Wilsons Sandbox

I'm getting a bit of lean surge when tootling along at low RPMs on my stock A15. Will backing out the pilot screw 1/2 turn fix this problem? Can I drill out the plug without removing the carb? What will it cost in MPG? I like that 250 mile range... PS - given the recent oil sight glass thread, I covered mine with duct tape so I wouldn't have to worry about it. cheers Michael Oklahoma A15 _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

> I'm getting a bit of lean surge when tootling along at low RPMs > on my stock > A15. Will backing out the pilot screw 1/2 turn fix this problem? > Can I drill out the plug without removing the carb? What will it cost in

MPG? I like

> that 250 mile range... > > PS - given the recent oil sight glass thread, I covered mine with > duct tape > so I wouldn't have to worry about it. > > cheers > > Michael > Oklahoma A15

Michael, I don't know if you'll be able to get at it...I suspect you will but I don't recall people saying they were able to. Remove the choke cable lever at the lever assembly and the two throttle cables. Loosen the clamps. This should allow you to remove the fuel enricher so that it won't crack. Rotate it 90 degrees clockwise and give it a go...As to how much, I would suggest tightening the screw until it seats lightly then backing it out 2 to 21/2 turns. Mine was open 7/8 of a turn so 1/2 turn wouldn't have been enough. Kurt

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Michael Malaby" wrote:

>I'm getting a bit of lean surge when tootling along at low RPMs on >my stock A15. Will backing out the pilot screw 1/2 turn fix this >problem?

Based on my experience with adjusting the pilot screw on my A14L, "hell yes" it will fix the surge. It will also stop it from being so snatchy when you crack open the throttle while rounding a corner - good safety mod for those wet days.

>Can I drill out the plug without removing the carb?

Yes. The carb can be "taken loose" and rotated enough to get to the plug.

>What will it cost in MPG? I like that 250 mile range...

Well, I did manage a 50mpg tank one time since doing the mod, but it's hard to say because as my riding confidence increases, my mileage goes down. I was doing 42mpg tanks prior to the mod. I think the mileage does indeed suffer a little, but it's very much worth it in my opinion. You'll also like the decrease in engine vibration. No this is not a joke! RM

On Fri, 19 Oct 2001, Steve Pye wrote:

>>Mine went from "cold-natured recalcitrant beast" to "push the button and >>go" when I backed out the pilot screw. I have NEVER used the choke >>(enrichener) since then. >Is this the screw that has to be drilled out to be adjusted? I'd be >interested in anything that would improve my bikes cold starting >ablitity but I'm carb ignorant!

That's the one! It's just a little pressed-in cap that you drill a small hole into. Use a tap or a dental pick to pull the cap out.

On Mon, 7 Jan 2002 Klx650rider@... wrote:

>Thanks for the info. I was really referring to the post ref. drilling >out the cap for the mixture screw. My understanding is that several of >our KLR brethren have removed the cap and readjusted the mixture to >enhance performance. Some of these same listers have posted that fuel >mileage drastically dropped after they adjusted the mixture.

My mileage dropped a little. The pilot circuit only affects idle, near-idle, and to a lesser extent, light part throttle. I can still manage 50mpg if I putt around. My off-road mpg is still well over 30, even in the mountainous terrain that I ride in. I like the KLR's range but the small sacrifice was well worth it, IMHO. If I had to buy another KLR tomorrow, I'd drill out the tamper cap as soon as I got it home. RM

On Tue, 8 Jan 2002 Klx650rider@... wrote:

>Thanks for the info. Is easier starting the main benefit of adjusting >the pilot screw?

I got: 1. Easier starting, except for hot starting at high altitudes (where I have to open the throttle a little bit sometimes). Enricher lever (choke) not necessary above ~55F. 2. Progressive and smooth throttle response when transitioning from idle to off-idle. No more snatchy and lurchy when rolling onto the throttle in an oily wet car-filled intersection. 3. No more light throttle surge in lower gears. 4. Significantly less engine vibration at light and mid throttle (strange but true). 5. Different exhaust note (deeper but not louder). 6. Idle that slows down at high altitude. 1500rpm at sea level yields about 1000rpm at 6000ft. Screw should probably be backed out 2 turns max for high-altitude bikes (mine's 2.5). 7. The ability to use 4th gear down to about 2000 rpm and 5th down to about 2800rpm without experiencing that lurching chugga-chugga thing (what the hell is that, anyway? The slide snapping shut between intake pulses?) 8. The ability to flip the kill switch on and off without a backfire while coasting (minor). 9. Lower coolant temps. The guage doesn't fly up as fast as it used to when caught in stop-and-go traffic. I got all this without ever taking the carb apart. This is why I've never bothered with a jet kit. I don't need one. RM

On Tue, Jan 08, 2002 at 12:48:17AM -0600, RM wrote:

> > On Tue, 8 Jan 2002 Klx650rider@... wrote: > > >Thanks for the info. Is easier starting the main benefit of adjusting > >the pilot screw? > > I got: > > 1. Easier starting, except for hot starting at high altitudes (where I > have to open the throttle a little bit sometimes). Enricher lever (choke) > not necessary above ~55F.

[...] How much adjustment did you have to make to get all those results? -- David Kelly N4HHE, dkelly@... ===================================================================== The human mind ordinarily operates at only ten percent of its capacity -- the rest is overhead for the operating system.

On Tue, 8 Jan 2002, David Kelly wrote:

>How much adjustment did you have to make to get all those results?

90% of the benefit came from lightly seating the screw and then backing it out 2 turns. I later gave it an extra 1/2 turn just for gits and shiggles. It improved the bike's ability to run at low-rpm in a high gear even further - maybe another 200 rpm lower before the chuggle starts and I'm forced to downshift. I don't recall what the bike did at high altitude with 2 turns but I'd imagine that it wouldn't slow down as much as it does at 2.5. My bike is otherwise stock, right down to the air filter. RM