Does anyone know where I can buy a portable tachometer so I can set the idle and mixture on my King Quad and QuadRunner? Can regular automotive tachs be used?
Thanks,
Mark

 

You can't set the mixture with a tachometer, but you really don't need one for the idle either. Just set it so that it doesn't grind gears shifting into 1st and reverse, and so that it idles good. You should be able to tell when it sounds the best.

 

Just another bit of advice. A tachometer is set to read a certain number of cylinders firing, most automotive ones have a switch to go from 4,6 or 8 cylinders. So you would have to get a tach, specifically for a single or twin, and the correct range of operation for the application. Later

 

Thanks for the reply. That's my problem; I can't find a shop around here that sells a single cylinder or twin tach. Does anyone know where I might buy one?
Thanks,
Mark

 

But you can set the mixture with a tach. Both shop manuals I have for my King Quad and 250 QuadRunner recommend setting the idle first, then adjusting the mixture screw until the idle peaks. By peaking the idle RPM, you're theoretically setting the optimal fuel/air mixture. Then you re-adjust the idle screw back to the recommended RPM. I don't trust my ear to do this. So If anyone knows where I can buy a
single or twin cylinder tach, please let me know. How do the ATV shops do it?

Mark

 

Well dude my dealer uses his ear. Set the idling first then do this to set the mixture. Turn the screw one way until it sputters, speeds up, or slows down, then turn the screw the other way counting the turns it taked to make it sputter, slow down, or speed up in idle, then split it and put the screw between the 2 marks. I'm serious my dealer doesn't use anything like that.

 

You do need to use a tach to PROPERLY set the idle and air mixture. Dennis Kirk has one called the tiny tach meter for $56.99. It has a wire that wraps around your coil wire. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks to all that responded to my question re: a tachometer. I found one today at Sears. It's an Actron model CP7680 Diagnostic Multimeter with a low (0-3000)and high (0-9000) range tach. It works with 2 or 4 stroke engines and also works with distributorless ignition systems which my Suzukis have. Very nice. It has an inductive pickup that just easily clamps right onto the spark plug wire.

It's interesting to note that my ear was telling me that the idle sounded about right but the tach said I was about 500 RPM high. The idle speed spec from the Factory Service Manaul for the KingQuad is 1500 plus or minus 100 RPM. Also interesting is that the 2000 KingQuad and 250 QuadRunner models use the same Mikuni BSR29SS carburetor. Now I'm looking for a Factory Service Manual for the 2000 250 QuadRunner.

I paid $129 for it but I think it's worth it for the peace of mind. Besides the multi-meter is useful for testing electrical tolerances too. I guess what's most important is that I feel like I now have the right tools to properly set up the machines.

BTW, I've pulled the spark plug from the QuadRunner and it's coated with black powder which indicates that it's running rich. I did put in a 115 main jet later last year. The original was a 122. Since I live at 4,200 ft. above sea level, and usually ride in the 7000-10000 range, does anyone have any recommendations for a leaner main jet size?

Thanks,
Mark

 

hahahaha i just can't take it no more. I mean the proper stuff. Hell I'm 14 yrs old and i say screw that stuff my 230 been to the dealer once for a new crank. i do all my top end work, clucth electrical carb jettting and everything else. so I'm not going to say anything else but i'm definetly going to laugh.