I have spent 20+ hours trying to get my dirt bike to run, trying to learn carbs. This video is a godsend and now my bike is running right!

Cody, you’re not talking too much. The person that would make such a comment has both an at attention span of one minute and a motorcycle that runs like crap. Keep up the good work.

Thanks for the explanation of hanging and high idle slowly returning to normal being a lean condition, and low idle creeping back to normal being a rich condition. These types of tips bring it back to the basics and make it much easier to understand. Much appreciated.

I am 74 years old and have doing it for 55 years. It works exactly like that for cars as well. We call it the sweet spot.❤🎉

Holy crap I'm 67 years old and I finally learned how to tune a freaking mikuni. Thank you very much you don't talk too much you talk just right and tons of information. Again thank you very much I'm a subscriber now

I don’t think you talk to much. I find your descriptions extremely helpful. One of the reasons why I watch your videos. The explanations are great and so helpful!

Yo dude, not able to go to a motorbike mechanic so these videos are bloody unreal, subscribed ! Thanks again

My first experience with small engines is a Zircon 150cc go kart. It was given to me because it didnt run. Without this video it still would not be running. This video was a huge help

As a retired industrial engineer and maintenance manager I have worked with hundreds of people over my 45 year career. The key to teaching someone ANYTHING related to mechanics or industrial automation or most any other field, is to not only teach them what to do and how to do it, the most important thing to teach them is the WHY you do it! Teaching them the theory of how anything is supposed to work helps them to understand the WHY! Without the theory behind what they are doing they are just memorizing a few basic steps ie when I see this I do that. You sir are very good at teaching the theory of operation along with the what and the how. Keep it up!!

ppl really complain about u talking to much. these are how to vids, i hate how to vids where u don't get enough information. ppl just like to complain

Couple of things. Not bad. However, do not blip the throttle. When you blip the throttle, slide goes up feeding fuel, and then drops cutting off air. It results in a rich mixture. The best way to adjust the pilot/low speed circuit is to stabilize the idle/warm engine, set the idle speed, and then start turning the mixture screw either in or out. (It doesn't matter which) if the idle drops, you're going the wrong way. If the idle goes up, reset your idle screw to bring the idle back down and repeat. You want to get to the point where turning the mix screw one way or the other either makes it worse or does nothing at all. That's your sweet spot. Much harder with a multi-cylinder motor. As for your comment about air screws being more sensitive to adjustment, it's likely because, if the carb has an air screw, it's probably either an old street bike or something that the EPA didn't require a fine adjustment. Because of this, the taper is fatter and produces a more pronounced change with the turn. The EPA carbs had a long slim taper. (Really easy to screw them up if you turn them in too hard so be careful) They require a lot more turns to equal what something like a 1/4 turn on a non-EPA carb would take. You also mentioned compression but left out valves. A tight valve, bad seat/valve is going to throw things off so, before adjusting a carb, make sure the valves have been adjusted and the engine run. Lastly, in the 80s Yamaha made dealers purchase Allen exhaust gas analyzers. You'd install fittings in each exhaust and get a reading from a single cylinder. None of my co-workers used it but I got familiar with it. Yamaha specs were out to lunch, but I figured a great way to use it. I received lots of favorable comments from my customers when they got their bikes back. Probably the biggest take away I got from using it was, after the carbs were set on the machine, I'd check turns out from seated. These were the thin taper screws, but they would range anywhere from 1 1/2 to as far out as 3 1/2 turns! (2 1/2 was baseline) It all depended on the seat in the carb and how badly the factory had wound the screws in. (I'd actually find some that were completely seated!)

Great advice, clear for those who just want to tinker at home! One note however; As a bike mechanic I've always been with the understanding that once you've found that sweet spot where the engine idles at it's highest, we should go clockwise 1/8 - 1/4 of a turn to make the mixture is ever so slightly rich. The rpm will still drop back great to idle (you wont notice), and it's a general rule of thumb that a teeny bit too much fuel is better than a teeny bit too much air. It keeps everything a little cooler. Engines always run most efficiently when running slightly lean (also in terms of power output). The down side of this of course is that it produces a more risky, hotter combustion. We don't need maximum power efficiency at Idle, and for this reason it's better to always adjust that 1/8-1/4 turn in. Keep up the good work!

Good info here. I have been using a ColorTune see-through spark plug from Gunson to set the idle mixture....by watching the color of fuel burning in the cylinder. Yellow glow is too rich, white is too lean, good deep blue is the ideal mixture.

