Topic: Anyone Try This Item for Setting Fuel Mixture?

[Imago]

I'm going to order the Morgan CarbTune out of Ireland and while checking out their web site came across this:

http://www.carbtune.co.uk/colortune.html

"The Colortune has a clear spark plug that lets you look into the combustion chamber while the engine is firing. The colour of the combustion flame tells you if the mixture is correct. With the carburettor mixture screw you can then adjust the flame colour to get the correct mixture".

...thoughts? Anyone have experience with this concept?

[crazypj]

Works good for idle, and just opening throttle.
It overheats pretty quick at higher rpm
 I 'stole' my brothers, then,  my other bother 'stole' it off me 

[phil71]

this is a lot easier http://www.harborfreight.com/non-contact-laser-thermometer-96451.html

[dave500]

i remember those from the 70s.

[Deltarider]

...thoughts? Anyone have experience with this concept?

Forget it. Do an advanced search and type Gunson or Colortune and Deltarider. Oh well, here it is:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=45780.msg479406#msg479406

this is a lot easier http://www.harborfreight.com/non-contact-laser-thermometer-96451.html

Well, if you can convince me you can adjust the mixture on the four cylinders with that, I'll order one right a way. I like to learn.

[-CB-Jamie-]

Ya I have one and like crazypj says its only good for idle really, wouldn't be an essential item in my opinion.

[johnrdupree]

this is a lot easier http://www.harborfreight.com/non-contact-laser-thermometer-96451.html

Those don't work well with very shiny surfaces, like chrome exhaust pipes.  I tried to adjust the idle mixture on a DOHC 750 with one and every time I took a measurement it was different.  I wound up doing it by the book with a digital tach.

~john

[phil71]

only good for idle? I guess that's true. F@#k it, go buy a dyno instead.

[phil71]

but, as for idle mixture, I've had great results warming up the bike a bit, then tuning for max temp on each cylinder. Bike starts effortlessly and idles like a sewing machine. Albeit, a sewing machine with 4into4 exhaust.

[Really?]

I have used that laser thermometer to tell me which carb was lean.  I knew which carb to bang on.  I do not have a fetish for the finger test. 

[phil71]

Oh, I've also used a damp paper towel, and tuned till they all make steam on the same mississippi count.

[lrutt]

Just tell by the sound and feel. Or has that become a lost art???

[ABikeNamedTrouble]

Ha!  Love the wet paper towel trick Phil71!

[phil71]

+1 irutt, but you know, not everyone has that 'tool feel' in their hands, takes time and an ear that has to be developed

[Deltarider]

Just tell by the sound and feel. Or has that become a lost art???

Can't wait to see (and listen to) your video. Please post it!

[Imago]

Oh, I've also used a damp paper towel, and tuned till they all make steam on the same mississippi count.

I like this... can you elaborate?

[Gordon]

Just tell by the sound and feel. Or has that become a lost art???

I think it becomes second nature after you've owned, worked on and ridden/driven a vehicle for several years and have gotten to know it intimately, but when a machine is new to you, you have to employ various techniques to find out what it needs.

 Same with women.  Just take out the "owned" part.

[phil71]

[/quote]

I like this... can you elaborate?
[/quote]

actually, not really. It's all there.

[lrutt]

Just tell by the sound and feel. Or has that become a lost art???

I think it becomes second nature after you've owned, worked on and ridden/driven a vehicle for several years and have gotten to know it intimately, but when a machine is new to you, you have to employ various techniques to find out what it needs.

 Same with women.  Just take out the "owned" part.

Maybe for the sound but the feel part is pretty universal. Bogging from lean or rich is pretty distinct, the smell of the exhaust at idle to tweak that in,

I just purchased a suzi 250 2 stroke that 2 others had given up on for hopeless. a couple minutes of messing and listening at idle pointed me in the direction that some PO must have 'over cleaned' the jets, especially when I'm told the carbs have been cleaned multiple times. Sure enough. Then just go back to the specs, stock jetting at stock settings and you're 95% of the way there in this case.

But it is correct, a lifetime of messing with carbs and bikes creates a mental database that is hard to duplicate. Probably why i struggle with this fuel injected crap.

[orkid1989]

the only possible way i can see using a colortune one one of these air cooled motors is if you get 4 of them and just use the color in order to match the cylinders up. air cooled motors run rich in order to keep cooler (from what I've heard) and by tuning the motor to the "blue" flame will probably be too lean. but i guess you could try to just match the colors on each cylinder. as far as comparing price to other techniques i would say it is highly inefficient.

4 Colortunes = $414.04
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorcycle-Colortune-Kit-12mm-Gunson-G4171-Colourtune-/280634292365?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item41571b788d

1 Infrared Thermometer = $39.99
http://www.harborfreight.com/non-contact-laser-thermometer-96451.html

3 Bosch O2 Sensors and 1 Innovate LC1 Wideband w DB Blue Gauge w Bosch O2 Sensor = $326.95
http://www.ebay.com/itm/150692090034?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/280750842055?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Watching someone like me attempt to wire it all up = priceless

[Deltarider]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorcycle-Colortune-Kit-12mm-Gunson-G4171-Colourtune-/280634292365?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item41571b788d

Shameless. Just read where it says:
Specially designed for motorcycle engines this low volume colortune maintains the compression ratio of the engine, ensuring better firing of the mixture.
Well, it's about time they found out. Many years before Gunson I had already discovered the design was wrong, lost my money and I still own a colortune that's useless. Just reread what I've posted long time ago.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=45780.msg479406#msg479406

BTW, of all maintenance adjustments, I find setting the mixture the most difficult and I welcome suggestions.
Maybe it's a good idea that someone with expertise posts three recordings of sounds a SOHC makes in one of its four exhausts.
1. To lean,
2. To rich,
2. Right

I suggest a RPM a bit above idle, like... 1500 RPM?
Who would like to share his knowledge on this? So we can all learn.

[orkid1989]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorcycle-Colortune-Kit-12mm-Gunson-G4171-Colourtune-/280634292365?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item41571b788d

Shameless. Just read where it says:
Specially designed for motorcycle engines this low volume colortune maintains the compression ratio of the engine, ensuring better firing of the mixture.
And reread what I've posted long tme ago.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=45780.msg479406#msg479406

Maybe it's a good idea that someone with expertise posts three recordings of sounds a SOHC makes in one of its four exhausts.
1. To lean,
2. To rich,
2. Right

I suggest a RPM a bit above idle, like 1500 RPM?
Who would like to share his knowledge on this?

i was only trying to point out the fact that their are cheaper ways of tunung a motorcycle.

[Deltarider]

i was only trying to point out the fact that their are cheaper ways of tunung a motorcycle.

We know. That 'shameless' was ment for Gunson.

[splitt]

I've own a colortune, but I found it difficult to get an even burn color. The laser temp gauge is much quicker and easier.

[Deltarider]

The laser temp gauge is much quicker and easier.

  I can understand that an infrared thermometer can tell you whether a cylinder is working or not. But so can your fingers by quickly touching the exhausts. But if you mean that you can really adjust the mixture on the four cylinders with that, I'll like to learn. Can you tell us some more? If you convince me I'll order one right a way. I like to learn.