altitude

[RobertWichert]

I learned an interesting lesson on "clean fresh gas" last weekend.  My father died in June, and we are cleaning out his garage.  Some stuff in there was from when I was a kid (too long ago to mention, but suffice it to say, that there is some old stuff in there).  I found a gas can.  It is plastic, so it couldn't be forty years old, but I didn't know how old it was.  It had gas in it, or at least it smelled like gas, so I put some in the lawn mower.  I mean, it's a lawn mower, how finicky can it be?  Well I found out.  It wouldn't even start choked.  I had to drain it all out, and even with fresh gas, it didn't run right for a few minutes. I had no idea that gas becomes unusable. I now know for a fact that "old gas", if it's old enough, won't even run a lawn mower! Robert P. Wichert P.Eng +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ========================================================

On 8/19/2010 4:09 PM, Fred Hink wrote:   I have installed a few jet kits in my day.  Drilling the slide won't effect the fuel mixture but will change the speed at which the slide reacts to your throttle input.  It's a vacuum port in the slide that you are enlarging.  This will make your bike feel like it has more power because the slide opens quicker.  Shimming the needle will enrichen the midrange where you drive most often and should allow for a slight power increase along with a slight decrease in your fuel mileage.   Your bike runs pretty lean most of the time and going up in elevation will help richen the mixture but because there is less oxygen at higher elevations you will feel like you have less power.  The KLR with the stock carb should run ok for a short duration at elevation.  If you are going to live at higher elevations then it might be a good idea to rejet for this elevation.  Just be sure if you go to lower elevations that you will need richer jetting or risk the chance of major engine damage.  Just ask Lew Waterman. (Punky n Lew)  Anybody remember them?   The stock carburator is actually pretty simple compared to some other model  bikes.  It is fairly reliable and shouldn't give you any trouble as long as you keep clean fresh gas in it. Fred http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com     [b]From:[/b] bejou.mn@... [b]Sent:[/b] Thursday, August 19, 2010 4:50 PM [b]To:[/b] DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [b]Subject:[/b] [DSN_KLR650] Carburator Questions 2009 KLR   1. How many of you have done the drill the slide and shim the needle? Does it make that big of difference? Should I do it? 2. Reading my Clymer manual this carburator looks quite complicated. Do they give much of a problem? 3. In Oct I'am going to be in CO Springs and would like to go up Pikes Pike. Will a stock bike run at 14,100 feet? Thanks Brad 2009 KLR

[Fred Hink]

There are additives in gasoline just like there are additives in engine oil.  The additives in gasoline are the parts that make the gasoline combust easier and they are the first ones to leave.  That is why if your bike won't start sometimes, it helps to drain the float bowl and refill it with gas from the tank.  The float bowl is vented to atmosphere and since it is such a small quantity, it doesn t take long for the combustion additives to leave this mixture and make your engine hard to start.  Gas in a larger tank usually isn't vented to atmosphere and should keep these additives longer. Fred www.arrowheadmotorsports.com     [b]From:[/b] robert@... [b]Sent:[/b] Friday, August 20, 2010 8:27 AM [b]To:[/b] moabmc@... [b]Cc:[/b] DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com ; bejou.mn@... [b]Subject:[/b] Re: [DSN_KLR650] NKLR Carburator Questions 2009 KLR I learned an interesting lesson on "clean fresh gas" last weekend.  My father died in June, and we are cleaning out his garage.  Some stuff in there was from when I was a kid (too long ago to mention, but suffice it to say, that there is some old stuff in there).  I found a gas can.  It is plastic, so it couldn't be forty years old, but I didn't know how old it was.  It had gas in it, or at least it smelled like gas, so I put some in the lawn mower.  I mean, it's a lawn mower, how finicky can it be?  Well I found out.  It wouldn't even start choked.  I had to drain it all out, and even with fresh gas, it didn't run right for a few minutes. I had no idea that gas becomes unusable. I now know for a fact that "old gas", if it's old enough, won't even run a lawn mower! Robert P. Wichert P.Eng +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ======================================================== On 8/19/2010 4:09 PM, Fred Hink wrote:

