Get rid of your 6 carbs and have only one

[98valk]

Hey jeffk, you and I must have gone to different fuel injection schools together. I agree, electronic multi port injection will beat a carb, or six carbs hands down, on both power and mpg.  If the fuel was shut off when you were coasting, it would play hell on the emissions.  Maybe he is thinking of the displacement on demand motors, where the cylinders are cancelled when full power in not called for. Guess direct injection is not good either with the new 6 cylinder camaro making 306 hp.

my '99 dakota has a speed density system and when coasting injectors shut off.  I have read that most if not all systems do this. This has been confirmed by using a scan gauge also on my truck and scan gauge message boards have stated same.

[98valk]

[I don't normally read your posts. I need to work harder on avoiding them.

What CA posted was mostly true, it was just explained in a clumsy way.  I don't agree with his comments on the EPA mandate for FI is for sinister reasons, though.

I have been working in the environmental industry for 28 yrs. I have read the mandates that go back to the '60s. I didn't call them sinister, but there is an agenda, some of it based on bad/junk science implemented by emotional tree huggers. Get rid of some of the bad agendas and the vehicles would be greatly more fuel efficient.
Honda stratified charge (lean burn engines) are banned from california due to a few extra PPM of NOX yet the engine gets much better MPG than what is allowed in california

[Bobbo]

I have been working in the environmental industry for 28 yrs. I have read the mandates that go back to the '60s. I didn't call them sinister, but there is an agenda, some of it based on bad/junk science implemented by emotional tree huggers. Get rid of some of the bad agendas and the vehicles would be greatly more fuel efficient.
Honda stratified charge (lean burn engines) are banned from california due to a few extra PPM of NOX yet the engine gets much better MPG than what is allowed in california

NOx (oxides of nitrogen) are a well-known contributor to smog, acid rain and other effects of pollutants, and that's why they are controlled in densely populated areas.

There's no question that if we forgo pollution controls, we can achieve slightly higher efficiency.  Just think of the money you would save if you piped your untreated septic water back into you drinking water!   

[98valk]

I have been working in the environmental industry for 28 yrs. I have read the mandates that go back to the '60s. I didn't call them sinister, but there is an agenda, some of it based on bad/junk science implemented by emotional tree huggers. Get rid of some of the bad agendas and the vehicles would be greatly more fuel efficient.
Honda stratified charge (lean burn engines) are banned from california due to a few extra PPM of NOX yet the engine gets much better MPG than what is allowed in california

NOx (oxides of nitrogen) are a well-known contributor to smog, acid rain and other effects of pollutants, and that's why they are controlled in densely populated areas.

There's no question that if we forgo pollution controls, we can achieve slightly higher efficiency.  Just think of the money you would save if you piped your untreated septic water back into you drinking water!   

acid rain another hoax

Acid Rain was once the environmental biggie, the Global Warming of the 70s and 80s.  So the government spent 10 years and $550 million to look into it.  The National Acid Precipitation Assessment Project (NAPAP) essentially concluded it is not a problem.  For example, "The NAPAP study found that among thousands of U.S. lakes, only 4 percent were somewhat acidic. One-quarter of those were acidic due to natural causes, leaving only 3 percent somewhat influenced by human activities."  The NAPAP report came out in 1990, suspiciously about the time Global Warming became the new big thing in environmental causes.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/liberal_fantasyland.html

http://www.akdart.com/enviro6.html

[Grouchy Old Bear]

Just a question. Why not put a Nissan or Honda car carb on it?  My 82 Datsun (last year before changing to Nissan) was an 1.4 4-cyl and it was normal carb, not a TBI.  I believe my 85 Nissan Hardbody PU had an 2 lt. engine and was normal carb too!

FWIW, new Hondas that are labled Ultra low emmisions, do not have a catalytic converter.  Ford and Nissan have them also.

Space, space, space. I had about 6" clearance to the backbone and maybe 9" towards the rear. So I opted for a vertical carb setup. Harley CVs are small.

[Hoser]

NOx (oxides of nitrogen) are a well-known contributor to smog, acid rain and other effects of pollutants, and that's why they are controlled in densely populated areas.
There's no question that if we forgo pollution controls, we can achieve slightly higher efficiency.  Just think of the money you would save if you piped your untreated septic water back into you drinking water!   