I've worked at a motorcycle/ATV repair shop for 17 years and this is the best video I have seen that explains the process of tuning in the air/fuel mixture on a carbureted engine... you have to listen to the engine and make small adjustments and give the engine time to respond to your adjustments and until you find the sweet spot..... keep up the work good bro 😎👍

As a retired mechanic (who still rides) I think this is an excellent video. I have worked on everything from motorcycles (mostly kawis) to automotive to heavy truck /heavy equipment and that was a great description on carb operation and idle tuning. Happy to subscribe to your channel and look forward to viewing other carb vids. Congrats.

I always did the highest rpm at idle and it has usually worked for me. Warm it up, then set a reasonable rpm for idle then fiddle slightly with the needle until you get the highest rpm possible.

Great video, very well explained. Fantastic for the generations who didn't grow up with carbs. This will help to keep our muched loved machines used and loved for generations to come.

Just to let you know that the idle mixture screw on a British Amal carburettor is on what you would call the “post-fuel” side of the carb but it is an air screw and weakens the mixture when you screw it out! Sorry to throw a spanner in the works, what you say probably holds true for Japanese carbs and others but not for the Amal!

I've always struggled with adjusting the air, but you just explained it in 15 minutes. Love your videos!

I just set the idle speed screw a bit fast, keep adjusting the idle mixture until the engine is at its fastest then richen the idle mixture by 1/4 turn and readjust the idle speed back to normal. However, on my 2stroke bike, I set it lean and leave it there. Not bothered by a hanging idle and it prevents the engine being fluffy from oiling up a bit when running slowly in woods.

Well done for helping home mechanics. Young bikers are often poor and cant afford a mechanic especially at KTM, BMW and Harley main dealers

watched your short about the air screw vs fuel screw and this just sealed the deal im dialing in the 73 at3 this weekend for sure! thanks for making things simple for a simple guy!

Glad you made this, I have a friend who's having some trouble understanding carbs so i sent this his way

This was totally helpful. I am troubleshooting a DR650 carb. Based on your video, the carb was running rich. I got the carb dialed in now. Thank You! 🏍️✔️

Such a simple yet effective method. Alongside your jetting for pod filters video, I'm finally on the right track to getting my bike running right. I was so far off but this technique let's me know that quickly and easily.

What i learnt from watching a fella tune his hemi 6 was u can buy a device called a colour tune which lets u see the colour of the spark cournel as the engine is running. Seems a great visual way to adjust air and fuel for optimum performance. Thanks for your video . Talking through your points is good

All of your info is accurate, if i ever had to go past 2.5 turns out on the fuel screw though id always go to a larger pilot then start over to prevent the chance of the screw vibrating out over time. I personally dont feel like its got enough spring tension to hold the fuel screw in long term past 2.5 turns out.

First off, i love the fact you “talk to much” i have learnt more from you, than for ANYONE on youtube (proud to call myself an MD member) This vid explained so so so much!! Keep them coming 😊 they are AWESOME!

Love your attitude and willingness to help us out with taking care of our motorcycles.

This has been the most helpful video I have viewed so far about personal motorcycle maintenance. Thank you

You definitely do not talk too much, I would literally pay for this information I mean you explain it so well, better than most people. Thanks a lot brother!

Perfect! 👌 Very well said, very clear and with practical example, brilliant.

And on small carbs like on a chainsaw, weedeater, where 2 mixture screws are right beside each other. The one closest to the engine is the high speed mixture. The other is the low/ idle mixture.

Thank you so much, probably the best carb tuning video I've watched so far! really appreciate you sharing your knowledge and experience with us

You are looking for the highest idle with the mixture screw, which allows the slide to be adjusted to the most closed position which will reduce run on etc. The highest idle is the most efficient air fuel mix poss, hence why it idles the highest with the correct mix. If the screw ends up in to far or out to far to gain that highest idle then it is a guide to know which way to change the pilot jet to suit.

Your video could not have come at a better time. Tuning my rebuilt carb on my CM400E today. Thank you so much!!

Oh my goodness. Thank you. I have been have an issue with my 79 kz750 twin. Turns out I have the air mixture screw. Cant wait to get this dialed in!

So I'm a noob and was trying to tune my 1990 Suzuki fa50 to the service repair specs and it just wasn't working! It would run but I could just tell it wasn't right. The way you explained how to hear what the engine is doing as far as being lean or rich was an aha eureka moment for me. I went straight to the tool box the moment I pulled the bike into the garage after work and had it running better than it probably has for 20 years. The bike sat for 18 years before I bought it for 300 bucks. Thank you so much I will never forget this lesson for as long as I live. 🤙✊🖖😎🫡🐐

Cody your detailed description is perfect for me, ive listened to so many & still have to pause play pause play whilst im working on my bike. I was starting to think ive got a problem until i watched one of your videos on carb tuning & it was perfect, so thank you great work...