  I have installed a few jet kits in my day.  Drilling the slide won't effect the fuel mixture but will change the speed at which the slide reacts to your throttle input.  It's a vacuum port in the slide that you are enlarging.  This will make your bike feel like it has more power because the slide opens quicker.  Shimming the needle will enrichen the midrange where you drive most often and should allow for a slight power increase along with a slight decrease in your fuel mileage.   Your bike runs pretty lean most of the time and going up in elevation will help richen the mixture but because there is less oxygen at higher elevations you will feel like you have less power.  The KLR with the stock carb should run ok for a short duration at elevation.  If you are going to live at higher elevations then it might be a good idea to rejet for this elevation.  Just be sure if you go to lower elevations that you will need richer jetting or risk the chance of major engine damage.  Just ask Lew Waterman. (Punky n Lew)  Anybody remember them?   The stock carburator is actually pretty simple compared to some other model  bikes.  It is fairly reliable and shouldn't give you any trouble as long as you keep clean fresh gas in it. Fred http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com    [b]From:[/b] bejou.mn@... [b]Sent:[/b] Thursday, August 19, 2010 4:50 PM [b]To:[/b] DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [b]Subject:[/b] [DSN_KLR650] Carburator Questions 2009 KLR   1. How many of you have done the drill the slide and shim the needle? Does it make that big of difference? Should I do it? 2. Reading my Clymer manual this carburator looks quite complicated. Do they give much of a problem? 3. In Oct I'am going to be in CO Springs and would like to go up Pikes Pike. Will a stock bike run at 14,100 feet? Thanks Brad 2009 KLR

[Mark Harfenist]

"Obviously 90% of riding is done below 8000 ft. And taking the cap out makes adjustment easy on the road; if you have the right screw driver. Jeffrey #3

[roncriswell@sbcglobal.net]

Speaking of gas, as I understand it when the gov forces us to start using ethanol with a blend of 15% or higher (which they plan to do soon), it is going to be very bad for older engines or air cooled engines. The rerason for air cooled is they will run hotter. Look out all you Hoggly riders. Criswell

On Aug 20, 2010, at 9:27 AM, RobertWichert wrote:   I learned an interesting lesson on "clean fresh gas" last weekend.  My father died in June, and we are cleaning out his garage.  Some stuff in there was from when I was a kid (too long ago to mention, but suffice it to say, that there is some old stuff in there).  I found a gas can.  It is plastic, so it couldn't be forty years old, but I didn't know how old it was.  It had gas in it, or at least it smelled like gas, so I put some in the lawn mower.  I mean, it's a lawn mower, how finicky can it be?  Well I found out.  It wouldn't even start choked.  I had to drain it all out, and even with fresh gas, it didn't run right for a few minutes. I had no idea that gas becomes unusable. I now know for a fact that "old gas", if it's old enough, won't even run a lawn mower! Robert P. Wichert P.Eng +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ======================================================== On 8/19/2010 4:09 PM, Fred Hink wrote:   I have installed a few jet kits in my day.  Drilling the slide won't effect the fuel mixture but will change the speed at which the slide reacts to your throttle input.  It's a vacuum port in the slide that you are enlarging.  This will make your bike feel like it has more power because the slide opens quicker.  Shimming the needle will enrichen the midrange where you drive most often and should allow for a slight power increase along with a slight decrease in your fuel mileage.   Your bike runs pretty lean most of the time and going up in elevation will help richen the mixture but because there is less oxygen at higher elevations you will feel like you have less power.  The KLR with the stock carb should run ok for a short duration at elevation.  If you are going to live at higher elevations then it might be a good idea to rejet for this elevation.  Just be sure if you go to lower elevations that you will need richer jetting or risk the chance of major engine damage.  Just ask Lew Waterman. (Punky n Lew)  Anybody remember them?   The stock carburator is actually pretty simple compared to some other model  bikes.  It is fairly reliable and shouldn't give you any trouble as long as you keep clean fresh gas in it. Fred http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com     [b]From:[/b] bejou.mn@... [b]Sent:[/b] Thursday, August 19, 2010 4:50 PM [b]To:[/b] DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [b]Subject:[/b] [DSN_KLR650] Carburator Questions 2009 KLR   1. How many of you have done the drill the slide and shim the needle? Does it make that big of difference? Should I do it? 2. Reading my Clymer manual this carburator looks quite complicated. Do they give much of a problem? 3. In Oct I'am going to be in CO Springs and would like to go up Pikes Pike. Will a stock bike run at 14,100 feet? Thanks Brad 2009 KLR