Wow. Problems already!? (Reeds)

[honda4life]

'09 Zuma.
Bought new Athena carbon reeds to change out with my new carb.
Easy 5 minute job right?
I put one set in and I see light when I tighten them down!?
Also, there are 2 holes drilled where the screws go. I used one set on one side and the other set on the other side.
See light through both!!!?😡
Any suggestions?
Putting them in the stock reed cage. The stock ones look great and seal great. (Only 500 miles on the scoot)

Ok so I used this awesome thing called "search" and found that this is a common problem. That's disappointing.

Next issue:
The Dellorto carbs oil nipple is on the other side and I need another 3" of little oil line to hook it up.
To do this might be a pita.
Do I have to remove the damn flywheel to get to the other end of the hose connection? Wow.

[joggybro]

Upload some pics,try flipping them around.

[joggybro]

For the oil pipe cut a piece about an inch and a half off,
Then get a length of fuel line and connect the oil pipe inside(tight fit),
Then get the small piece of oil pipe you cut off do the same as above on the oposite end of hose and coonect to carb nipple connection.

[spaz12]

I've installed 6 or 7 Athena's and every single one of them had that issue with the reeds. Was told to run em the first time I asked and I did. They'll run just fine.

Running a Dellorto carb on a Zuma you will need to replace the oil line to the carburetor, which means that you need to remove the flywheel. Might as well clean the grease out of the pump area and change it while you have it apart.
The best place to get new oil line is in the weed eater section of Home Depot or Lowe's.

[honda4life]

Well that just sucks @ss. I "could" rig up the oil line but I don't think it's worth the risk.
Yeah I believe it got the nicer (fluorescent green) line at Lowe's.
Man, that's was more than I expected actually. The throttle tube/cable doesn't seem to return very well when I let off of it....
I didn't buy a choke cable either!!!!!😡
Sooooo, I used the original throttle cable. Ground down the tab on the end and it worked out really well.
The jets confuse the heck out of me.
I have 3!?
There is my 88 high speed, then a 60!?, and another very small one that I cannot remember right now.

[spaz12]

You'll never have to worry about the 60 jet. That's your starter jet and I've never heard of anyone ever having to mess with that.

The other two are your main jet and pilot jet.

Best place to get the correct throttle cable for the Zuma is DrowSports.com and I think you should change it if it doesn't return on it's own. Sounds a bit dangerous :/

[honda4life]

Definitely. I have zero kinks in it. Routed it where it would be the longest without getting tangled or kinked.
I'm thinking it's the "j" bend that goes into the top of the carb.
Going out to get oil hose now.

flipping the reeds around made no difference.  Still can see a little light through them.  Anyway..

[tsimi]

I had the same issue with my Voca Carbon reed petal that I bought for my vertical engine.
As far I can recall it is vital for the reeds to seal 100%. When people ask, "how do you know when your reeds need replacing" most answer is "hold the reed block into the light and if you can see a space or opening you'll have to replace them" well my Voca reed didn't seal shit. $6 for the trash can. Very disappointing.
I guess best would be to buy a complete reed block with pre-installed carbon reeds and if they are shot you can find matching replacements that should seal.

Regarding the Dellorto carb they are very adjustable. It depends what Dellorto carb you have it can have different parts pre-installed. There are normal Dellorto carbs, usually silver color. Then there are the Stage6 PHBG Racing carbs which are black and come with all the right parts for a 2T like W7 needle, AU262 atomizer.
And then there are the clones like Motoforce Racing or other no name clones which most likely don't have the right parts installed.

The main jet is sure important but so is the pilot jet, the tiny little one between the stater jet #60 and the main jet. If you haven't touched the pilot jet yet you most likely have a too large one in there either 45 or 50 depends if the carb is a racing version (black) or normal version (silver).
The pilot can affect also low-/mid to full open throttle and you want to be somewhere around 38-42 with the stock airbox. With open filters maybe 42-50.
The needle is mostly in the second from top position.
Like I said the Dellorto carb is highly tune-ble and can be very fuel efficient and powerful if tuned properly.

[honda4life]

Tsimi:
Thank you so much!!!!!
The reeds definitely don't seal.  (Athena carbon) I read the same stuff-when they don't seal completely it's time to replace them.  I dint get it man...
Managed to get new oil line installed without the flywheel removal. No problems!
Started it up and let it run a bit. Took it down the block and runs pretty damn good.
Haven't adjusted anything yet. It's the stage 6 phbg with w7 needle adjusted 2nd from top.
Also running 88 main jet
60 idle jet
50 pilot jet???
What is the au262 atomizer?
It's not idling but for no adjustments so far it's not bad!! I don't have time to mess with it today. Have to mess with it tomorrow some.

So the only things I will be messing with is the 50, the 88 and the idle and air screws? Time to do some research on this carb!

[tsimi]

[honda4life]

Ok so I just set the idle screw and decided to take it out for a few minutes. Marked my throttle at idle, 1/2, and full.
It ran fantastic from idle to 1/2 throttle!!!!
I was running 41mph which I am pretty damn satisfied with!!
Anyway, the problem is:
After 1/2 throttle when I rotate it it begins to bog. I think it's too rich with the 88 jet.??
I have the needle at 1 notch down from the top and I'm confused as to whether I should even mess with it and go for the high jet?
What do you guys think?

For the record:
Stock intake stock exhaust stage6 dellorto 19mm carb, w7 needle on one notch from top, 88 high jet.
It's odd that I am getting 41mph at 1/2 throttle. I would expect I would have a good throttle response but then top out at like 30 or so and bog down..?

[tsimi]

Try a jet 2-3 numbers smaller. 85? 86?
Your pilot is probably a 50 which is way too rich.

Check out treatland for PHBG parts they sell those pilot jets as single or package of 3 I think. Get something like 37, 38, 40, 42. $6 a piece I think.

On my previous Jog I ended up with a 37/85 setup on my 19mm and 37-38/95-96 on my 21mm carb. Stock airbox with snorkel removed.

Usually people start to tune WOT first then they check 1/4 or 1/2 throttle.

[honda4life]

Thanks man.
In my 15 minutes that I rode it accelerated great. Anything past 1/2 throttle I'm "thinking" is flooding and will not ignite the gas hence the bogging issue.
I also noticed this and I'll try to explain:
As I let off the throttle it used to keep firing until I can to a stop.....you could hear din din din din din din......
Now it it's kinda missing and it isn't nearly as pronounced which leads me to believe it's having trouble firing all the extra gas.?( My theory at this point)
The stock carb I took out had a 73 jet in it!!!!
I'm thinking I am way too rich.
I didn't check the plug because I had to come straight to work 😞
So right now I have a 88, 60, and 50 (middle one) jets in it.
i am running 41mph @ 8100 rpm's
just read the Dellorto service manual....whew! Carbs are amazing little things!!
it mentions opening the choke whole the motor is 
warmed up. If it runs better you are too lean and worse you are too rich-duh! Maybe I'll mess with it tomorrow.  I have some time to tinker around with it.
Just ordered a clear Malossi bowl and 38 jet from treatland.  Awesome site!!!!

[spaz12]

I don't usually disagree with Tsimi, but it sounds to me like you are lean. Bogging is lean and sputtering is rich. I'd go with a bigger main.

[honda4life]

Damn, now I'm really confused!! Haha