1980 KZ550 jet recommendations
- Buzzard53
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1980 KZ550 jet recommendations
13 Feb 2020 10:41
I'm in the process of putting together the motor on my cafe' project.
I'm hunting for jet sizes and needle sizing for the 550.
I plan on running pods and have a 4 into 1 header ready to mount.
I'm sure many others have run this setup and would like to get suggestions on what would work best for normal use. Not trying to create a high performance bike. Just one that will run well for around town rides.
Thanks in advance for your help!!
I'm hunting for jet sizes and needle sizing for the 550.
I plan on running pods and have a 4 into 1 header ready to mount.
I'm sure many others have run this setup and would like to get suggestions on what would work best for normal use. Not trying to create a high performance bike. Just one that will run well for around town rides.
Thanks in advance for your help!!
1980 KZ550 LTD
2016 HONDA GOLDWING F6B
U.S.A.F. 1972-1976
2016 HONDA GOLDWING F6B
U.S.A.F. 1972-1976
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- loudhvx
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Re: 1980 KZ550 jet recommendations
13 Feb 2020 11:50 - 13 Feb 2020 11:55
Stock pilots are 32.
Stock mains are 92.
Stock needle is a fixed clip position.
I recommend using the stock needle unless you know for a fact that the adustable needles you find are either 100% TK (factory original adjustable available outside the U.S.) or are non-counterfeit Dynojet needles. I have run into counterfeit Dynojet needles and bad replica factory adjustable needles.
Here's a link to the various needles and what to avoid:
s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/TK22mainPage/TK2...K22threeNeedles.html
I recommend getting your jets at Jets-R-us. Here's details on jets and links to jets-r-us.
s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/TK22mainPage/TK2...22jetsAndDrills.html
There is a wide variety of jetting combos that will work for you.
Start with a pilot around 35 or so and a main around 96 to 100. You might be able to run this without a needle adjustment if you are very lucky.
Most likely you will have to shim the factory needle with the smallest shim you can get. Normal shim is .5mm, but you can find .4mm and sometimes smaller. Or you can bang a shim thinner with a hammer. Just do 20 of them and you will find 4 that are good. You have to properly shim the needle
s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/TK22mainPage/TK2...shimmingNeedles.html
and this is how to change the needle:
s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/TK22mainPage/TK2.../TK22needleSwap.html
These are just very preliminary starting points. The best way is to make sure the bike runs correctly stock first. Then start making changes. This is not always possible, so a starting point is needed. If the bike doesn't run well at all, then you will really need to check a bunch of other things first.
Compression
Valves (read the warning below)
Voltage
Ignition timing
Vacuum leaks
Jetting is usually the last step before final tuning.
You will also want to make sure the choke system is working properly:
s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/TK22mainPage/TK2...chokePlateFlaps.html
s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/TK22mainPage/TK2...astIdleScrewMod.html
And of course general carb condition, especially fuel level:
s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/TK22mainPage/TK2...stmentsAndMaint.html
Main site:
s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/TK22mainPage/TK22mainPage.html
Stock mains are 92.
Stock needle is a fixed clip position.
I recommend using the stock needle unless you know for a fact that the adustable needles you find are either 100% TK (factory original adjustable available outside the U.S.) or are non-counterfeit Dynojet needles. I have run into counterfeit Dynojet needles and bad replica factory adjustable needles.
Here's a link to the various needles and what to avoid:
s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/TK22mainPage/TK2...K22threeNeedles.html
I recommend getting your jets at Jets-R-us. Here's details on jets and links to jets-r-us.
s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/TK22mainPage/TK2...22jetsAndDrills.html
There is a wide variety of jetting combos that will work for you.
Start with a pilot around 35 or so and a main around 96 to 100. You might be able to run this without a needle adjustment if you are very lucky.
Most likely you will have to shim the factory needle with the smallest shim you can get. Normal shim is .5mm, but you can find .4mm and sometimes smaller. Or you can bang a shim thinner with a hammer. Just do 20 of them and you will find 4 that are good. You have to properly shim the needle
s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/TK22mainPage/TK2...shimmingNeedles.html
and this is how to change the needle:
s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/TK22mainPage/TK2.../TK22needleSwap.html
These are just very preliminary starting points. The best way is to make sure the bike runs correctly stock first. Then start making changes. This is not always possible, so a starting point is needed. If the bike doesn't run well at all, then you will really need to check a bunch of other things first.
Compression
Valves (read the warning below)
Voltage
Ignition timing
Vacuum leaks
Jetting is usually the last step before final tuning.
You will also want to make sure the choke system is working properly:
s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/TK22mainPage/TK2...chokePlateFlaps.html
s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/TK22mainPage/TK2...astIdleScrewMod.html
And of course general carb condition, especially fuel level:
s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/TK22mainPage/TK2...stmentsAndMaint.html
Main site:
s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/TK22mainPage/TK22mainPage.html
1981 KZ550 D1 gpz.
Kz550 valve train warning.
Other links.
Kz550 valve train warning.
Other links.
Last edit: 13 Feb 2020 11:55 by loudhvx.
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- Buzzard53
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Re: 1980 KZ550 jet recommendations
13 Feb 2020 16:22
loudhvx
Thank you for the detailed carb information.
I have a lot of reading ahead.
I certainly appreciate you providing the recommendations.
K Gee
Thank you for the detailed carb information.
I have a lot of reading ahead.
I certainly appreciate you providing the recommendations.
K Gee
1980 KZ550 LTD
2016 HONDA GOLDWING F6B
U.S.A.F. 1972-1976
2016 HONDA GOLDWING F6B
U.S.A.F. 1972-1976
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.