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Posted by LarryInSeattle
- October 06, 2015, 01:13:39 AMStock setting.
I try to leave motorcycles stock as much as I can. I like to buy stock low mileage motorcycles and after a few years of use, I sell them for the same price or perhaps even a little more than I paid. It has been a practice that has put over 30 different motorcycles in my garage though out the years. It is fun having something different to ride too.
However, the Drifter 800 is so pleasant to ride I might just keep this longer than the typical 2-3 year cycle of ownership.
Posted by greenbarn
- October 04, 2015, 19:37:44 PMLarry, is that one still the stock jetting??
Mine has improved a lot with the fatter jetting - starts easier cold, etc.
I wish there were more alcohol-free fuel available around here. If a brand would start promoting "all of our premium grade is now alcohol free", I would go out of my way to search them out, but it's hit and miss at best.
However, I recently did find a fuel additive that is supposed to mix the alcohol better, eliminating some of the inherent problems with it. I plan to at least put some in for storage, if not periodically during riding season.
Posted by LarryInSeattle
- October 04, 2015, 13:19:21 PMMy 01 had 5500 miles on it when I bought it 3 years ago. It sat more than it ran. When I first got it, it would hesitate on initial throttle response after a shift and sometimes it would even pop or even a small back fire and then it would go. It steadily improved with each tank of seafoam I ran through the tank. I ran it as prescribed on the bottle for the first 10 tanks.
Now, I have 11,000 miles on the bike. It starts easy, runs great and I run seafoam in the tank once the season winds down and the time between tanks increases.
Even when the weather is horrible for long periods of time, I do start the bike and bring it up to temperature to flush out the carbs. I also get better performance using 91 octane, non ethanol fuels. I wish I lived closer to a steady supply of non ethanol fuel.
I know the goldwing and the valk uses 87 and I always used 87 in my Honda Goldwing and Silverwing, however, in the winter months, I put in 91 as it is reported to be more of a stable fuel.
Posted by Tfrank59
- September 28, 2015, 09:34:47 AMQuote from: kfoster on September 28, 2015, 08:25:59 AMIt might be fun to do a basic carb tutorial. The carb on the 800 is pretty simple to remove and service. The worst of it is just getting stuff out of the way to get to it. I removed mine to gain access to the pilot jet screw. Once I drilled out the cover and fattened it up a bit, the off idle condition improved. I think I am going to go back in and put a washer under the needle to see if the improves things a bit more.
When I get a chance to do this, I should get out the phone and do some photos and short movies.
Yeah, I was thinking when I cleaned my air filter that just getting to the carb is a pain and probably 20 minutes work. If you would do a video or two, for ex. the carb pilot jet thing, that would be great for me and any others who need "carb adjustments for dummies" 
Posted by kfoster
- September 28, 2015, 08:25:59 AMQuote from: CDNRatMan on September 26, 2015, 03:24:35 AMIt might be fun to do a basic carb tutorial. The carb on the 800 is pretty simple to remove and service. The worst of it is just getting stuff out of the way to get to it. I removed mine to gain access to the pilot jet screw. Once I drilled out the cover and fattened it up a bit, the off idle condition improved. I think I am going to go back in and put a washer under the needle to see if the improves things a bit more.Well Tfrank59, I am not a carb guy either and was hung up on doing the Grampsizimng on my carb that I never did it, and so I am with you. That being said it might be the time to bite the bullet and find a carb guy, someone you can trust, and who will not need a down payment of your first born or a body appendage let alone be added to your will for doing a hour or so of work for you on the bike.
I have found a really good mechanic who I trust and he charges me $30.00 an hour, if he remembers to ask for his money, and he is willing to help with everything, but can only help me on Sundays so we have a schedule worked out, pehaps find someone for help on your carb.
When I get a chance to do this, I should get out the phone and do some photos and short movies.
Posted by Tfrank59
- September 28, 2015, 08:22:10 AMQuote from: LarryInSeattle on September 28, 2015, 08:10:44 AMHey, thanks for the tip. I think my bike has sat for a lot of months, even years, so it probably needs that same cleaning – I guess I'll buy some seafoam or??? I read on other forums where there might be some better fuel treatments than seafoam (I thought this was more of a fuel stabilizer like for winter)--anybody have an opinion on that?I ran Seafoam in my first 10 tanks of fuel to clean my carbs. Now, every third tank gets a treatment.
No more hesitation.
Posted by LarryInSeattle
- September 28, 2015, 08:10:44 AMI ran Seafoam in my first 10 tanks of fuel to clean my carbs. Now, every third tank gets a treatment.
No more hesitation.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- September 27, 2015, 04:48:57 AMHell, if the ticket is waiting for me at to the counter I would come myself.....lol......but any bike mechanic with carb experience would be able to help you out.
Posted by Tfrank59
- September 26, 2015, 22:05:09 PMAny chance your guy is willing to come out to Seattle-Tacoma and do a job?
Posted by CDNRatMan
- September 26, 2015, 03:24:35 AM Well Tfrank59, I am not a carb guy either and was hung up on doing the Grampsizimng on my carb that I never did it, and so I am with you. That being said it might be the time to bite the bullet and find a carb guy, someone you can trust, and who will not need a down payment of your first born or a body appendage let alone be added to your will for doing a hour or so of work for you on the bike.
I have found a really good mechanic who I trust and he charges me $30.00 an hour, if he remembers to ask for his money, and he is willing to help with everything, but can only help me on Sundays so we have a schedule worked out, pehaps find someone for help on your carb.
Posted by Tfrank59
- September 26, 2015, 00:23:17 AMQuote from: Troll on September 25, 2015, 18:31:42 PMYou know now that I have my exhaust right, I should probably change the jets on my bike. Trouble is, I'm all thumbs when it comes to carburetor work – I just don't have the skill or patience. Maybe if I could watch somebody do it or a YouTube I'd have a little more confidence, but I'm afraid I'll make matters worse. But my bike still has a bit of hesitation when I accelerate from idle.Your engine is carburated, so there is no BARO sensor to change the computer's programming based on air pressure. Jetting a carb for a specific altitude is a bit of an art. When I used to go out west into the Rockies with my H-Ds, I would carry spare smaller jets with me, if I was going to be at high altitude for a long time. Higher altitude=less oxygen=smaller carb jets for mixture correction..I'm pretty picky about that stuff.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- September 25, 2015, 19:18:37 PMThis should be moved to general discussion as people are comparing a FI engine to a carb'ed engine and the answers are getting confusing.
Posted by Troll
- September 25, 2015, 18:31:42 PMYour engine is carburated, so there is no BARO sensor to change the computer's programming based on air pressure. Jetting a carb for a specific altitude is a bit of an art. When I used to go out west into the Rockies with my H-Ds, I would carry spare smaller jets with me, if I was going to be at high altitude for a long time. Higher altitude=less oxygen=smaller carb jets for mixture correction..I'm pretty picky about that stuff.
Posted by Tfrank59
- September 25, 2015, 16:57:20 PMHuh, so at sea level to maybe 700 feet above, where I ride mostly, I must be getting piss poor mileage 
Posted by pcarrell
- September 25, 2015, 13:52:45 PMI'm about 900 feet above sea level, so I guess it all makes sense.