Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech adjusting air mix screws without buening thyself.

How??
I was trying Greybeards technique of tuning for fastest idle, and I have a couple questions.
A: How do you adjust the left carb without cooking your hand? should I do it as soon as I turn it on? I figured warmed up was best.
2: I tried it without unhooking one plug, does it worth with both cylinders running? Or do you have to unplug one at a time?

After I get setup with a proper machine shop, one of the first things I hope to do is start making a tool for this.

All you can do is use the shortest screwdriver you have that fits. Wrapping some tape around the blade so you can grip it higher up helps, and placing a folded rag or towel on top of the primary cover does too.

It's easier to adjust the mixture with both cylinders running because a smooth idle is a good indicator that the adjustment is right and the engine is less likely to stall if you go a little too far.

If you have the vapor collection emissions system (hoses connected to the vacuum fittings on the carbs) or a balance hose between the manifolds you have to disconnect the hoses and plug the fittings or you will go stark raving nuts trying to get the mixture right.

When I was tweaking for decel pop, I'd take a folded up paper towel to lay on top of clutch side of engine.

AHH The connector hose!! OK square one

I use just the little flat-head bit from my 4-in-1 screwdriver. It is a hex shape and has the little spring ball on it so counting turns is a breeze. But I've got big meats, so getting in there is tricky! I'll try some cardboard or something on the primary.

If you can't smell the burning meat or see smoke, just adjust the damm things and take it like a man....

Now excuse me, I have a paper cut booboo that needs a band-aid and a kiss from mommy...

Benny,
The best way to avoid getting burned is to have someone else adjust it for you. Matt has little girlie hands and can reach in there and hardly screams at all when his hands melt.

Well it is on my list for rally tinkering for sure.

Ouch, Grump droppin' the hammer!

I'm having a UFO 70's flashback....
---------------------
Caught in the crossfire, warnin fight
Legends make or break game
Swept up by the rolling waves of the night
The paper chase for fame

I was too, too hot, baby
Too hot to handle
Yeah, I was too, too hot
Too hot to handle
-----------------------

But seriously, if you want to avoid burning your hand, steal an oven mitt from the kitchen and cut out the thumb and mitt part at the edge so you can fit your fingers through. That way the rest of your hand is covered from being scorched, but your fingers can still have the dexterity to turn the little screwdriver.

This has been your Heloise helpful hint of the day.

that is a really good idea...

Check out the big brains on Derek.
Now thats thinking right there.

My wife will look for that oven mitt for an hour.

Maybe Brent can start making "official" carb-adjusting oven mitts with Union Jacks, Hammerheads, etc....

Or, you could just get a pair of leather work gloves......

I was usingm y leather work gloves when I did it this last time. They aren't the thickest things in the world, I will admit that, but it is what I have. I think I'll look for one of those extra long oven mits so I can even get the left carb from the right side too.

I use to work with molten salt and I think I have a
fire proof glove somewhere I could send ya.

Nah I think a dollar store oven mit will do the trick

McFrugals!! That's hillarious. Yeah we've got that here, I'll check it out. There's a brand new dollar tree right down the street too, so I figured I would try there first. Kim (not my wife YET) is a big time Target/Costco/Walmart shopper, but we also got a bunch of oven mits and what not for christmas last year, so I'm not going to chop up something her grandmother gave us!

Been trying to get this mixture right but seems I'm too particular. Only good thing is because of age and "Arthur" I don't have much feeling in my hands. The story about burning flesh is a good indicator, I know then that I've twisted and turned long enough. OH, yea, has anyone tried this colortune thing?