GS850G Cafe Racer with pod filters

[uteman]

I have assisted a friend with cafe racer conversion of a GS850 with 32mm carbs.
I am a heavy diesel mechanic and have little experience with motorcycle carbs.
Owner purchased AMOT pod filters via Ebay (Made in China)
He also purchased jetting kit from 6Sigmajetkit.com in USA
Work on carbs completed as per their instructions including re positioning "E" clips on needles
Bike seems to run quite sweet with good throttle response but yet to be ridden.
Difficulty in fine tuning carbs when there is only 2 inches of vacuum showing on my gauges.
I am thinking that this reading would change with pods that have an oiled "sock" on them.
Hoping that some more experienced tuner will tell me what I should be expecting in the way of vacuum.
I strongly suspect that the AMOT pods may not be among the best available. Any experience with these folks?

 

[Big T]

Cheap pods often give poor results plus they often block an air jet in the carb mouth.
Never heard of a pod that doesn't need oiling

 

[uteman]

Cheap pods often give poor results plus they often block an air jet in the carb mouth.
Never heard of a pod that doesn't need oiling

BIG T:
I checked the clearance to jets etc at inlet throat of carbs and the pod rubbers have ample clearance so no issue there.
As for oiling the pods, I am here for learning so teach away.
The mesh in these pods is quite coarse so a very tacky lubricant would be needed or it will simply drip off the mesh so what is a recommended product?

I watched a couple of YOUTUBE videos tonight from ICHIBAN MOTO and see that this guy was installing restrictions to the pods that are simply like a flat washer.
Nothing like this was mentioned in the re-jetting kit received from 6Sigma so this has me scratching my head a little.
Assistance and advice is always appreciated. It might be 10pm here in Australia but not too late to learn something new today.

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Uteman. I can't help with your carb issue. But I would be careful following anything in an Ichiban Moto video too literally. I watch and love his videos but understand that they are purely for entertainment purposes only.

 

[dorkburger]

Ichiban Moto is pure parody delivered with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

 

[uteman]

Uteman. I can't help with your carb issue. But I would be careful following anything in an Ichiban Moto video too literally. I watch and love his videos but understand that they are purely for entertainment purposes only.

Rich82GS750TZ: I kinda wondered why he had such a different approach to everyone else so thanks for comments.
I did sent an email to 6Sigma asking for comments and further advise but so far no reply
.
As my early post states the bike sounds great and seems to run sweet so I guess fit the tank and go a spin

 

[Guest]

Difficulty in fine tuning carbs when there is only 2 inches of vacuum showing on my gauges.

When you say 'fine tuning' are you talking about balancing them or something else? I have never measured the absolute vacuum on my 1100E carbs, you just set them to be the same relative to one another. I have always balanced the carbs with the airbox or pods off, so you don't see much vacuum there and it works fine using a set of mercury gauges or carb sticks. Also note that setting the idle up towards ~2000rpm helps with getting good readings when balancing carbs.


Mark

 

[Big T]

BIG T:
I checked the clearance to jets etc at inlet throat of carbs and the pod rubbers have ample clearance so no issue there.
As for oiling the pods, I am here for learning so teach away.
The mesh in these pods is quite coarse so a very tacky lubricant would be needed or it will simply drip off the mesh so what is a recommended product?
.

K&N, as well as other pod manufacturers, have their own spray oil.
Ask at any motorcycle dealer

 

[Steve]

The vacuum that you are measuring to balance the carbs will not be affected by the filters or even the lack of filters.

Even the most-restrictive filters will pass enough air to allow the engine to run at a fast idle to balance the carbs.

You may find that those (cheap) pod "filters" may cause more headache then they are worth, in the long run. It's somewhat easy to get the bike to run and even have crisp response to throttle inputs, but when you get out on the road and add a load, the situation changes quickly.

Good luck with the tuning session. :encouragement:

.

 

[Rob S.]

Never heard of a pod that doesn't need oiling

Is that so? I never oiled my APEs; maybe my mechanic did when he jetted the carbs. I'll have to ask him.

 

[Guest]

Is that so? I never oiled my APEs; maybe my mechanic did when he jetted the carbs. I'll have to ask him.

While I suppose they technically don't NEED to be oiled, both the APE and K&N pods are certainly meant to be oiled and will filter very poorly without oil applied to them.


Mark