First time I ever understood how to actually do this. I also love the fact that you don't care what type or brand of motorcycle the viewer is riding and instead make everyone feel welcome. You have my sub to the channel, now I'm off to find a video of your on how to clean a carb properly, as that's where I'm currently at with my 1988 Yamaha YZ125. Thank you! :)

I’ve watched your other videos that include mixture adjustments, glad to see you bring it back to light. In the past I never knew how it was supposed to be done. Thank you for sharing!

Dude screw those guys who say that you talk too much. The more you explain it the better my understanding of it. A big thank you for helping people who don;t know how to get a carb set up and tuned correctly. There are always going to be that faction of people who feed off of negativity and haven;t leqarned the biggest lesson in life. Just ignor them. They are not worth listening to.

You might have just saved me from losing my bike man. I was about to give up on it fr. I haven't tried these screws but I'm just as new to riding as I am to carbs. I'm learning, though and you've taught me a lot in just this video alone and given me some hope.

Exactly the information I currently need. I love learning new things. Thank you.

Hi Cody Greetings from NZ, I have slowly learned how to rebuild and sync my carburetors but haven't yet mastered the fuel mixture adjustments. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me, I appreciate what you do.

Your explanation simplifies what was a mystery to me for years. Took 2 minutes to set my bike up and it runs awesome now! Thank you Cody.

Whoever thinks this is too much talking is a person that impatiently thinks and listens too little. I am in process of rebuilding and tuning a fleet of snowmobile carburetors and this is great information!

Thank you for taking the time to make these videos to help others. Well done!

Your explanation of the lean and rich conditions of the how the engine operates was fantastic. Never had it explained that way to me and then backing it up with actual examples just really solidified it for me. Thank you so much!

I've been working on carbonated engines (controlled fuel leak) for 60 years. I was predicting every move you made. Great video.

I just bought a bike and I've been really struggling turning the carb after I cleaned it this video was very helpful thank you so much

Hey, great videos, I just wanted to tell you that this technique has helped me with my project and now I will be using this method for all my build. Thank you so much for making this video and sharing your knowledge. Have a great day! Mark

Very well explained procedure, then emphasized with a well presented actual example of the procedure. I'll have to begin watching more of your videos. Very impressed! I am getting ready to begin some restorations on several bikes I've collected thru the years. This type of information will probably be really useful. Thanks so much for presenting your videos!

Would be interesting (for those of us who like to nerd out) for you to take a wideband o2 sensor and see where the mixture sweet spot ends up being on a gauge after you tune by ear as shown here. I’m guessing this method would produce mixtures around 12.5-13.0:1 air fuel ratio for pump gas.

You are the man. Best carb advice ever! Talk all you want. Your videos are the best

I do not think you talk too much! Enjoy watching you explain things I seem to understand. (great job man) Thanks

Keep on talking, that's the best way we can learn anything. Great timing, I am just doing a single cylinder carb clean on my bike and this was the second video of yours I have got notice on. I'll be researching your videos to check what you have there...Thanks from an older biker who forgets too much. All the best from Australia.

Nice video and good explanations. Although as a generale rule you can tell what you are adjusting (air/fuel) depending on the position of the screw, there are exceptions. For example my Honda 50cc Joker which has an air adjusting screw but positioned on the 'fuel' side of the carburetor. What is worth mentioning is that a 100% way to determine what kind of adjusment you have is the type of screw tip you have. If you have a conic shaped end of the screw it is an air adjustment screw. If it ends with a very thin needle shape then it is fuel that your are adjusting.

Best carb video hands down !! Great training piece for us novices to watch and understand carb concepts from a seasoned expert. There’s huge satisfaction in becoming more self reliant / self sufficient. Many thx !!!

Thanks for this lesson. Just put a new carb on my bike. This will help me get it perfect.

Hey Cody, thanks for your video and tips. Though you picked an easy one by working on a bike that only has one carburator. This technique is pretty hard to apply when working on a 4 or 6 cylinders engine. After years of trying this I finally came to the conclusion that the only (easy) way to fine tune the idle mixture screws is to use a colortune where you can see the color of the mixture when exploding in the cylinder.

Hi love your channel, have you ever tried welding wideband bungs and testing carbs AFR? I have AEM x sensor and two welded bungs to tune the carbs in all RPMS and i have found that my old Suzuki is way more sensitive for lean mix than rich. When you are leaner than 13 idle drops clearly, above 13,5 it start to pop. Between 13 and 12.5 rpms rise but not by much and to hear a significant drop in rpms you have to flood it bellow 11.

