I had my carb set with a 45 pilot, 170 main, & the needle on the 5th (lowest) notch. It ran good. Nice & crisp from low rpm acceleration, no misses, easy starts etc.
A couple of people mentioned that the needle is meant to run in the middle position & that being on the richest isn't good. Why is this? Can anyone explain?

I've since tinkered & I am now at a 172.5 jet & the needle on the 3rd (middle) clip. The quad feels about the same.

 

if u are running the stock carb, on the dyno(mr.horsepower) it made the highest horsepower with the clip in the richest position...i dont see where it would hurt any thing, i would rather be a tad on the rich side then be a tad on the lean side....if it ran good the way u had it , i would leave it there...

 

Seems about the same to me as far as power. Just wondering if it's needle fact or fiction?

 

It is fiction. It doesn't hurt a thing being on the richest position, that is way it is adjustable anyway....[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

I'm running a 175 main, with the needle in the richest position (spring clipped 3 rounds too). Went trail riding yesterday (76 miles), the machine had a tendency to bog in third, forth and fifth at lower RPM. Went to Silver Lake with this configuration, no problems. Although, I was almost always in the power band.

Anyone think I could be running too rich? I'll pull my plugs today to check them. Think I may go back to a 170 and move the needle clip from 5 to 4.

 

I saw your other post.
That's what happens to me. A 175 feels good if you are always in the gas hard, but I like the crisp feel in low rpms that a 170 or 172.5 offers. I don't think with a 170 I'm too lean, the plugs look "clean", not so much white.

 

01ds650: Thanks for the information, it makes it easier tweaking when people can share experiences and ideas.

 

my lawyer dictates I post this...

"Use any previous, current or future info at ones own risk"[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]