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Carburetor Theory Carburetor Theory: Paul Crovella Paul Crovella AGEN 220 AGEN 220
Carburetor Theory Carburetor Theory: Paul Crovella Paul Crovella AGEN 220 AGEN 220
Paul Crovella
AGEN 220
Variable Venturi or “slide”
carburetors
The goal of providing
the stochiometric ratio,
(14.7:1) is tempered with
the goal of providing
extra fuel to cool (by
evaporation) the engine.
Carburetor tuning must
be done to provide max
power without
overheating the 2 stroke
engine.
VM Carburetor
Slide carburetor provides
smoother variation and
better adjustment than a
throttle plate carburetor.
VM is a Mikuni round
slide carburetor.
Various circuits control
fuel and air flow for
different conditions
Starting, (idle) pilot, and
main
Integrated carburetor systems
The carburetor has
multiple adjustments for
different throttle
positions;
0-1/4 Pilot jet
1/8--1/2 Throttle cutaway
1/8
¼-3/4 Jet needle (clip)
¼-3/4 Needle jet
½-Full Main jet
½-Full Air adjustment
screw
½-full Power jet (optional)
Starter Circuit
Mini- slide carburetor
Mini-
used for starting
“Choking” the
carburetor actually opens
plunger to allow gas flow
Gas is drawn from the
bottom of the bowl
through a starter jet
Air is drawn from in
front of the slide
Starter circuit
Starter Circuit
Starter can only function when slide is closed
and vacuum is high
Starter jet may need to be changed if using a
snowmobile carb on a motorcycle, or vice-
vice-versa
Plunger positions – Open (choked), half-
half-open,
closed
Starter circuit can be used to enrichen mixture at
other times to check carburetor problems.
Pilot circuit
Used at idle to ¼ throttle
Gas flow is controlled by
pilot jet size, this jet is the
first to plug if gas thickens
Air flow is controlled by air
adjustment needle
At idle, air flows in at 5 to
further mix with fuel
At just off idle, mixed fuel-
fuel-
air flows out at both 6 and
5
Pilot Circuit
Stumble coming off idle
indicates plugged pilot jet
or air screw too tight
Idle speed controlled by
a separate screw that
determines how tightly
the slide closes.
Slides with different
shape cutouts are also
sold for tuning
applications.
Mid range operation
¼ to ¾ operation is
controlled by needle jet
and jet needle. As slide
pulls up the long tapered
needle is drawn out of
needle jet.
The air jet controls the
air bled in to atomize the
fuel.
The main jet is so large
that it does not limit flow
Mid range operation
Both needle jet and jet
needles can be changed,
as can the position of the
clip on the end of the
needle.
Needles can have up to
four different tapers on
them for different
performance throughout
the slide travel.
Tuning
Simple tuning can begin
with moving the needle
up or down one clip
position. This can be
done before changing
needles or needle jets.
Any tuning adjustments
should be made by
stepping jets up or down
one size at a time.
Full throttle operation
At ¾ to full throttle, the
needle is so far removed
from the needle jet, that
it no longer limits flow.
At this throttle range, the
main jet limits gas flow.
Air jet limits air flow.
Always jet main rich and
work down.
Air jet is typically not
changed
Power jets
Not found on all carbs – Provides richer mix at top end
Jetting adjustments
To make proper
carburetor adjustments
the mixture ratio at each
range will have to be
determined. There are
various methods:
Plug reading – plug chop
Piston wash
Pyrometer readings
Condition corrections
Exhaust sound
Plug Reading – Plug Chop
To get an accurate read of
the condition, perform a
“plug chop”
Install a new plug
Warm engine up
Run engine at selected throttle
setting for 30 seconds – 1
minute.
Cut ignition and
simultaneously close-
close-off carb
Study insulator down toward
the base of the insulator,
insulator, not
on the tip!
Appearance of tip better for
determining detonation
Plug appearance
Center electrodes
Another valuable indicator on the
spark plug is the center firing
electrode; as the plug color starts to
lighten up when properly jetted,
the center firing electrode will start
to have a “silver” tip, or crown. As
the mixture becomes leaner, this
silver crown will start to creep
down the side of the electrode; this
is your target. This metallic
appearance on the end of the
electrode should not extend any
further than 1/4 - 1/3 of the way
down the tip. Many tuners are
happy with the margin afforded by
simply seeing the silver tip; then
they’re close enough for trail riding
with a bit of margin to spare.
Side electrode
The ground electrode is also
an indicator; on many
engines you will see a
“shadow” (darker area) just
up to the radius (bend) that
will usually coincide with the
color and firing electrode
appearance. If this shadow is
further down the ground
strap towards the plug
threads, you’re likely too lean.
If this dark shadow is all the
way across the strap to the
center of the plug, you’re too
rich.
NGK plug numbering system
The plug heat range can be
adjusted to keep a plug tip clean, or
avoid detonating on an engine that
otherwise has the right mixture.
For NGK and most foreign
manufacturer’s spark plugs there is
a simple rule of thumb:Low heat
rating number (for inst. BP4ES)
"Hot spark plug".high heat intake
due to long insulator tip.
.High heat rating number (for inst.
BP8ES) "Cold spark plug".Low
heat intake, due to short insulator
tip.
For Champion and most domestic
manufacturer’s spark plugs (e.g. in
ATVs, the numbering is opposite.
Piston reading