K&N filter and tuned carb?.

[StormingHonda]

When I bought the bike I was told that theres a K&N filter in, if the carbs arent tuned how would this effect the performance of the bike?.

Apart from ripping the carbs open is there a way to know if the carbs have been tuned?.

[AMCQ46]

You can confirm the K&N filter when you have the air box lid off for a service, but to know if it as been jetted you have 3 options:
1) seat of the pants view...is there any flat spots in the torque curve, does it pull cleanly through the rev range, is the fuel consumption normal etc
2) pull the carbs apart and look to see if there are spacers under the needles, or DJ needles and note all jet sizes and check to see how many drillings in the slide. This will tell you if it has been altered but won't tell you if it is right.
3) get a dyno run for £40 and that will provide an AFR (air fuel ratio) plot as well as the power / torque, and that will tell you if the carb set up is ok....this will tell you if it's right but won't tell you if it's altered.

You didn't say if you had pipes fitted as well as a filter, as that will also make a difference

Option 1) and 3) are best, as how well it is working is the best measure

[Wicky]

IIRC your bike had standard exhausts at the workshop day - As you only bought the storm recently it's possible the PO put OEM exhaust back on and sold aftermarket cans separately as a K&N is likely to be used in conjunction with less restrictive cans with appropriate carb fettling.

[tony.mon]

2) pull the carbs apart and look to see if there are spacers under the needles, or DJ needles and note all jet sizes and check to see how many drillings in the slide. This will tell you if it has been altered but won't tell you if it is right.

Agreed, but only if it's a dj kit fitted.
If it's a Factory Pro jet kit the slides aren't drilled, or if the carbs have been set up by the dyno op without using a jet kit, just using jets they have in stock you may not see drilled slides.

[StormingHonda]

thanks for the replies.

I agree this is what puzzles me, if it were me I would put open cans on with a K&N filter I would have the carb rejeted, simple.

But some people dont think like this, they think its enough to do one or the other I.E K&N and open cans.

Now I have had the bike a little while i'm lettng it stretch its legs a bit, i'm finding the top end rush is not what my previous storm was.

I might hunt down the local dyno tester and get it on the rolling road then go from there on what I want to do.

Or I could write to the previous owner and see what happens.

I did think about taking off the diaphram covers and taking a look but that a place you only go if you really need too.

[VTRDark]

a K&N is likely to be used in conjunction with less restrictive cans with appropriate carb fettling.

You wold like to think so.

But some people dont think like this, they think its enough to do one or the other I.E K&N and open cans

Agree.

I would say it's more than likey not been jetted. Unless you are from a mechanical background or someone that likes to fettle, there is so many people that would buy a can just for the looks and noise and would not realise the jets need changing. Some people would put aftermarket cans on just to give it another selling point.

I did think about taking off the diaphram covers and taking a look but that a place you only go if you really need too.

All that will do is tell you if there are any tears,rips or holes in the diaphram. I don't think the springs will tell you much!
If you are gonna take the diaphram covers off (I dont think you can do that while on bike) you might as well take the carbs right out and strip them all down and clean/change jets etc.

If I was you Storming , open the airbox, see what's in there so you know what your dealing with. We should have clocked what was in there on workshop day! Maybe change the/if the K&N filter for a regular one and see how that changes thing's.

Then think about aftermarket cans, filter, then Jetkit/Dyno

Have Fun

(:-})

[StormingHonda]

Exactley what I was thinking carl if its not been jetted then I would change the filter, if it has I would take off the carb, change filter and buy some cans and then once I get my repsol jobbie done change it all over.

[Jazzscot]

I have Art straight through cans on mine and it runs really well. I was gonna put on a K&N filter. The main thing stopping me is that its gonna run like a bag of spanners.

If I put the K&N on how will I know if its running lean? will I notice it running differently?? I think I read somewhere that if its running crap and you pull the choke out a wee bit and it runs better then it must be running lean.

Any other ways to tell if the bike is running lean???

Jazz


edited due to dyslexia brought on by Cobra beer

[VTRDark]

I would check the colour of the spark plugs http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/tech_suppo ... aqread.asp Generally when running to lean the bike will run a bit hotter.

I would have thought if you try a differet filter you would know by the way the bike runs and feels if it's running well or not.

Have Fun

(:-})