Recently, I bought a 1995 Virago XV100 as a garage find. It had not been started in 20 years. I cleaned the tank and put on a single Mikuni TM40. My plugs are a decent color. But will only idle fast and has a flat spot in the mid-range. Thanks for your video and advice on tuning. I think I’ll start over from scratch and see how it goes.
Just a message as of sept 28th, 2017 bike is still running strong and is ridden every day. Lost about 500rpm up top but pulls from idle strongly to redline.
Hello hammer head my name is Joe I saw your video on your virago nice work. I was wondering if you have your stock carbs and are they for sale? Thank you sir.
I have been a motorcycle technician since 1984 also. We always adjused the mixture screws so the plugs were white and ran and idle better. I had 14 years at the worlds largest dealership in Falls Church Va. and have worked at alot of dealers in my time. But basically just do a idle drop.
Im glad to talk with another experienced guy on here. White plugs are still lean! my virago pulls like a freight train and the plugs are tan. It is a smidge rich yes but with an air cooled in hot weather like we have here it works and stays cooler. I went to Fairview motorcycle college in northern Alberta and worked at an all makes and models shop for years before starting my own thing.
This is an old video but your advice helped out a lot. My bike is a 85 XV1000 and I went with the VM30 like you said. Those old Hitachis were driving me crazy. It bogs down at 3/4 throttle now but is ok below and above that. A minor needle adjustment should take care of that. Thanks again.
As of August 3rd,2018 the xv 1000 is running like a champ. Replaced the stock ignitor with a Carmco electronics digital unit. Wow! what a difference. Easier starts smoother running and more power. Autolite ap 63 plugs work well.
The vm 40 is too large for this machine. The vm 30 is perfect I run a #40 pilot jet and 240 main with the needle on the middle clip. Autolite ap 63 plugs work best.
Hey I know this is a long shot as it's an older video but could you possibly run me through how you got the stock throttle cable connected to the vm 30 carb?
Mikunioz company sells all sorts of carb kits. I put a recommended VM38 on my 78 sportster and it runs great, size wise. The 30 does sound a bit small but is it works that’s good. As a guide look at single cylinder bike carb sizes and they should match to a v twin of double the engine capacity quite well. To fine tune you can temporarily fit an exhaust gas oxygen sensor and check your readings starting from wide open then all the way down to idle.
Just bought this same set up for 1987 xv535 virago. Thanks for the tip on the filing of the throttle cable. As the one that came with my vm30 was too short. I'll post my success or failure this coming week after my install.
Hey Coty! did it end up working out? I also have an 87 535 and I am going to buy a single carb for it but I need to know if the vm30 is suitable for the bike. Thanks!
Hello excellent configuration friend, I only have one question, what jets did you use? , I’m doing the conversion with a 42mm keihin but I have no idea which jets to start with.
The jets came with the carb. I think it's a 185 main and a 40 pilot. Read the plugs to tune as every machine is different, even the same make and model.
I ended up buying a very similar carb. 38mm snowmobile carb…. My issue is I need to find a 38mm boot before i can even set her up on the single carb manifold I got. Plus the top throttle feed has a different cable end then my stock cable so I need to get a new cable to or try to buy a tiny end peace to solder on there.
So the stock fuel pump isn't to much for a single. Number 2 loads up and no matter what I do still does. I modded the stock exhaust true duel removing the bladder baffle and made huge difference for tuning but that twin carb after rebuild and fine tuning still loads up number 2. Its my project i wanted and tried to sale but now im going to see it through and keep it.
5 years later and still riding this machine as it was on this video. I replaced the stock igniter with a camco electronics digital unit, I also prefer ap 63 spark plugs instead of ngk.
@@HammerHeadGarage best reply I could have gotten! Right on! Looks like Im going to keep this as my project and ride it one day. Last time went on test drive was like a bucking bronco! Felt like I was in a rodeo holding on for life 😂. Got it dialed in best I could but wasn't happy. Number 2 was loading up and then under road load would run better. Thanks for the helpful input appreciate it!
Great video man. I have two 84 virago xv700. I was wanting to switch one to single carb but I’m worried I’ll loose to much power. The bike I’m planning on doing this to is my project bobber bike and the two carbs it has now are just beat to crap so I figured I’d give it a go.
I appreciate your vid, well done, but most guys go the VM34 X 2. Even jetting wouldnt make up for it. And your running stock pipes and air filter I guess. Its got to run lean as you go up surely. Much respect.
Those are base numbers but every machine is different even two of the same year and type. Depends on alot of things. charging system, valve clearances, compression reading etc.
