Pipe Dreams: the really long test run

“Does anyone know how to get back?”

Pipe Dreams: turns out we’re not quite done yet

Yes, the PX has been sprightly and fuel consumption has been reasonable, but I still thought it would be good to check the plug. It was wet. And black. Ooh, too rich.

Pipe Dreams: the epilogue, the epilogue

Zooming through the twisties in Interlaken Park, the PX is running at full song. The sensation of flogging is nowhere near what it would’ve been pre-Sito Plus.

Yesterday afternoon, I checked the spark plug. The electrodes and insulator have turned the light chocolaty brown that indicates an ideal fuel mixture. That evening’s Monkey Run would be the perfect test, I thought.

So here I am, mid-pack and headed toward an unspecified location on Capitol Hill. The sensation of the engine running out of breath is no longer an indicator to shift, but there is no longer a need to rev it that hard, either. The fuel gauge, which was pointing at the quarter-tank mark at the beginning of the ride, hasn’t moved appreciably in spite of all this 2nd- and 3rd-gear running up and down hills.

To review: air corrector jet-150, mixing tube-BE5, main jet-103. If you live somewhere with an elevation similar to Seattle (not much above sea level), try this and see how it works for you. I make no guarantees, and if you live at a higher elevation, you’re on your own…

UPDATE: The first full tank of gas on the new jetting yielded 71.78 mpg. I’d previously been getting 75-80 mpg, but keep in mind I’d been doing a lot more wide-open throttle stuff lately in testing the engine’s limits… not to mention the Monkey Run. In theory, any potential increase in fuel consumption could be offset by being able to use a higher gear, i.e. 4th vs. 3rd, in certain situations like climbing hills.

Pipe Dreams: the epilogue, part 2

Heading south on 15th, I crank the right handgrip hard, but not all the way. A glance at the speedometer reveals it’s pointing at 60. Sixty! And there’s a whole lot more throttle left.

Pipe Dreams: the epilogue

I got back from Everett in enough time to swing by Soundspeed Scooters. I wanted to ask Joe’s opinion of the PX’s spark plug. “Do you have the plug with you?” he asked. “It’s in the engine,” I replied. “I’ll go get it.” Luckily, I brought tools.

Pipe Dreams: the test ride, continued

I am continuing to ride, since the spark plug had no color. So far, the PX continues to run well, and it feels much more vigorous. But I notice other things as well.

Pipe Dreams: the test ride

I was a bit disappointed by the sound the PX was making. A Stella with a Sito Plus makes a very rich broop-broop-broop sound. This was more of a braap-braap-braap.

Pipe Dreams: the, uh, pipe

Okay, you’re done with the easy part. Now comes the hard part.