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Running on bike carbs - but now I need advice!
David Jenkins - 4/5/08 at 12:29 PM

I've finally managed to get out and about in my car since converting to bike carbs. The tick-over is excellent, the acceleration is good (but I'm not sure it beats the Weber down-draft yet) but it mis-fired really badly on WOT above 4500rpm and all power disappeared. It felt like the Megajolt system rev limiter had cut in, but that's set to 6300rpm.

Trouble is, as part of this conversion, I've also changed from from MAP to TPS and replaced the entire fuel supply system from mechanical to an electric fuel pump - any of these could be causing my problem!

I know it's not a great check, but I had a look at the plugs after an energetic run and they look OK. I also did a temp check on the exhaust manifolds after the run and they all match each other (and similar to when I had the down-draft carb). I don't think the carbs are very far wrong.

I've made a guess at the ignition map, but that's still a bit of a question mark - I did a datalog and I can see that I'm at around 30 degrees BTDC at WOT and 4500rpm - does that sound reasonable?

Finally, I've set the fuel regulator to 2psi for the time being, and I'm wondering if that's enough to meet the demand? The fuel pump has enough capacity for the BHP according to specs, and the fuel regulator/filter is supposed to be a high-volume jobbie.

Apart from this wee problem, the car starts much more easily, has a really good and reliable tick-over and does sound lovely on acceleration, with a rather impressive intake roar every time I touch the throttle!

All hints & tips appreciated.

cheers,
David


miikae - 4/5/08 at 01:01 PM

My first thoughts on reading your post was fuel starvation , so try to up to 3psi and give it good run to see if this sorts it out .

Mike


whitestu - 4/5/08 at 01:09 PM

It may not help much, but I'm using the matching fuel pump from the bike the carbs came from and it works perfectly.

My pump was £10 off ebay.

Stu

[Edited on 4/5/08 by whitestu]


triumphdave - 4/5/08 at 02:14 PM

Yeh 2psi does sound a tad low,3 would be better.


David Jenkins - 4/5/08 at 02:16 PM

Now set it to 3psi - but had a beer or 3 down my local, so can't try it out until the next dry day!


ReMan - 4/5/08 at 03:16 PM

Do they have an airbox?


David Jenkins - 4/5/08 at 03:23 PM

No - a filter box with a BIG filter across the front!


Surrey Dave - 4/5/08 at 03:53 PM

Have you enlarged the main jets to 150 -180 , I think my car is set and runs at 2psi with no return.

Any more than that and the float needles flood.

Have a bike pump to fit but too lazy at the mo.


Jon Ison - 4/5/08 at 04:33 PM

A lot of bike carbs do not run well on regulators, by the time the pressure is down low enough flow is crap.

Fit a bike pump, better still bolt the carbs to a bike engine.........


David Jenkins - 4/5/08 at 04:49 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Surrey Dave
Have you enlarged the main jets to 150 -180 , I think my car is set and runs at 2psi with no return.

Any more than that and the float needles flood.

Have a bike pump to fit but too lazy at the mo.


Currently my jets are 1.6mm.

Flooding is my main concern when increasing to 3psi.

I also have a bike pump, but I wasn't sure that it was man enough - it's from a 600cc bike. Mind you, if the weather's as bad tomorrow as they predict, I might have a go at fitting it...


[Edited on 4/5/08 by David Jenkins]


David Jenkins - 4/5/08 at 04:55 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Jon Ison
Fit a bike pump, better still bolt the carbs to a bike engine.........


No thanks! I like to have reverse...


westf27 - 4/5/08 at 04:58 PM

Honda Goldwing engine


whitestu - 4/5/08 at 06:24 PM

quote:

I also have a bike pump, but I wasn't sure that it was man enough - it's from a 600cc bike. Mind you, if the weather's as bad tomorrow as they predict, I might have a go at fitting it...



My ZX6R pump works fine on my Zetec and has loads of flow.

Stu


David Jenkins - 4/5/08 at 06:48 PM

Thanks Stu - that may be my best option


DarrenW - 4/5/08 at 08:37 PM

Im running bike carbs and bike pump, no regulator and no problems. Id change that first.

During rolling road Boggs determined my initial settings were too weak, took some fiddling to get good mixture through rev range.


David Jenkins - 4/5/08 at 08:41 PM

quote:
Originally posted by DarrenW
Im running bike carbs and bike pump, no regulator and no problems. Id change that first.



Boot box came out this evening, ready for the swap-over first thing tomorrow. Shouldn't be too painful as I had already modified the bracket to take the bike pump ages ago - I'd changed my mind at the last minute!


quote:

During rolling road Boggs determined my initial settings were too weak, took some fiddling to get good mixture through rev range.


Doug (garage19) is coming over with his AFR meter tomorrow afternoon so maybe we'll see if I'm in the right ball-park.


DarrenW - 4/5/08 at 08:49 PM

You should get a good set up with the AFR. I hope it goes well.

Boggs were happy with my 1.6mm jets on my set up and mainly concentrated on needle position after basic checks were completed. I think they aimed for about 2.5% CO across the rev range under load. Not sure what ratio that would correspond to.


jacko - 4/5/08 at 09:10 PM

I dont no if this will help but Boggs blocked some air holes in line with the needles to stop the fuel / air mix going week above 3ooo- on my car
jacko


iscmatt - 4/5/08 at 09:48 PM

just to add to the general theme, i have baike carbs and a bike pump and no probs, i also got bigger jets after a rolling road session at boggs.

cheers


Dingz - 4/5/08 at 11:20 PM

Just a thought, have you tried to link the carbs together with a vacuum line for servo?
2psi should be plenty, upping the pressure does nothing for the flow.