Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Performance Mods ARK done now on to AI removal

Thanks to those of you here and elsewhere, the ARK removal wasn't as bad as it could've been. BC had no instructions, but after a call they sent some. Still worthless, but I was pointed in a direction that helped. The rest was taking chances and that worked.

Now to tackle AI removal.

Seems Jenks has it right here on his famous thread , but wow I'm intimidated.

Any advice, encouragement, photos of your carbed America would be helpful.

I removed mine just recently. Took about 3/4 of an hour. I used the instructions that came with my kit(Thunderbike air injection removal kit). very basic and straight forward. I never adjusted the idle mixture, didn't seem to be any need. But the difference to the over run was astounding. I have the short TOR's and it just constantly farted. Don't know how the previous owner put up with it.

Airbox removal complete along with K&N Filters installed. Fires right up but not enough goose for this guy. Next is AI removal to see what it runs like before going all the way with the re-jet. Am I missing something? If it is gutless above 5k rpm, is it starving for fuel or the opposite?

Running lean especially in the midrange.

The AI won't effect the way it runs it just helps to keep the pipes from turning blue if you remove it. It also makes accessing the sparkplugs much easier. If you have the stock pilot and main jets in there with pod filters you will be lean pretty much across the board and that will effect the way it runs.

Thanks Dog and Moe. Yep, it's completely stock in the carbs at this point. I started with removing my pipes and putting emgo short turnouts, then did away with the airbox and now will do the AI this weekend.

I didn't want to re-jet, shim, etc until I was done messing with it. Using the calculator I need a 153ish main. But will have to figure out if/how I need to shim or change anything else. I figured the re-jetting and shimming would make it happy again.

Tough for us newbs to read through thousands of posts here and elsewhere only to realize most of you did these mods to your bikes 6-8 years ago. You remember how it felt when you tore apart your perfectly working ride?

Probably going to want a 45 pilot if the calculator wants a 153 for a main at your elevation. Might have to settle for a 155 or 150 main.

I believe that they make 152 main jets, that would put you close as well.

I'm using a 152.5 main

So when I run the jetting calculator it recommends 154 mains since I have stock jet needles, stock pilot jets and no shims installed. Can someone point me in the direction of why I need shims or jet needles or stock pilot jets different than stock if the calculator says it will work with 154 mains? I installed the British Customs ARK and it came with some needles and jets, but haven't touched that yet.

With stock pilot you will be lean at idle to about 1/4 throttle more or less. The needle meters the fuel from the main and the shim raises the needle changing the throttle position that any certain point of the needle taper is in play. The higher the needle is raised the smaller it's diameter allowing more fuel until you are running off the size of the main nearing full throttle. Different needles have different tapers changing the amount of fuel metered at any given point. Shims are normally used to fix a mid range flat spot if you find you have one but watch as all these come into play in combination at any given point making the mix richer or leaner. I would start with what the calculator suggests with a 45 pilot and the suggested main and tweek it from there. While tweeking the mix make one change at a time and test to determine if that worked or not. If you make multiple changes at the same time you won't be sure what one was good and what one was bad.

Thanks fellas. AI removal was a lot easier then the ark removal. It really helped to have a 13mm offset wrench. The bend is necessary to get to the parts you need to remove. $7.99 at the auto store and now I have a wrench to add to my manhood. I didn't remove the spark plugs either. All in all it took 45 minutes.

Now on to learn how to re-jet...based on what it takes...I think I'm too big of a chicken sh*t to tear my carbs out to replace the jets. Argh!

**Update**
I nutted up and took out the carbs. I left the jets alone and replaced the mains. I don't have the d tool so left any adjustments alone. Put it all back together and took it for a spin.
No more mid level lean, no more popping and a bit more oomph. Now to drive it around, see how it responds and dial it in down the road. Maybe an ecu?

I could not have done any of this without the forum and my friends here. Thanks, now to go for a ride.

Be gone!


Wasn't that hard, just scary.