What are the symptoms of a too lean mixture on a motorcycle? hot and cold temps?

Question

I have been adjusting my air s***w to try to lean out my 1500 vulcan , horrible on gas fouling plugs , was out 3 1/2 turns,found a shim under the needle in the carb when servicing it , NOW - 2 turns out ,no shim but trying to go as lean as possible .What are the symptoms of adjusting too lean ? bike has open air element filter ,after market V/H exhaust , starts good ,runs good ,happy with throttle response ,-----but still smells RICH .

Answer 1

most carbies you can only adjust the idle jet.

the main jets are set and have to be removed and a new size chosen.

Answer 2

lean burns hot symptoms are a frozen piston and a six week wait for a replacement

Answer 3

On carburetor engines it is NOT safe to run too lean.  The most dangerous thing is if you get engine knocking.  That is when the fuel / air mixture explodes (instead of just burning fast).  That will destroy your engine from the inside.

On loud exhaust system, it is difficult to hear engine knocks. So be careful not to go too lean.

Good Luck...

Answer 4

If it's too lean, it won't be able to maintain power at higher RPMs.

Answer 5

how about the spark, is it firing at the right time? do you need to adjust it with a strobe light? maybe unless you do that , just adjusting the mixture will leave gas unburned