Starting (Choke) Tip - Dells

Haggis

Hero member
Location
UK
If your bike:
* Fouls plugs quickly (Twosheds!!!)
* Slows, stumbles and dies if you leave it on choke for more than 30 seconds**

Then your starter circuit jet may well be too big. My bike was a pig on choke. I started well, but then generally ran at too slow rpm. I leaned out the starter jet (from standard) and now I have full rpm control via the choke lever.

Remember that the 'choke' on dells is really a tiny separate carb, stuck onto the side of the main carb, so changing this jet changes nothing else.

Paul

** Yes, yes, I know - "don't leave em on choke" - but we all need to pop back into the garage 'cause we forgot our gloves or something.
 
Due to the enormous changes which have taken place in the constitution of modern fuels the recommended original jet sizes in the various manuals can nowadays only be regarded as a base point from which to experiment and work out an optimum setting.

If you have the time and inclination do a bit of Haggis style experimentation the rewards can be significant.

On this same subject a good tip I picked up from a well known tuner was if you are going to try a change in jet size then make sure the change in size is a significant one. Your engine will very quickly tell you if it's becoming happier or if it's not. Once you've established that you are going in the right direction you can then concentrate on the fine tuning the jetting with smaller incremental changes.

You might spend an extra tenner or so on jets but you will develop a better feel for how your engine reacts. And remember, before making any changes to carburettor settings, make sure your timing is correctly adjusted! 
 
Good idea Paul to find a suitable sized jet, but if you need to run in to fetch something, turn the bike off or you are asking for trouble. We had more than one brand new Lav that needed bores deglazed under warranty because of people warming them up on choke for longer periods, washes the oil off the bores it was said. Do it in the wrong neighbourhood and you?ll hear that exhaust echoing up the street for the rest of your life.
 
Fully with you there Tippie. I cringe when using choke for exactly the reasons you describe. I've always gently set off as soon as possible once she has started and the oil has been round enough. There is a down side to switching the bike of when it has an overly-rich choke though (glove recovery), plug fouling is much more likely - guaranteed to generate significant piss taking when you meet your mates, and have to tell them you are half an hour late because you had to change your plugs. A chorus of 'get a Jap bike you twat' usually ensues.  :-X

Expanding on Bobs comments, for the inexperienced. The standard jetting written in books is not sacred. It is not what your bike should have in it - only approximately what your bike should have in it. It was probably only ever 'right' for a handful of development bikes, at Breganze altitude, on 70/80's Italian test fuel, etc, etc. Even then Laverda will have erred on the side of caution/durability with AFR, to ensure that every worldwide market was OK.

Sorry if anyone finds this patronising - I'm trying to write tips for new guys or guys digging deeper (and to stimulate some tech conversation). Recently the forum has become a bit esoteric?
 
bob said:
And remember, before making any changes to carburettor settings, make sure your timing is correctly adjusted! 

...and your float-level.... and all components are in good order.... and no water in the float boals... and... you get the point, right? ;)
 
very interesting hag, and very well put, it stimulated my mind no end, but what the fuck is "esoteric"
I actually prefer Cleveland Discol
CLEM
 
Hey Clem.. Esoteric is errr, well, errr, esoteric!

Sorry buddy, I'm too young to know Cleveland Discol, but I'm sure they were a very good band.
 
Back
Top