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My sons KDX started running rich , I live in eastern wash . 800 foot above sea level .
145 main 45 pilot ,needle all the way down , black plug and some times fouling plug .
Droped the main to a 142 middle needle postion , clean air filter, new plug, black again.
Did not run right on the low end , moved needle down one notch, new plug wide open thru all 6 plug chop , black again .
checked float level , just right , pulled reed valves look good , checked float again still in the sweet spot useing a float level sight guage Kawasaki tool . Bike is running fine pulls hard on top and idle is fine ,any ideas???
Im a mechanic for work and been working on bikes all my life this one has me scratching !!!! starting to wonder if i double dosed my fuel can , Naah im not that stupid . By the way i also cleaned and repacked the turbin core, ooops almost forgot air box opened up , FMF pipe . If you have a idea please throw it my way , thanks , Jerry .

Could be signs of a bad crank seal(s)

Good call,Checked the oil by draining and it was 1 quart just like i put in it , yep your right , I forgot to add that part sorry .

Gotanubike wrote:Could be signs of a bad crank seal(s)

Yep, and it doesn't take but a very little bit to start killing plugs.

Sounds like a leaking jet block gasket

what year is it ? worn reeds run rich according to the jetting guide ignore me if im way off just trying to help.

2001 220 KDX ,Any washington guys on here , Wondering what your running for jetting?

Have to start with the pilot jet. How many turns out on the air screw are you with the 45 in there?

http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 105&t=1156

3 turns

That's as many as it should be, multiplied by 2! Default is 1.5 turns out

I'm running a hybrid with a 2001 220 motor. Stock pipe, Turbine Core 2Q SA. No other mods to it really and run from sea level to 5K (and a lot of time over in Mattawa in the 1-2k range). 145MJ, 42PJ, 1.25 turns out on AS at sea level/in the cold, usually around 1.75 turns higher/warmer. 3 Turns out would indicate you need a smaller PJ, which would lean it up.

If it was running fine before and just started running rich I'd have probably look at crank seals/top end (leak down test), you said reeds looked good (would have been my second suspect.

What, if anything has changed recently? Different fuel? Different oil? I know once I let my son mix the fuel and he dutifully went 32:1 like the manual states, even though we had jetted everything to 40:1. Took a whole tank of gas to figure that one out lol. What plug are you running? if a BR9 try a BR8, runs a bit hotter. Beyond that idk

jerry malbeck wrote:3 turns

Read the link I posted. Go down one size on the pilot.

I'd be inclined to go with KarlP's thought. Failing crank seals will make the engine go lean, many times to the point of destruction.

Bought some pilot jets today , thanks for all the info , I am sure its going to be a pilot jet issue as its been running a little fat since we bought it . Ill keep you posted on the outcome , Gonna jet it with the help of Jasons outstanding post , Running a 8 plug, Thanks again, Jerry

Went riding today after some changes , Still a little rich , went to a 140 main and a 40 pilot , Air screw out 1 1/2 turns and needle all the way down , seems to run great , The top end is pulling hard and the mid range is fine , no bog off the bottom . BUT still a little rich, I am suprised. Im going to go down one more size on main and pilot then mess with the needle . getting closer . thanks for the help , Jerry .

Jerry,
Interesting, would you keep us posted at to what you wind up with for jetting?
Thanks,
Greg

will do im still waiting for some smaller main jets but should have them this week , then ill let you all know what i come up with .

Jerry,

Is this the air stryker carb? You will get it figured out regardless. Hope your not working too much. Steve

No its the stock carb on my sons bike, Your bike is running fine . I tried the other carb you gave me but the float level is off or the needle is bad as it is pouring gas out the overflow , Just have not taken the time to mess with it . I will put it on Jareds 220 soon though .Working our butts off its farming time ya know LOL. Still waiting on jets , I had a friend tell me he would pick some up and im still waiting ,Life out in the middle of nowhere is sometimes frustrating BUT I love it !!!!

Good to hear from you. You will get it worked out. Sorry I could not make the desert ride. The jets should help. Steve