Hey guys, my apologies in advance for the lengthy post, but I wanted to describe things as accurately as possible. Bike is a 1979 LTD 1000. I want to go on a long trip next year, but still have problems with my carb tuning and mpg. Here is what I know and don't know:
Engine should be original as per the PO. But he didn't know for sure, he was told so from his PO.
Compression at 140 lbs, all within 10%
Valves are set, while I did that checked the cams, look to be original
New plugs, ignition is the transistor type, no breakers.
Carbs are VM 26 pumpers, new gaskets, jets, needles, O-rings, pumps work
Carbs are synced, main jets 117.5, pilots 17.5, idle mixture screw 1.5 turns out
K&N pod filters, Vance and Hines 4in1
Carbs synced with 4 vacuum gauges
Here is what I observed:
- WOT: Runs pretty good, but after 60 mls or so mostly WOT in the TX Hill country, headers were really blued out and plugs looked pretty darn lean. Gas mileage was 32 mpg, which maybe isn't too bad
- Midrange: I rode another 80 or so miles at 60-70 mph, lots of turns, some hills but I took it easy. Plugs looked a tad rich to me, gas mileage was about 31 mpg
- Idle: Plugs are always sooty, I tried #15 pilots, still sooty plugs but runs like crap with those pilot
What is a reasonable gas mileage for a KZ1000 LTD?
When I rebuilt the carbs the kit came with needles that were much shorter than the needles in my carb. I got the carbs on ebay, so not sure whether they had the correct needles in there, can short needles mess things up at midrange and idle?
Can the engine suck gas through the main-jet at idle when the needle is too short and cause a rich condition at idle?
Again, sorry for the many questions, but I really hope someone can help!
Happy New Year y'all!