Good afternoon, first I would like to say that I think it is awesome that you actually take the time to replay to people questions and comments. I have a BIP manifold with a Mukuni tm38 on 87 Xv700, and I can not get it to stop filing the plug on the rear cylinder. I have it tuned to the best of my ability. No popping or bogging, smooth accelration throughout, just rich on the rear plug. Wasn't having this issue with stock setup. Do you think It may be the carb or the manifold?
Hey, I was wondering if you ever got it tuned in, I’m doing the same thing with the same carb and was wondering what jets you used? Thanks if you see this
Fuel bowl full checked and double checked valves spark ok put 35 jet in carb the 1 what was in was 28 just ordered compression kit from e bay it was running on olde carbs before i went down single carb route
If no fuel is getting into engine somethings wrong. You have a big leak in the intake somewhere? make sure you have suck squeeze bang blow with the plugs out when turning the engine over with the starter.
what do you mean in Suck Sqeeze Bang Blow think i did that yesterday on checking plugs for spark could here a sort of sqeeze sucking kind of thing also my caskets was just a kind of paper for manifold bought some casket sheets and made my own is that ok or not cheers
@@davidemery830 Its the 4 strokes/cycles of a 4 stroke engine. suck is intake, piston going down inlet valve open pulling fuel and air in. Squeeze is compression stroke, bang is power stroke both valves closed plug fires, blow is exhaust stroke. If lets say your inlet valves had an issue (hanging open) or your rings were shot or you had a vacuum leak. You wouldn,t have enough suction to pull in the fuel from the carb.
Hi. I enjoyed your video. I have a 83 XV750 that I built up (you can see it on my youtube channel for reference) and I installed dual VM-34's. I'm a heavy duty mechanic, but NOT a motorcycle mechanic. I'm handy but no expert with carbs. I can dial in the idle and wide open throttle. When riding at cruising RPM and crack the throttle open my bike hesitates, tries to stall out, then catches itself before accelerating normally. I have tried everything under the moon! Jets, needle positions, needle change outs, anything and everything I could think of and was suggested by others. I had to have custom intake manifolds made and I see you have a vacuum line coming out of yours that I don't even have an option for on mine. Does that go back to the carb for a vacuum actuated accelerator pump or something? I just feel I am not getting the fuel required with I punch the throttle at mid RPM, low engine load. Thanks.
Let me start over first my apologies for not being more specific, first of all i have a 1990 XV750 which i know is a little different from your XV1000, mine doesnt have the vacuum port above the ignition coils upfront by the forks, i went from a vacuum petcock to a manual shutoff valve with the fuel filter into the VM30, my single carb manifold(with no vacuum port) is flush to the engine's on both sides so my question was do i do anything about the timing or is it all handled electronically by the TCI? Am i over thinking?
Hey bud great videos, I got a question for you, I'm mikuni vm32 carb on an 85 xv1000, with 200 main jet and a 35 pilot. Do yousuggest jetting down the carbs or jetting up the carbs given the larger, carb size than what worked for you. Thanks for all your help!
@@HammerHeadGarage well they're a little sooty, it kind of depends on where i put the mixture screw. but i'm actually getting ahead of myself. do you have any suggestions for why the bike starts idles for about 5-15 second then dies? i can't get it to idle consistently or stay on. I cleaned the carbs to like new. and the fuel pump seems to be supplying a consistant amount to the mikuni, the question about jets is that i cant tell if the cylynders are getting too much fuel or not enough. when the bike dies the carb spits. any advice?
So got my vm30 installed on my 87 535 today! She starts right up and idols but still need to do all my tuning. Appreciate your video. Mines coming soon
Man thank you so much for this forum you are a true bike guru!!! My question is that i have my manifold installed as well as the carb, where does the timing hose go because the manifold doesnt have a vacuum port. I'm worried about the bikes timing now? Thank you!!!
I switched to a Carmco digital ignition box so it is not needed for my setup. You should still be able to put the hose on the forward head manifold where it was. There is a small nipple there for it.
Stupid Question.. So My 85 Virago XV1000 With A Single Carb Using A Mikuni Hs40 Keeps Backfiring Out The Exhaust When Accelerating Low RPMs.. Ive Done Everything And Now Just Checked My Pilot Jet Size And It Was A 25.. Needs To Be Bigger?
im still 'on it ' but it is noteworthy that " wasearayguy popped his clogs on july 30 2000 . my condolences to susan . ive purchased the lithuanian manifold and probably wont get it for several weeks but ive rode so much this summer that i dont even mind being down the rest of the year . im over the stock carbs , they are just troublesome and complicated .