Sounds good, let's do it then!     hoser

[Chrisj CMA]

RONW...that carb set up is so awesome looking Id put it on even if it reduced performance just to have the look ......(not really) but I like it a lot

[RonW]

RONW...that carb set up is so awesome looking Id put it on even if it reduced performance just to have the look ......(not really) but I like it a lot

Thanks, Chris. However, I just posted the pics to keep the discussion going. I wouldn't know what I was talking about beyond that with a webber setup. Have a nice weekend.

[CajunRider]

RONW...that carb set up is so awesome looking Id put it on even if it reduced performance just to have the look ......(not really) but I like it a lot

If that setup had 6 down tubes instead of 4, I'd LOVE it!!!  All you'd need then is a intake header built to mount on the engine! 

[Bobbo]

RONW...that carb set up is so awesome looking Id put it on even if it reduced performance just to have the look ......(not really) but I like it a lot

If that setup had 6 down tubes instead of 4, I'd LOVE it!!!  All you'd need then is a intake header built to mount on the engine! 

I believe Weber still makes downdraft carbs.

[ricoman]

[/quote
do u know that all vehicles are now air filters for the EPA. the exhaust is cleaner than the intake air.

[/quote]





Not saying you are incorrect, but, think about that statement-does it make sense to you? Why, we could run engines as air purifiers! May be correct for hydrogen fueled-not gasoline. If correct there would be no need for tests to meet the govt. mandated emission standards because they would , by design, already be met. Check your source and share it so the skeptics among us can be equally enlightened and can admit to learning something new.

[fudgie]

Just think of the money you would save if you piped your untreated septic water back into you drinking water!   

Mines goes into 2 55 gal concrete barrels. It then goes out into the field tile and then to the creek. It has about 1/2 mile of line before it reaches the creek. I can tell you that the water is crystal clear about 200 yds from the house. We replace broken field tile every year and get our hands in it all the time. Still kickin! 

[Bobbo]

Just think of the money you would save if you piped your untreated septic water back into you drinking water!   

Mines goes into 2 55 gal concrete barrels. It then goes out into the field tile and then to the creek. It has about 1/2 mile of line before it reaches the creek. I can tell you that the water is crystal clear about 200 yds from the house. We replace broken field tile every year and get our hands in it all the time. Still kickin! 

Thanks for describing your pollution controls.

[fudgie]

Just think of the money you would save if you piped your untreated septic water back into you drinking water!   

Mines goes into 2 55 gal concrete barrels. It then goes out into the field tile and then to the creek. It has about 1/2 mile of line before it reaches the creek. I can tell you that the water is crystal clear about 200 yds from the house. We replace broken field tile every year and get our hands in it all the time. Still kickin! 

Thanks for describing your pollution controls.

lol wasnt my idea. Whoever built the house over 100 years ago came up with the idea. Wont tell ya what we did when the tanks were full.  Lets say the wheat was very geen that spring! 

[bigfish_Oh]

I've been told by an "apple" guy that a similar reason could be behind my old apple tree bearing an extra-ordinary quanity of over average size apples.

[Bobbo]

Wont tell ya what we did when the tanks were full.

Boy, I hope it doesn't explain your choice of handle here!!       

[hubcapsc]

lol wasnt my idea. Whoever built the house over 100 years ago came up with the idea. Wont tell ya what we did when the tanks were full.  Lets say the wheat was very geen that spring! 

And here I am too timid to eat the muscadines that grow in the septic field 

-Mike "city boy in the country..."

[Zep]

All I know is the Girls love the six carbs with the fake velocity stacks.  Besides, they make my unit bigger.  Thats enough for me.

[dreamaker]

You guys lost me, what is the deal about apples and septic tanks have to do with the subject.

[pvan]

I cannot think of  a single reason why a naturally aspired single carb setup would be better than Honda designed 6 carbs on a Valk... but no problem to each his own.  ???

[Bad On 3]

I LIKE HAVIN 6 CARBS AND I THINK I MUST BE LUCKY BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD TO FIX OR ADJ. THE CARBS --IF I WANTED 1 CARB AND ALOT OF RATTLE I'D  BUY A HARLEY --WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO CHANGE THE POWER OR FEEL OF THE VALKYRIE --I SIT AT IDLE AND ITS SO SMOOTH !! I HAVE A TRIKE AND STILL BLOW THE  WHEELS OFF A HARLEY --

[dreamaker]

Grouchy Old Bear, where did you go?  I am interested in what you have to say and more.  I tinker myself, I solved the turn signal problem on Valks. What is the latest, I was thinking about a Mikuni HSR 45, little more refined. I picked up a set of manifolds myself. Want to hear about your progress.

