Keihin FCRs Vs Mikuni CV carbs

[koko64]

With no enrichener, you learn to use the accelerator pump to squirt fuel into the manifolds and hold the throttle at just off idle/fast idle. A richer Idle mixture setting in winter helps. So more involved to start, but runs better in the cold with no freezing and great performance.

[PhilB]

With no enrichener, you learn to use the accelerator pump to squirt fuel into the manifolds and hold the throttle at just off idle/fast idle. A richer Idle mixture setting in winter helps. So more involved to start, but runs better in the cold with no freezing and great performance.

Thanks.  I might well look into that next time I need carbs.

PhilB

[showerfan]

phil -- how did you `beef up the starter system?'

[PhilB]

phil -- how did you `beef up the starter system?'

Mainly by upgrading the wires from the battery to the relay, and from the relay to the starter, from 6ga to 4ga, and adding a dedicated ground line back from the starter to the battery instead of relying on grounding through the frame/engine.  I also was able to get a stronger battery that was the same physical size as the original.

PhilB

[Autostrada Pilot]

+1 on a wiring upgrade for the starter.  Made a HUGE difference in how fast the 900 carbies start.  I ordered the Powerlet kit for like $30.

[dlearl476]

I'm interested in the comments about cold weather.  My original carbs wore out a couple years ago, so I had the choice.  I was worried about the lack of an enrichener, and stories that bikes with the FCRs can be harder to start, especially in cold weather, so I got a used set of the OEM carbs.  They seem to do alright in the cold, once I beefed up the starter system.

Are the FCRs actually good in cold weather?

PhilB

Phil, if one of those stories was mine, I apologize. My cold wether starting issues were completely self-induced. I installed the Powerlet kit and had my carbs adjusted and it helped a bit but not much. Couldn't get the bike started to go on a New Year's Day ride.
I was working on that and changing the belts the other day and the friend who was helping me/showing me how to do it noticed that the battery I had was way underpowered.

See, when my OEM batt died a couple of years ago, I didn't want to replace it with a wet cell and the Westco dealer sold me what he said was listed for our bikes. Well, it was a 9Mah/120CCA batt when spec calls for a 10Mah/150 CCA BATT. (IIRC)

So installed a TrueGel gel hybrid battery yesterday (16Mah/190CCA) and it fired right up the second I hit the starter button on a 35 degree day. Don't know whether to jump for joy or kick myself in the ass.

Otherwise, ditto to all the praised heaped on the FCRs. I like them so much I want to get a pair for my F650.

[PhilB]

Phil, if one of those stories was mine, I apologize. My cold wether starting issues were completely self-induced. I installed the Powerlet kit and had my carbs adjusted and it helped a bit but not much. Couldn't get the bike started to go on a New Year's Day ride.
I was working on that and changing the belts the other day and the friend who was helping me/showing me how to do it noticed that the battery I had was way underpowered.

See, when my OEM batt died a couple of years ago, I didn't want to replace it with a wet cell and the Westco dealer sold me what he said was listed for our bikes. Well, it was a 9Mah/120CCA batt when spec calls for a 10Mah/150 CCA BATT. (IIRC)

So installed a TrueGel gel hybrid battery yesterday (16Mah/190CCA) and it fired right up the second I hit the starter button on a 35 degree day. Don't know whether to jump for joy or kick myself in the ass.

Otherwise, ditto to all the praised heaped on the FCRs. I like them so much I want to get a pair for my F650.

Alright.  Well, the carbs I have on there now only have about 50K on them, so maybe 10 years or so down the road when they wear out, I'll give the FCRs another look.

PhilB