The later Mikuni carbs on the 1100 machines were better than the Hitachi models but still too many emissions gadgets for my liking. Simple is always better imo.
I got a xv700 just installed a vm30 carb on it still got the 250 jet rn I need to order a jet kit for it but I can't even get it to start at is the 200 needed to get it to even idle
Sorry if you answered this but what did you do with the tube from the coils? Im deleting AIS and the MCV also for the cable did you just chop it get a ferral and solder it on?
there were no tubes from the coils on an xv 1000. Those chrome tubes were for vac. Just plug them. The stock cable can be made to work just file the end down that use to go to the carbs so it fits in the small hole in the slide of the vm 30. Takes about 30 min with a vise and a good file.
I am going to fit a Mikunioz manifold and carb onto my 1993 1100 Virago. Can you tell me how you have set up the fuel line to the carb. I am going to go to a gravity feed and not using the fuel pump. Thanks.
Hello! Been watching your videos about mikuni vm30 to a virago 1000 -86. I cant get i to run lean. Sparkplugs always get soty. I think i need a smaller main yet. I have a 250 main jet and the needle is set to the highest position. After a day of riding the sparkplugs are unusable and needs to be switched in order to run the following day. What do you think? Thanks
@@HammerHeadGarage hey man. Thx for earlier response. Still cant get it to run good. I think it might be a total diffrent problem. Im holding my hand behind rear engine exaust and its a nice pop pop pop, strong. The front is irregular. Pop puu pop puu puu pop. There is a big diffrence in power from the two exausts that feel and hear. Compression on both are equal, spark the same, also timing. Am i missing something? Thank you.
I have a 27.5 pilot and a 220 main on my makuni 38-9 fitted to my 1100 virago. As i said previous i have straight through slashed exhaust. You mentioned before that might cause the problem I have with the engine running on choke but not off choke. Would putting original exhaust back onto the bike make that much difference. Thanks for your help..
I am running a bip intake. With a kehnin carb.. my problem is that I only have 1 cylinder firing. When the originals where in. The front cylinder would fire.. now with the single carb the rear is only firing. I know I have spark to the cylinders. But I can't get it to fire any advise?!?!
Likely the ignitor box or the pulse generators down on the flywheel. They can test good but still be bad. If you have spark to the cylinders as you say make sure the cyl is getting fuel. Is the plug wet? Plugs sometimes fire in open air but not under compression in the cyl. Are the valves in adjustment? whats the compression in both cylinders?
Hi there hope you can help I have a 1100 virago with single carb set up issue i have is when hot it revs up on its own and seems to be (popping / backfiring ) while riding
Hey there, for the other side of the bike under the bug eye, there are some lines going to the air cut off valve and a small air box. What did you do with those lines when you swapped the carbs? Thank you
I like your video. I'm doing the same to my 85 xv1000. But the new style intake doesn't use old boots. It came with gaskets. My question is what did you do with the 2 bigger tubes off the cylinder heads next to exhaust that ran to the side of the bike under the chrome cover.
I just bought this kit myself for an 89 1100. It has that double throttle cable set up, and I'm not sure the best route for a throttle cable. Stock handlebars and everything. Any input would be appreciated. Love your videos
Hi, your videos are really interesting, and i am learning a lot by watching them. At the moment i am struggling with adjusting the original dual carb on my XV500, and i was wondering, if i go with a single carb, what size would be the best? And do you recommend a flat slide carb, or would a round slide be better? Thanks!
Thanks. The VM 30 Mikuni works on just about anything well. The flat side carbs are more for racing type scenarios and imo don't work that great on the street.
Hi, so I have the xv1000. Modified it to single carb. I got to idle perfectly, but its choking upon acceleration and it turns off. I feel like it's not burning gas fast enugh, spark plugs in good shape. Raised the notch on the needle still the same. Thank you
I have a 82 virago xv 920 and I am putting a 40mm manifold and a vm 30 carb I do not have much time working on motorcycles is the carb going to going to work straight out of box
The VM30 feeds your motor enough go juice? If it can keep a liter bike chugging, it should be just fine on my 94 750. Looking at getting that exact same setup. Are you still happy with it?