I learned SO much from this video! I'm pretty new to motorcycles and obviously no mechanic explained anything to me. It's so gratifying to now understand how these parts work! Thanks so much!

Dude i have this video saved to to keep my memory fresh

The audio was fine

Hi I'm a barber and I can tell you brush your beard too much! Leave it alone only brush it with boar brush after shower! Friendly tip😁

Best carb tuning video ever!!

Really good much-needed tutorial video. Thanks Cody. 🤠Greets from Australia (200,000 miles circa 1962 - 1976, then 2-3 yrs about 16 years later on)

Thanks a lot! Very helpful info, which I didn't know. All the best!

You sir are brilliant. I actually understand the process now to DIAL IT IN!!! Thank you very much.

All I can say is thank you. Been searching for a good video like this for my kart build. Real life saver ❤

Thanks for this video. I've struggled for years to do this. After your video, I finally understand it.

Thank you. This really helped a lot. I work on a lot of small cheap carburetors that don't necessarily do what you think they would. With this information it made it a lot easier to figure out what was happening since most come without any idea of what they are and if air or fuel screw. Again thank you for making it a little easier.

Your carb tuning tips are priceless! Thanks! Now if I can just remember all of them. A Mikuni HSR specific tutorial with explanation of all of the circuits would be awesome, too.

Great explanation! Pretty much how I do my Amal’s on my 76 Bonneville. I’m gonna double check them again listening closer to how they come back to idle, thanks man!

Wow, I have learned a lot from this video. Doing a carb cleaning right now and wanted to make adjustments to the air/fuel mixture screw and now I know what to hear for. Thank you!

thanks for the excellent video. showing us the lean and rich conditions help.

Dude you rock! Best carb video I’ve ever seen!

excelent tip, my dad taught me this as a 15 year old, great video

Thank very much, you are the first who spoke logic into this situation. No you not talk to much, you explain things. Thank you very much.

Thanks for this video. I was trying to tune a new scooter carburetor and had it ever so close but not exactly set right. Your advise on listening for the difference finally allowed me to get this carburetor spot on. Thanks!

This is the most informational video I could find on carberators, Thank you

I've seen a lot of carb tuning videos and this is the first that really explained to me well. Thanks man. I've gotta try this and see for myself.

What a lot of people don’t understand is that there are air mixture screws and fuel mixture screws. By turning both type screws inward, you will richen the circuit with the air adjustment screw, but lean out the circuit with the fuel adjustment screw and Vice versa.

Bro Thank you this video is one of the only videos that actually gives detailed info on how to tune your carb and what to look for the correct way right on Brother! Blessings🥂💫

Brother you a LEGEND!! I've been screwing around with a bike and almost bought a new carb...and agent service wasn't any better. My Yamaha BWS 100 scooter has never been healthier, even since new 👍Appreciate you! 👋

So good - thanks Cody! Just re-set the mixture of the Dellortos on my '75 Moto Guzzi. They were very lean as I had set them prior (per "conventional wisdom"), and I had all the symptoms you described. Now it warms quicker, idles lower, drops from a blip faster, and no flubby delivery from 2K to 4K rpm. Easy and fast to do too. Awesome!

Thank you, your a really good teacher ! I just got a 1982 kawasaki 440 and I love it !

I work on CBX's and find that synchronization of the carbs needs to be performed first. If one carb has the throttle blade open just a little more than the other 5, it basically fights for supremacy and causes a hanging idle. 2 or more out of sync is worse. That's why an accurate (as possible) bench sync is important. I also enlarge the idle jets from #35 to #38 to compensate for the loss of BTU's in today's fuels in addition to being designed lean to pass emissions. Your video is very informative.

Thanks i put new exhaust on and had lean issues good to see someone explain attention to detail well explained

I watched your video at 2AM last night before going to bed and now my 2 stroke went from bogging to running smooth as a swiss watch. Thank you very much for the informative video, helped me out a bunch!!

Hey, man, thanks! I just bought a project ATV and have been working on it for a couple of weekends. This was a great guide and the demonstrations really helped me know what to look for!

your explannation was so simple and straight foward thanks!

Thanks for taking the time to do this video. It's awesome.

Thank-you for the valuable info Cody

Great informative video from someone who knows what they are talking about and not just guessing or parroting someone else's infomation.

HEY CODY THANKS FOR THE GREAT VIDEO! YOUR TECHNIQUES ARE BRILLIANT MAN!

I like your detailed information. Thank you.

Bro I have been searching for this for sooo long… thank you sooo much for posting

I used to use a color tuner worked awesome for sensitive carbs, especially multiple carb setups