Noss Head

[bigboybanshee]

I bought a Noss head a couple of months ago and ever since I put it on, my banshee has some issues starting and idling right. It's really starnge, almost like a hit or miss when I kick it over. Before I put the head on shee started on the first or second kick every time but since the day I put it on, shee is unpredictable.

 

Did anyone else who has one have to change their jetting? It's really got me frustrated cause shee runs awesome once its running, just doesn't like to start easily anymore. Any help or ideas is GREATLY appreciated! Thanks

[svtkid78]

Did you tighten the head down to the correct torque, try a compression test or a lleak down test. You could have a litlle leak causing you to lose some compression when you are kicking it over. Also how do your plugs look. Did you try putting in new ones since this problem.

[bigboybanshee]

Head was tightened down to specific torque specs in the paperwork sent with the head, I believe it was 20 lbs... and torque was checked again two rides after installation and was still at 20 lbs. Compression is 148 psi in each cylinder. No leaks that I saw, I sprayed damn near the whole engine down with carb cleaner checking for leaks...Plugs are a chocolate brown, and have been changed multiple times trying different types of plugs out ranging from BR8ES, B8ES, and BR9ES...The shee runs extremely well when I'm on the gas, very pleased with the head and I don't think at all that it's the problem, I just noticed this issue after putting it on...

 

Do any of you think I could have maybe knocked some wiring loose that's causing this problem? I have noticed that it is harder to start once it's warm, but still difficult to start sometimes when it's cold.

 

Thanks for the reply svtkid

[sredish]

I may be way out in left field here, but has the weather changed, like getting colder?

 

My first thought was a compression check or leak as well, and it looks like you've covered that. But if it's not that, and it runs fine on the gas, just not at idle, I was thinking that maybe you were a tad lean or on the edge before and now that the temps have started dropping, maybe it's a little lean and that's where your trouble is from starting. Do you choke, or do you have to choke to start? Next time your idling and it's acting strange, pull the choke lever and see if it helps to clear it up some, if it does, then that means your pilot is lean.

 

Just a thought.

[bigboybanshee]

sredish, I think you're actually real close to where I need to be...here's what's strange. When I first put the shee together, I had a 27.5 pilot, 280 mains, almost completely stock with the exception of DG pipes and a K&N filter with the stock airbox.. Everything was perfect accept it would NOT start cold. I had to spray carb cleaner in the choke tube to get her cranked. Once it was warm, it started perfectly every time. I did that for the longest time until finally I changed the pipes to the toomeys I have now, and I went ahead and stuck a 30 pilot in there and what do ya know, she fired off every time cold or hot, never any problems. Since adding the toomeys, the only mods I've added was the Noss head, and here in the last couple of weeks a set of boyeson carbon reeds. (I thought my reeds were worn out, causing it not to start easily so I changed them with no change in my starting problem) When I put the new reeds in, I changed the main jet down to a 270, which seemed to help the top end out, but I didn't think I would need to change the pilots. Am I wrong? Boyeson stated that the carbon reeds would make my engine run rich, and said that I might have to drop jet sizes as much as two sizes, but what gets me is my starting problem was before I put the reeds in.

 

As to your question about using the choke, I need the choke to start it, but once it cranks (with the choke out) it bogs down and will die if I don't push the choke back in...so in theory, if I pulled the choke out when it's idling, it would kill the engine.

 

I've read a lot about people using 25 pilots with toomey T-5's, but I never thought of going lower on the pilot since the 27.5 wasn't getting her cranked with the DG's. And especially since it did fire up fine with the 30 pilot. It does seem like it's rich when starting, but as said before, shee wouldn't start up with 27.5's with the DG's; could changing the pipes make the difference in which pilot jet to use?

 

dlnoss stated that the shee should start easier after adding the head on there, and the reason I had gone up on the pilot jet originally (before the head) was because of trouble starting it....OK, so "in theory", now that the compression is higher, and "should" start easier, do you think it would be a good idea to go back to the 27.5? Sorry for this long ass post, any more input or hints, ideas, suggestions, whatever is appreciated!! Thanks!

 

Oh yeah, and temperature should not be a factor, it was fairly warm when I began having the issue.

Edited November 23, 2004 by bigboybanshee

[sredish]

I'd say try the 27.5 and see if it helps, it might be a tad rich. It won't need any more than a 30 that's for sure, and if it's a little sputtery or kinda wanting to die, you might try going to the 27.5. The reeds will richen it a tad, and help the flow at idle also, so going down one size on the pilot might be the ticket.

 

My personal opinion, the head won't make a whole lot of difference. Compression will help the starting, but only a little, and when you start getting a lot of compression it gets harder to turn over and offsets any compression benefits you get. My opinion.

 

Cool.

[bigboybanshee]

Thanks sredish, I really appreciate your help. I'll try the 27.5 and see what happens.