Hi I have just come across your post/video about the Mikuni single carb. I have recently fitted a Mikuni VM38 to my 1100 Virago. I bought it from Mikunioz. The problem I am having is that it it will run on choke but stop off choke. There was a 210 jet fitted. I got a 200 and 220 jet. I have fitted the 220 but still no joy. I cannot adjust the mixture as it won't tick over. Any ideas or help would be much appreciated You can PM me if you prefer.👍🏻
Shawn Bradley, I have an 87 xv700 with an Adam Smith intake and Mikuni TM40-6 and I cant get this this dialed in! My current setting are 20 pilot, 165 main, clip at the bottom and 2 turns out on the fuel mix screw. I had a 17.5 pilot in it and it would cough through the carb at low speeds and so i upped the pilot and now it goes good up to 3rd gear then when i snap open the throttle it boggs then power comes back when i let off. The pumper seems to be more of a headache than its worth!!
I think I may give the vm30 a try. Would you have any baseline jetting info for my xv700? Wish I had an 1100, as there is much more info available, my 700.....not so much! Thanks!
180 main and a 30 pilot. Use the vm mikuni super manual pdf for tuning. A link for it is in the comments here. Make sure everything else is up to snuff before tuning. Valve adjustments, compression is good, bike is charging and a good battery.
Just plug them off. You still need the little one from the box above the coils. Connect to the rubber on the front head. It controls your timing advance
stock 1984 Yamaha xv 1000 cable. Take the end that use to go to the carbs and file it down to fit in the small hole in the slide. Takes about 30 min with a good file. Go slow and creep up on the size. You don't want it too small.
Sweet, appreciate that thought there was a after market that had both ends, closest i found was harleys throttle by wire with led n copper but the ends are swapped. Comment really helped out appreciate it!
I have an 85 xv700 with a vm30 kit from BIP. Any recommendations for a staring point with the jet sizing. I am having an issue with getting the bike to start. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Hi there I am also working on my Honda Steed 400 w a single carb. Been struggling to fine an optimal A/F adjustment, currently I had it at 1.25 turns and it'll backfire at the carb when I accelerate the throttle. Should I go to 2 turns and work my way clockwise? what would you recommend. By the way my carb is a Keihin 30mm
At the top of this comment section is a link to a Mikuni pdf manual. Click on that and follow that guide to help you tune. Tuning is a science and takes time and patience. Let the plugs tell you the tale.
@@HammerHeadGarage Thanks. I'm gonna try same thing you did, raise the clip 1 up then see if I rev up will the carb backfire. Seems we got the same issue when revving carb it backfires. Hope this will fix the issue too. Also doing plug reading, plugs are still black.
what did you do to make the stock throttle cable work? I have a different single carb kit. I will let you know when the customer tells me. I tried modifing the stock cable but it is too short to start with. The cable goes inside the throttle valve not on the outside of like the stock carbs. Customer paid only $300 for this carb kit
I hope you dont mind me asking since you made this video a couple of years ago but as I mentioned in my last post my xv1000 with single Vm30 is bogging down at 3/4 throttle. its Ok before and after 3/4 throttle. Do you think its a rich or lean condition so I can adjust the needle accordingly?. Thanks in advance.
Been fiddling with my 1981 XV750, and have a VM30 just like yours on a single carb manifold. I’m struggling to even get the thing to start, I just want it to idle right now. I rode the bike for the past year on the factory carbs, so I know it’s in good running condition, I just have no idea what to set my base settings to be in the carb. I see some ideas of pilot and main jet sizes, looks like maybe a 35 pilot would work, but shouldn’t it fire off at least for a little with the 40 pilot that came in the carb? Any thoughts would be much appreciated. -Jacob
A motorcycle needs 3 things to start. 1. Fuel (getting inside the engine) 2. Compression 3. Properly timed spark If your missing any of the 3 she wont run. Check the plugs are they wet? Do you have a manifold air leak? Im betting you do.
Does the bike run better with a single carb? I've heard mixed things about it. What benefits do you get out of a single carb that the original carbs on there? I'm considering doing this myself
IMO the single best mod you can do to one of these machines. Easier tuning, more torque down low a better usable powerband. These bikes were never intended to be fast, anything over 100mph is sketchy as hell.
Bought mine here. they replace the stock ignition box, just plug and play. About $500 canadian dollars. www.carmo.nl/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1266&language=en
Is there anyway to attach a TPS? I am planning on purchasing a BiP kit for my 2006 Vstar 1100. And the TM40-6 is the only carb I've seen people fitting the TPS to the accelerator pump.
Just file the end that use to go to the carb down to fit in the little hole of the slide on the vn 30. Takes about 30 min with a good file. Thanks Randy, Please Subscribe and like this video.
