Factory Pro carburetor kit

[brillo1542]

I have been watching the posts concerning gas mileage and good running Valks and how the kit from Factory Pro helped.  So, I decided to call the folks at Factory Pro and talk to them about their 2 kits for the carbs.  The gentleman there asked me what I wanted out of the kit.  I told him that my Valk was running great, that it had a 6 degree trigger wheel (modified from the factory wheel), that it started very well, even when I drove it in 5 degree weather, and that I was looking to improve my gas mileage.  (The trigger wheel and Dyna 3000 brought it up from 32 mpg to 35.5 mpg at 70 mph.)  I also said that I bought it with cobra pipes and jet kit on it and converted back to stock pipes.

He said that the kits he sells are made to increase HP and make the bike run better by making the mixture richer.  Therefore, the kits wouldn't do what I wanted them to do.

I just remember that when I was modifying 2 strokes, I could get more HP out of them and get the same or sometimes better mileage, provided I didn't go too wild on the ports.  This, of course, included richer main jets and expansion chambers.

So, is it true?  Do the kits only increase performance at the expense of gas mileage, or can you install a kit (for either stock or modified air boxes) and get better mileage if you drive at a steady pace on the interstate?

Thank you for allowing me to be so long-winded.  I appreciate your answers.

Paul

[Robert]

I did the stage 2 kit and the mileage did indeed improve. There kits like the man said are not made to improve mileage,which is a correct statement. The kits are designed to increase hp but with the correct adjustment and leaning it certain areas and richening it in others it comes out to better mileage and increased HP. If you want better mileage and are not after power the correct way would be to lean the needles a bit and then lean the idle screws a bit. this may give you a slight lag or just a slight hold back but it will give you better mileage not power. In theory you could adjust the bike to achieve better mileage with leaner jets than if you put in the jet kit. Contrary to what most believe you can lean these bikes out quite a bit and still run ok. The only real problem would be the 6 degree advance might have to be taken out and the stock wheel put back in. Its really a balancing act and I dont think if I were you I would do it. I personally believe that it would be possible to get a steady 40 around town and maybe 50 on the highway.

[Farther]

I personally believe that it would be possible to get a steady 40 around town and maybe 50 on the highway.

  I would have to see it to believe it.

[Robert]

After doing the kit I got a steady 35 around town and 43 highway, so if you jet for mileage I dont think its beyond the realm. Goldwings get good mileage too.

[brillo1542]

Thanks for the info, Robert.  I have always felt that you can jet for power but get better mileage if you drive it sanely.  Case in point, I have a VW Passat TDI (Diesel).  I put a racing chip in it and almost the largest injectors I could buy.  The HP went from 90 to 140 and the torque went from 149 to 250!  That car can really smoke the tires!  But, if I drive it at a steady 70 mph (hard to do), I get 53 mpg, the best I have ever gotten.

I am VERY interested in the Stage 2 kit.  I would like to eliminate the problem with the restrictive air box.  Since I am taking off the air box to replace the rubber tubing for the emissions, I might as well pop off the carbs.

Paul

[Blackduck]

Paul,
I have gone down the road of modifying the airbox and it takes time and some dyno time to get the jetting right. I run stock needles (late type) and 127.5 main jets. Anything smaller and it is too lean.
130 was too rich but I have since changed the exhaust but have not had time to get it back on the dyno. On the drag strip it appears too lean. Be a month or too till I get back from this work rotation to have another crack at it.
If you wish to modify the airbox just be prepared to have to mess with the jets a few times.
Cheers Steve

[Robert]

The Factory pro stage 2 jet kit requires a air box mod of just pulling out the baffle plate in the opening. The included jets are 110 through 120 and recommended is the 110 to start. I have been more than happy with the results but feel that a touch richer would be in order so I can imagine by eliminating the airbox you would need to go to the 125 or 130 jets like Blackduck says. Glad you told the story of the VW diesel I had one that  a guy brought me because no one else would work on it and it had broken the timing belt and bent all the valves. So after sorting things out and getting it running and fixing a pump leak I did some research. I discovered what was available for them and was pretty impressed. So much so that I was thinking of buying one to play with. There cheap to buy not really expensive to fix especially for me and the performance was really good even stock. I played a bit with the boost and mixture on the one I fixed and couldn't believe the pickup.

[Robert]

The mileage before I did the kit install was 29/30 around town and 35/38 on the highway. The kit really dosent take all that much figuring out to get right depends on how picky you are. Thats one of the good things about Facory Pro. I also had the Cobra jet kit in but that consists of mainly just the needles and no actual jets. If I were you and wanted better mileage and didn't want to sacrifice pickup I would buy the factory pro kit put in the mains at 115 the slow 38s lean the idle screws and the needles. This will give you guts at the top reasonable idle and excellent cruise lean but good. 

[Farther]

Hey Robert, I am always interested in how to make the Valk more fuel effiecient.  How would your recipe for mileage gains with the Factory Pro kit work with a Dyna 3000?

[triumph 69]

 where can I order the factory pro kit and are you using a k&n filter with a mod air box

[brillo1542]

Thanks, Robert, for the additional information.  I guess that I am just going to have the buy the Factory Pro stage 2 kit.  Even the wife thinks it's a good idea!!  That's a good thing, right?

Paul

[Robert]

One of the best ways to increase fuel mileage on the Valk is to advance the timing and the Dyna if it works on your bike is one of the best ways to do that. Sadly it doesn't work on mine , so I had to revert to the interstate icm and a modified timing wheel.   I have learned that if the wife agrees then if anything is needed after that then you can blame the first thing for needing the second and usually its a done deal the problem is when it comes to the 8th or 9th
     My setup is the airbox modified meaning the baffle taken out with a K&N filter no pre filter and the recommended settings in the kit. Slow jets 38 mains 110 needle setting to kit instructions and I was good to go. It could use a little larger mains which the kit did supply, but I really didn't want to do it now but maybe later and with the new allen screws for the float bowls they give you it makes things so much easier to remove the bowls. I ordered the kit right from Factory Pro at wholesale, but you may be able to find it discounted at some on line suppliers. I ordered direct because I went with the stage 2 kit not the stage one because I wanted to modify the airbox. The stage one kit its not recommended to modify the box