Carb Question

[C.W.]

I have wondered myself how ethanol in gas effects the color we observe on the plugs. After a tiring search, the only thing I came up with is light brown or grey is OK, and ethanol in gas can make the plugs look different. (maybe a little cleaner?)

The only other thought is; have you checked the air cut-off valves for dirt or malfunction? The reason I ask is because someone here with an 1100 shared about fixing their after-fire problem by servicing that part of the carb. (cleaning and new valve)

I'll try to find it. EDIT: Found the thread> Popping on Decel - Fixed!

Later, C.W.
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[cl65ame]

The plugs were checked after I got home from work. 35 Km highway 100+Km/h. As was stated I dont think they are "bad" just wanted an opinion from the group.

The bike has always had a sudden onset vibration around 4000 rpm that baffles me. It seems to relate to engine rpm and throttle position. It is tiring on the highway because I ride right where the vibration starts. Never could figure it out other than I can move it around the rpm scale by playing with the synch. Currently the carbs are within about 1/4 in of oil so about as close to perfect as you can get.
As for the popping on decel. The Manual specifies the Air Shutoff Valve as the likely culprit. I cleaned mine last winter when I had it apart. no decel issues now.

As for the Gas. I am in Canada and 10% ethanol is the standard unless I want to buy premium fuel which is NOT happenning. With an 8:1 compression ratio it would be like tossing money away. Everyone seems to blame the alcohol for the issues but for all intents and purposes the alcohol is a benefit of sorts. No need to worry about water in the fuel as it mixes readily with the alcohol and burns off. It actually increases the octane rating of the fuel as well since the fuel contains less energy.
I am generally happy with its perfrmance overall.

[adlowe]

Originally Posted by cl65ame

As for the Gas. I am in Canada and 10% ethanol is the standard unless I want to buy premium fuel which is NOT happenning. With an 8:1 compression ratio it would be like tossing money away. Everyone seems to blame the alcohol for the issues but for all intents and purposes the alcohol is a benefit of sorts. No need to worry about water in the fuel as it mixes readily with the alcohol and burns off. It actually increases the octane rating of the fuel as well since the fuel contains less energy.

"Benefit of sorts" is about right. A reasonable mix of e10 should produce about 3% lower range (i.e. miles per gallon for us Americans) and no other noticeable performance impact.

We're getting 12% to 20% ethanol in our fuel down here -- studies have shown 2% to 5% ethanol in supposedly ethanol-free gas. That gets our "e10" into the performance-problem range and the reason why so many of us attribute problems to ethanol fuel.

My biggest complaints are (1) paying full price for reduced-energy-content fuel and (2) diverting a food crop (corn) into making transportation fuel. I'd feel differently about the second if it didn't take as much (or more) energy to convert the corn as the final product contains. That's like turning up the speed on the treadmill in order to get home from the gym faster.

Besides, if we're going to make alcohol out of corn it should be bourbon!

[cl65ame]

Besides, if we're going to make alcohol out of corn it should be bourbon!

I agree whole heartedly.

We are regulated "UP TO 10%" in our fuel here. The only way to get Ethanol free is to fill with Shell V-Power gas at a rediculous price.

[adlowe]

Originally Posted by cl65ame

We are regulated "UP TO 10%" in our fuel here. The only way to get Ethanol free is to fill with Shell V-Power gas at a rediculous price.

Our Shell gas is "enriched" with nitrogen. Guess they do that because nitrogen burns so well -- except when you out it in tires at $10/each. Wonder how the nitrogen knows.

We're going to be regulated to e15 or e20, depending upon how much clout the industrial corn conglomerates can buy at the EPA. With an extra 2% to 5% already polluting the distribution system, we're gonna be really, really happy with our fuel. With corn futures trading right around the all-time record high price, it is very, very important that we don't waste any opportunity to enrich the corn farming industry at the expense of hungry people.