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Customer jetting for a KX500

Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2017 3:17 pm
by Sandblaster
Doug Haas. Yes, The Doug Haas 8-)
This is Team Kawasaki’s jetting for back in the day:
Main Jet: 170
Pilot Jet: 55 or 58 if hard starting
Needle: N82M
Clip: 2
Slide: Modified to be 7.0.
Spark plug: B9EVX
Air Screw: 2.0 turns out
Race this setting from just about sea level to about 1,200 feet
Happy Motoring

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Balanced, mild port, stock compression, Fatty desert pipe, Rad valve
4500ft
92 octane clear gas

52 pilot
170 main
NEEDLE-JET,N89D | 16009-1613 needle at the top position

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All Stock engine, stock pipe, stock pipe
Sea level
110 fuel
160 main and a 50 pilot, stock needle

Same bike Running the quad vent airstriker, 162 main and a 45 pilot. 110 octane fuel. I think I could drop to a 42 pilot.
I can get it to idle with the air screw out 2.5 turns.

Re: Customer jetting for a KX500

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2017 6:29 pm
by moto939
Glad you made this post so I could confirm what I'm finding....

2001 stock motor
Rad Valve and reed spacer
RM250 short body air striker with Boyesen power wing
1200-1500 ft
110 vp/93 premium-no ethanol
50:1 K2 Maxima

stock needle #2 clip #7 slide
160 main
started with a 52 pilot but could tell in the driveway way too rich, so went to a 45. But like you, needed to be 2.5 ish out on the air screw to get a decent idle. Ran ok, but could tell it was loading up and studdering at low speed. Was running low on time, but dropped in a #8 slide and took it for a quick spin. Big difference.....definitely ran cleaner and smoothed out that transition from low to mid. It ran like a different bike. :D I'm still going to drop to a 42 to get the air screw back into 1.5 or so. If you have any spare #7 slides laying around, it might be worth cutting one to a 8 just for a tuning option.

This carb has such a strong vacuum signal (not sure if that's the correct term or not) that I'm starting to wonder if the stock needle is the way to go. I may measure some of the needles I have and see if any are worth a try.

Re: Customer jetting for a KX500

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2017 8:20 pm
by Sandblaster
As soon as I get to mine I will record my findings.
Everything I have seen says that the short bodied air strikers when correctly tuned and jetted will give way better throttle response....

Re: Customer jetting for a KX500

Posted: Tue May 08, 2018 8:18 pm
by Sandblaster
Leo Sadzewicz
So...
I’ve been doing a whole lot of jetting experiments, bought every needle, every jet, and every slide.
And I have successfully gotten rid of all lean surging.
I’m at 3825’
#55 pilot
N82M 4th(stock)
182 main
#9 slide (which actually cures the problem for higher elevations)
Perfect usable power from idle to the moon.
I know there’s gonna be naysayers, let the crap begin :lol:

Re: Customer jetting for a KX500

Posted: Sun May 27, 2018 9:38 pm
by Sandblaster
Coby Hosford
5000’ running a N82L 3rd clip 62 pilot 168 main gets rid of that deceleration surge and replaces it with a tractor like acceleration smooth all the way to the top.

Re: Customer jetting for a KX500

Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2019 7:13 pm
by Sandblaster
38MM AIR STRIKER CARBURETOR (LONG BODY)
Client back east.
Elevation 400 ft

48 pilot 165 main n82m in the 3 Rd position. #7 slide

Re: Customer jetting for a KX500

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2019 4:04 pm
by Sandblaster
38MM AIR STRIKER CARBURETOR (LONG BODY) Kawakaze
400ft
90 deg F
150 Main
45 pilot
Suzuki NECJ needle, second position from the top
#7 slide
Air screw 1.5 out

Re: Customer jetting for a KX500

Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2020 2:45 am
by Sandblaster
All stock KX500...
New engine...
Motul 800 at 50:1 with Clear gas 92.

Jetting can and will vary depending on all the variables.
So, I don't recommend these specs unless you do throttle chops and read your plug to make sure you don't burn it up.
400ft.
Main 158,
Needle 2nd clip N82M,
7 slide,
52 pilot.

Temp 80f
We ran it in with a AFR gauge and were approx 13.0:1

We made 53.11 RWHP on the dyno..

Re: Customer jetting for a KX500

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 7:36 am
by kyser777
Sandblaster wrote:
Mon Sep 30, 2019 7:13 pm
38MM AIR STRIKER CARBURETOR (LONG BODY)
Mathew Beauchamp
48 pilot 165 mine n82m in the 3 Rd position. #7 slide
what is the engine base , reed, etc... and riding condition
thinking to try the same with a 87 kx500 engine+spacer+vf2+gold gnarly cr500pipe... :D

thanks

Re: Customer jetting for a KX500

Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2020 2:02 pm
by Sandblaster
Unfortunately that person has disappeared.
Most new airstrikers come with a 55 pilot and 170 main.
I'd start there and work my way down doing throttle chops to make sure how it is running.