Running lean - apparently

[Messie]

Help me out here wise ones

Put the SV on a dyno on Sunday for a laugh but ended up a bit worried.
The reading showed it was running very lean pretty much across the rev range. Several people looked at it and said to get it sorted or my engine/pistons would go bang..
Phoned my local tuning place (Setons - excellent - got a team sponsored on the BSB circuit) but they say they can't do it for ages and it's going to cost £170!!!

What should I do? It's got a power commander fitted when the new exhaust was put on. Is it really that critical? Can any old bod with a bit of knowhow and a laptop fix it?

Ignorance is not bliss :(

[the_lone_wolf]

lean running will burn a hole in your piston after time, far worse than running a bit rich, i'd get it sorted asap if i were you...

[Flamin_Squirrel]

Can any old bod with a bit of knowhow and a laptop fix it?

Kinda.

You'd be able to change the map for another one with just a laptop, but without paying said ?170 you won't get it mapped properly.

That said, you can download maps off the internet, and the software will allow you to view the maps. As long as the one going on gives more fuel than the one at the moment it would be better. Might not run the best but at least it won't melt.

[rigor]

Did they map it when the new can and Power Commander was fitted? If not it's either running a downloaded power commander map, or the power commander's not doing anything at all. Depending on your setup you may get some joy in finding a map that closer to your set-up and installing that (anyone with a laptop and the right software can do that bit). But for the best result you're better off getting a custom map done on a dyno.

[Messie]

I bought it like this 4 months ago. The guy I bought it from had the stuff fitted and I don't know how it was done

[ThEGr33k]

My bike runs a bit lean. Do you have the Dyno read out? Ill tell you if its too lean or if its acceptable. But tbh if you have a PCIII already then it shouldnt be an issue sorting the fueling out. All you need to do is get someone with a dynojet system to set up the fuel. It shouldnt cost £170 though im sure!

[Messie]

My bike runs a bit lean. Do you have the Dyno read out? Ill tell you if its too lean or if its acceptable. But tbh if you have a PCIII already then it shouldnt be an issue sorting the fueling out. All you need to do is get someone with a dynojet system to set up the fuel. It shouldnt cost £170 though im sure!


I do but can't scan it at home. It reads 13.4 A/F Ratio at 4000, drops steadily after 4500 revs to 12.2 until 5800 revs, then hovers around 12.6 until nearly 10,000 revs


Crikey that almost sounds like I know what I'm talking about! Could be in Russian for all I know tho :confused:

[Skip]

I had a custom map done at BSD in Peterborough and they told me it would be no more than £145 - ended up at £95 - worth every penny too as the bike feels great now - well worth it.

www.bsdmotorcycledevelopments.co.uk

[ThEGr33k]

I do but can't scan it at home. It reads 13.4 A/F Ratio at 4000, drops steadily after 4500 revs to 12.2 until 5800 revs, then hovers around 12.6 until nearly 10,000 revs


Crikey that almost sounds like I know what I'm talking about! Could be in Russian for all I know tho :confused:

Erm that dont make sense. 13 is the perfect ratio according to the fella that dyno'd my falco (look at the link in my sig) and mine is about 14 over all so mine is a little lean. He said its a little leaner than is good but not bad enough to worry overly. Though im going to get a new Eprom soon (new chip) to try and sort it. maybe get a PCIII later if I need one.

So from what I mentioned yours sounds to be running a tiny bit lean low down and becomes a little Rich. So either they are trying to screw you or they ain got a clue!

Oh and take a picture of it with the camera... that will do ;)


AFR

The Air fuel ratio is the most common reference term used for mixtures in internal combustion engines. It is the ratio between the mass of air and the mass of fuel in the fuel-air mix at any given moment.

In Naturally Aspirated engines powered by octane, maximum power is frequently reached at AFRs ranging from 12.5 - 13.3:1.

[Messie]

Ok will do. hadn't thought of that!
Doesn't it matter that yours is a different bike?

[Messie]

Here you go

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s148/messiemille/IMG_1313.jpg

[ThEGr33k]

Ok will do. hadn't thought of that!
Doesn't it matter that yours is a different bike?

I wouldnt have said so. I mean its the same fuel.... it has to burn the same. Besides Wikiopedia didnt say for certain engines it said for Petrol engines. Someone who will know if the SV is different might come along soon to tell me im right/wrong.

I cant see pics atm... Im at work. Ill be home in 15 mins so ill look. :)

[ThEGr33k]

Here you go

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s148/messiemille/IMG_1313.jpg


In that scale it looks bad ill agree but no... Its all within the recommended limits, and from my limited exp there is no need to do anything!

BTW nice curve's :rolleyes:

Erm one question, was that all the way to the limiter? I thought they rev'd to 11000. If thats the limit then mine out revs it which I wouldn't have expected!

[rictus01]

Right make this simple, exactly what is fitted to the bike over standard,

Airfilter ?
exhaust ( system or slip-on) ?
any other performance work ?

First test, lift tank and remove the rear plug, find a Haynes manual on the back of which will be a colour guide on the spark plug, match yours with that and tell us what it is.


You've said it has a power commander fitted, the standard mapping is on the safe side and a little rich, if you remove the PC it'll switch back to the original factory mapping, and that won't hurt at all.

or if you're up Soho soon I'll have a look.

Cheers Mark

[Messie]

Right make this simple, exactly what is fitted to the bike over standard,

Airfilter ?
exhaust ( system or slip-on) ?
any other performance work ?

First test, lift tank and remove the rear plug, find a Haynes manual on the back of which will be a colour guide on the spark plug, match yours with that and tell us what it is.


You've said it has a power commander fitted, the standard mapping is on the safe side and a little rich, if you remove the PC it'll switch back to the original factory mapping, and that won't hurt at all.

or if you're up Soho soon I'll have a look.

Cheers Mark


Oooh thanks but too many questions I don't know the answer to. I'll get to Soho as soon as I can can.

thanks for the answers guys. I don't feel so worried now.

[yorkie_chris]

You tell us... is it lean? hows it feel?

[Blue_SV650S]

That said, you can download maps off the internet, and the software will allow you to view the maps. As long as the one going on gives more fuel than the one at the moment it would be better. Might not run the best but at least it won't melt.

+1 download the software, and diddle the numbers yourself or use one of the many pre-set maps.

Why don't you d/l the existing data an pop it on here .. but it should be fairly straightforward to richen it up a bit all the way across the range. But it looks like it is 5.25-6.25k where it'd benefit from being richened?

Phil Seton really know his stuff, it'd be in safe hands with him (he'll somehow magically find you 8hp from nowhere actually!! :lol:) but as you have a power commander, we can sort it here for freeeeeeeeeeeee :)

[northwind]

Have you got a removable baffle for the exhaust? If so, fire it in, that'll be a nice quick patch as it's basically a cork :D