--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Monty Cunningham"
wrote:
>
> When traveling in hot temps (95-105) at a steady 70mph my bike
starts
> missing or coughing or sputtering. The temp gauge does not register
it
> as being hot but the three times it has happened my legs next to
the
> engine have been very hot. It runs fine at all other times getting
> 60mpg at 55mph and about 38mpg puching at 70 to 75mph. It does not
stop
> and when I slow down (55) it starts running smooth again. I took it
to
> my local Kawasaki dealer and he said I needed smaller jets because
it
> was burning too rich. I took it to a local off road shop and they
said
> it needed larger jets because it was burning too lean and hot. It
is a
> 1993 with 30,000miles. What size jet should I have and is this
really
> the problem? Thanks.
>
> Monte Cunningham
>
Hi Monte,
Need to ask a couple of questions:
Q1. Are you using a fuel filter?
Q2. Are you using fuel containing ethanol?
My experience:
Fuel filters don't work well for you if you have a heavy throttle
hand, and will cause you to switch to reserve much earlier than with
out it. Others have varying results: I have two KLR's with two
different fuel filters (previously installed) and they both ran
poorly at the bottom of the fuel level--because it was starving the
bike. The carb fuel bowl would not fill as fast as it needed fuel
due to lack of head-pressure to push the fuel through.
Ethanol. It works poorly in the KLR at temps above 95F. Perhaps the
technical term is vapor-lock. shrug. I know it just doesn't work.
I watched and documented this on several occasions, on different
days. The temp break-out always occurred at ~95F, at high throttle
setting. ie. It ran fine, at a lower throttle setting, just as your
bike does at 55mph.
Also, check to see where your petcock selection lever is setting. If
you look closely, straight down, is not 'full-open'. OPEN, is
actually pointed a little aft. Having done a recent petcock rebuild,
I noticed that little difference in where you point your lever,
cough, might make a difference in the fuel flow to the carb at high
power requirements.
revmaaatin.