Topic: How Do Can I Tell If Im Overheating...??

[dunnisher]

i have a cb350 that seems to be running pretty hot.. Im not sure how hot is too hot so
I dont know if it is overheating or not.. The engine pings a little bit after i turn it off after a ride. I take
it that means the metal was getting really hot and is settling back..
Is there any thing i can do or look for to see if I am overheating or not?
Anybody?
 
PS.. the top fins on the engine get hot enough to sizzle spit off after a ten minute ride.. the fins are near
the header inputs so id imagine they would get pretty damn hot.. but should they be hot enough to sizzle
as quickly as the headers?
any thoughts would be much appreciated

[dunnisher]

OK.. nevermind.. i read an earlier post that leads me to believe that it is normal for the bike to run that hot..

I do have another question though... My plugs get fouled pretty quickly with black deposits.. that means it is
running rich right?  If that is so.. how can i compensate for that.. ?
thanks

[number13]

Running rich can be any one of dozens of issues, but first
make sure your air filter is clean, if in doubt just get a new one.
Think of it like this, your carbs job is to balance air and fuel.
If one of those is restricted, the other goes up, so less air (dirty filter) means
more fuel (running rich)
hope that helps, keep us informed.

#13

[Bodain]

Have you ever been beside one of those new HondaHarley's, Yamaharley's with all the chrome.

They sound like popcorn machines when they turn the engine off. PING, PING, PING, PING, PING

[dunnisher]

i had been running it with no air filters at all up until a little while ago.. i pulled the plugs yesterday to see if
they still had the carbon deposits.. they were pretty clean.. the insulator was still white.. the bike still acts funny sometimes..
like today riding to work the first 1/8 throttle turn seemed to bog the engine down.. but once i got past that point it had
really good response. not too sure.. i still think im having some sort of carb problems.. the bike has a mind of its own and will
fuss and cry somedays and ride like a champ others...

I did switch to 20-50 yesterday.. that seems to be helping keep it a little cooler..
thanks for the advice guys..

hey Bodain. that bike looks awesome. did you chrome the frame?

thanks again

[TwoTired]

i had been running it with no air filters at all up until a little while ago.. i pulled the plugs yesterday to see if
they still had the carbon deposits.. they were pretty clean.. the insulator was still white.. the bike still acts funny sometimes..
like today riding to work the first 1/8 throttle turn seemed to bog the engine down.. but once i got past that point it had
really good response. not too sure.. i still think im having some sort of carb problems.. the bike has a mind of its own and will
fuss and cry somedays and ride like a champ others...

White insulators are a definite sign of running much too lean.  Not only will this make your engine too hot, there are issues like preignition and detonation that can destroy your engine.  Burnt valves and seized pistons, also come to mind.

The air filter is restrictive and gets moreso as it traps dust and dirt that would otherwise errode cylinder walls and piston rings.  The filter restrictiveness lowers the vaccum in the carb bore and this causes more fuel to flow from the jet multiple orifices (pushed through by atmospheric pressure, which can vary daily).

If you are going to run without an air filter, the carburetors should be readjusted to compensate for the change in carb throat pressure.

Best of luck!

[dunnisher]

thanks for the help two tired... so if i am running too lean is the air adjustment screw all that i need to adjust.. or do the floats need adjusting too?

[TwoTired]

First of all, I think this entire thread should be in the "other bikes" section, instead of the SOHC4 technical forum.

I request that the moderator move it to there.

Assuming your 350 twin carbs work in the same way the SOHC4 carbs do, then the air screw only effects the first 1/4 or less of the throttle travel and corresponding engine RPM.
Raising the float level does have a richening effect across the entire throttle range.  But, I speculate that will not be enough to compensate properly for lack of air filter restriction. 

More likely, the slow jet, throttle valve needle/jet, and main jet will need to be changed to allow more fuel to be drawn through the carburettors.

Best of luck!

[dunnisher]

thanks TT..
sorry, i didnt mean to offend anyone by writing in the SOHC4 forum..
i just find people tend to know a little more over here.

thanks again for the help!

[KB02]

More likely, the slow jet, throttle valve needle/jet, and main jet will need to be changed to allow more fuel to be drawn through the carburettors.

For what it's worth, my bike had a simular stumble off idle and restting the air screws (and the adjusting them) really helped to stumble go away.

[jdpas29]

put the air filter in and start from the top.