Well, here's the latest: I'm still fighting SVS and manifold leaks. Unreal. Surreal. All I do is work on this thing.

Jetting is now: 170 main, barrons needle 2nd clip from blunt. Stock pilot. PMS 2+3/4 turns or so. K&N filter (not in stock box...just a universal), Cobra 2-into-1. This is how it's been jetted and still SVS even with Sea Foam all the time (about an ounce per tank, sometimes more.)

And the standard disclaimers: I don't blip. I don't lug it. I don't have the idle too low. NONE OF THESE APPLY.

I'm on my third shock treatment SVS cure. pipes are off it right now and it's soaking.

I put high temp paper gaskets in that I made myself, and now I've re-done that job because they were still leaking. Used some high temp sealer this time, but when I took it out for a test ride yesterday the SVS was so bad the bike just quit, barely started, ran like total crap on one cylinder, cleared up, came back, etc. It burbles at steady state cruise all the time. Sounds like junk.

When it's running OK, which isn't often, it runs like a bat outta hell. Strong everywhere. But it's just the most frustrating piece of equipment I've ever owned. I've done plenty of mechanical work on plenty of different bikes and vehicles, and I'm pretty sure there's nothing blatantly wrong with any of the procedures I've done. Who knows though.

I had the oversize o rings in it, but they leaked.

I'm about to shoot this thing. I need a bike I can RIDE! Not test ride, have it cough, spit, backfire, run on one cylinder, alarm drivers and children in my neighborhood. Not enjoying this thing at all, really.

You're too lean on the needle. But , you must get the Manifold to stop leaking first , or everything else is a moot point. Why can't you get it to seal? BB

Have you surfaced the flanges of the manifold yet? Put flat washers on the manifo;d bolts to spread the torque over a wider area.

way too lean on needle, at minimum 3rd groove from blunt end spacer and 2 washers or 4th groove spacer 1 washer. and when you install the manifold, might want to do this trick I just heard of, put it in the freezer overnight with the o-rings installed too. also when you put the screws in, you don't want any to bind against the manifold, then finger tighten them down, then 1/4 turn at a time in a criss-cross pattern.

OK....good suggestions All. I will implement washers, go back to o-rings. freeze them....crisscross them. Yes, I have surfaced manifold on glass with 600 grit.

But tell me this: how can I be too lean on the needle and still getting SVS???

I'm afraid to richen it up. Seems like I'll have to run 10::1 SeaFoam::gas if I richen it at all!

As far as the SVS, from what I have read over the years, those with continuing issues, the most common long term fix has been to open the engine up, ream the valve guides, and use a slightly stronger valve spring, such as the springs from Patrick Racing, or the Speedstar springs. Also using too much oil is an issue, most have found for an oil change and filter is to use only 4qts, thats it.

As far as the needle set-up, no one I know in 5.5yrs will get the bike to run properly on that needle set-up you have, not even on the 3rd groove with 1 washer. At the leanest needle set-up for the Baron's needle is 3rd groove, spacer, and 2 washers. going to the 4th groove, spacer, 1 washer would be a half step richer

I'm with BB and Erbman on the needle setting. But until you resolve your intake issue you will never be able to tune the carb or get the bike to run correctly. I also believe that when these issues are resolved you will find that you don't have an SVS problem. I don't know what thickness of gasket paper you used, but if it didn't seal it's probably too thin.

MidStar07 wrote:
Well, here's the latest: I'm still fighting SVS and manifold leaks. Unreal. Surreal. All I do is work on this thing.

Jetting is now: 170 main, barrons needle 2nd clip from blunt. Stock pilot. PMS 2+3/4 turns or so. K&N filter (not in stock box...just a universal), Cobra 2-into-1. This is how it's been jetted and still SVS even with Sea Foam all the time (about an ounce per tank, sometimes more.)

And the standard disclaimers: I don't blip. I don't lug it. I don't have the idle too low. NONE OF THESE APPLY.

I'm on my third shock treatment SVS cure. pipes are off it right now and it's soaking.

I put high temp paper gaskets in that I made myself, and now I've re-done that job because they were still leaking. Used some high temp sealer this time, but when I took it out for a test ride yesterday the SVS was so bad the bike just quit, barely started, ran like total crap on one cylinder, cleared up, came back, etc. It burbles at steady state cruise all the time. Sounds like junk.

When it's running OK, which isn't often, it runs like a bat outta hell. Strong everywhere. But it's just the most frustrating piece of equipment I've ever owned. I've done plenty of mechanical work on plenty of different bikes and vehicles, and I'm pretty sure there's nothing blatantly wrong with any of the procedures I've done. Who knows though.

I had the oversize o rings in it, but they leaked.

I'm about to shoot this thing. I need a bike I can RIDE! Not test ride, have it cough, spit, backfire, run on one cylinder, alarm drivers and children in my neighborhood. Not enjoying this thing at all, really.

With all the SVS treatments you have done with no imp at all it just about cant be SVS,i'd listen to all the suggestions your getting from Curt/Big bear etc and i bet you will eventually get it squared away.

Good luck

Scott

OK guys....I'm headed out to tackle it right now.

I thought I'd read about several folks with a barrons needle on the 2nd groove, but I guess I'm mistaken. I was just figuring SVS=rich, so I kept leaning it out. Once warmed up it runs good on that needle setting, and the plugs are a mixed bag but not all completely white.

Anyway, I'm going to button it up and run some miles with some sea foam.

Thanks for the support. I'll report back later

Just because the bike doesn't run right doesn't mean you have SVS. Everyone seems to jump to that if the bike is running bad. It will run bad if you have air or exhaust leaks or if you are jetted to lean too. If your plugs are a brown color then you don't have SVS. You said they weren't white well you don't want them white they should be a brown rust color and the back one will always have a little darker color and maybe even a little black soot. I see you have a stock air intake with a 2 in 1 exhaust. You need to get yourself a more open intake to get the performance you need. A 170 jet with the stock air box is also to lean. You can get a cheap K&N filter like mine if you don't want to spend a bunch of money. BTW 4 turns out on your PMS should tell you that you are way too lean.