is. If same will check spark, then deal with carbs and float. Thanks again.