[Grouchy Old Bear]

Grouchy Old Bear, where did you go?  I am interested in what you have to say and more.  I tinker myself, I solved the turn signal problem on Valks. What is the latest, I was thinking about a Mikuni HSR 45, little more refined. I picked up a set of manifolds myself. Want to hear about your progress.

Waiting for warmer weather. I got it running well. Now I see if I can dial it back to retrieve my MPG. I am very happy with the power response. Works great. Are you wanting detailed pics?

[Stringpicker]

Certainly would be interested in the conversion experiment. I've been in the process for several years using a standard 1500 gold wing manifold on a Valkyrie playing with different carb configurations and models. Several options are worth trying in an effort to minimize all the 6 carb delimas of the past. (Fun to experiment also for us motorheads..)

[Bagger John - #3785]

Guess I'm just blessed.... At 125,000 and my 6 carbs have never needed to be cleaned, nor have they ever required adjustment. Every time I've taken them to be synchronized, they have all been within specs.

I've owned 5 Valks since 2000 - two bought new, the other three with very low mileage on them when acquired. Cumulatively, I've got at least as many miles on Valks as the quoted poster and I'd be willing to bet a little more.

Carb-wise, I have had to deal with one (1) plugged idle jet scenario (screw you very much, Sta-Bil Red) and one (1) leaky fuel rail (which was an O-ring issue) in the 18 years I've owned these bikes.

And

Didn't have the $850+ to get the carbs cleaned and balanced. Even the rebuild kits are $150+.

If you're rebuilding carbs on an annual basis, you're doing something VERY wrong.

Other posters in thread indicated converting GL1xxx 'Wings to a single-carb setup. Apart from worn slides or vacuum pistons, I never had a problem with the carbs on the several I owned that wasn't brought on by my own doing over a gazillion miles of riding.

[Grandpot]

I'm having trouble with the purpose of this mod.  Part of the romance of the Valkyrie is having six carbs.  I've got over 100K miles, synced the carbs once, put in a bottle of Techron once a season, and never had a problem.

[Pete]

I own both a Valkyrie and an early GL1500.
The GL1500 2 carb model has been the most trouble, with leaks, hesitation issues and carb problems.
If it were possible I would gladly convert the GL1500 to the Valkyrie carbs, intakes, etc.

[98valk]

read what experts say.

http://www.randakksblog.com/single-carb-conversions/

[Avanti]

Part of the romance of the Valkyrie is having six carbs.

I like having the six carbs. If I changed them it be to six fuel injected throttle bodies with computer management. But I am not at all convinced this would make a better running and or reliable bike.  

[Hyde]

Out of curiosity where do you live if you dont mind saying? I have a 2bbl Weber progressive on my GL1000 and even after I added coolant heat to the intake it has hesitation an near redline sputters when the weather is cool. And I still havent got a reliable idle out of it yet. When its hot out she really runs out though, will be adding a turbo soon to increase fuel atomization 

[bambam625]

hey grouchy bear, I was wondering what results you ever got out of doing more tinkering/tuning with your single carb? Ever have anything that could compete with the six?

[98valk]

Out of curiosity where do you live if you dont mind saying? I have a 2bbl Weber progressive on my GL1000 and even after I added coolant heat to the intake it has hesitation an near redline sputters when the weather is cool. And I still havent got a reliable idle out of it yet. When its hot out she really runs out though, will be adding a turbo soon to increase fuel atomization 

something that can be looked into are Turtle Inserts similar in design to these.
https://brodix.com/parts/turtles-and-super-turtles-manifold-inserts

some technical info here
http://wattsshopperformance.com/intake.html

I've seen some that look as basic as a pyramid.

[Earl43P]

hey grouchy bear, I was wondering what results you ever got out of doing more tinkering/tuning with your single carb? Ever have anything that could compete with the six?

GrouchyOldBear had 12 posts in 2011 and hasn't been back since then.

[rug_burn]

  I kind of like the 6 carbs, even though they are finicky once you let them get gunked up... It ain't their fault I didn't clean them as well as I should have once this happened.   I got 'em working pretty good right now.
   I especially am into the almost 'art deco' look of the engine from certain angles:  the three repeated elements, from the carbs all the way down to the exhausts.     That's the signature look of a Valkyrie;    I wouldn't change it just for aesthetic reasons.