I know this is a 3 year old video at this point but still hoping for some help... First of all, very nice setup! I have attempted to do the same on my '96 xv535 bobber, and I bought a tm40-6 flatslide which I've now come to realize is way too big for my displacement. So looks like I gotta get a smaller carb and jet it right. After looking around I found another video of a 535 with a vm38 with the following specs: Main jet 190 Pilot jet 30 stock needle jet needle position center clip Should I go with the vm38 and jet it to this guys specs or follow what you've done to yours? If you think the vm30 would be better for the 535 what would you suggest for jet sizes? Any help is much appreciated. Thank you!
First off thank you for the view. Please Subscribe! ok the 38 may work but in my experience the Vm 30 is more than enough carb. I have a 1000cc machine and it powers it fine right up to 100mph. Use the tuning guide found in this comments section and follow my advice. I'm here if you need me. Thanks.
@@HammerHeadGarage Thanks for the quick reply! One more question, does the stock electric fuel pump work with this carb or will it overfill the bowl and spill out the vent breather line? Thanks again
@@bjorn0909 Not sure about the 535 but the xv 1000 has a pulse style pump meaning it's not full on all the time. If yours is like that it will be just fine.
Hey bud i am from Manitoba so hows the Carona situation at your end of Canada anyways I'm going to order a vm30 for my 920 with a searay guy intake hopefully it will work .. I read through your comments on the throttle cable mod but did you still have the chrome crimped end on the cable and if you did how did you get it in the carb cable adjuster .. the one on the carb not the throttle itself . Did you drill the hole bigger because the cable won't fit unless I pull of the metal tip 🍻 cheers and have a great day
Hi Wayne. Corona is pretty serious as it has closed nearly everything down here. The searay intake will work fine. Make sure to seal it up really good to the carb and the heads. The 920 cable is different from the one used on the xv 1000/1100. I would suggest getting a cable from the 1000 or 1100 bikes to make the mod I suggest in my videos. Thanks for the view and comment. Get in touch if you need any more help, take care. SB
So the stock throttle cable u have has only one line coming from the handle. What am I supposed to do cause my throttle cable on my virago 1100xv has two cables that hook up to the carb.
Hi Shawn, thank you for your video. This is very nice mod. Im have two question. Mikuni vm 30 is OK possible for XV400? And, fuel consumption is lower, or why benefits have it? Mikuni is ot membrane carb, this is older type carb and have aprox. 25% hiher fuel consumption. . My idea is change frame and cut airbox on the frame - make biger fuel tank. Wat function air box has? maybe just rotate factory stock on 90° and add papper air filter?? What is better? Sory for my bad ENG.
Thanks for your reply Kuba. Mikuni vm 30 is an old design but functions very well on many things. It is all in the tuning. There is no such thing as right out of the box and it's perfect. Use the mikuni tuning guide found in the comment section here. www.mikuni.com/pdf/vmmanual.pdf This carb does use more fuel but can be made to function well. I noticed a very pronounced increase in bottom end torque. The air tubes in the frame are there to supply airflow to the original 2 carbs. Much depends on what you want to do with the motorcycle. I ride mine daily and have had zero problems since I got the tuning sorted out.
@@HammerHeadGarage Thank you your your quickly reply. XV400 is same like XV535 (frame and carb) My idea is Machine with very low level od fuel consumption. Primary aim is cut frame and remove airbox. Change airbox for only one middle tube to handlebars and this benefit begin make biger fuel tank. This primary idea have sec. problem 😁 this is i must rotate carb to 90° and add double tube to one papper air filter. It is working solution? 😊😁 Thank you. And last one question what is low fuel consumption solution for me, please?
Low fuel consumption and low speed as well is no problem 😁 exist solution for me? Yes, im ready for lot of settings carb and motor. This Is no problem for me.
@@jakubrehorek105 Seeing that it is a 400 I don,t think it will burn alot of fuel. I am running the vm 30 on a 1000cc engine and it supplies all the fuel I need to run it right up to 100mph.
Hi Shawn, great overview. I just got the BIP intake with the VM30 for my 81 XV750, my question is how is the vacuum line routing done on this now that there’s only 1 carb. It’s got me stumped and the only piece of the puzzle I need! Any help would be great. Thanks in advance.
Hey Artifact, basically you plug the vac holes on the carb boots except for the small vac line coming from your timing box, it goes to the front cylinder boot. If you have the metal lines coming off your head, just plug everything up so there are no leaks and your good.
Take the end that used to go to the old carbs and file it down to fit in the slide opening on the vm30. Takes about 30 minutes with a vise and a good file. Work up on it slowly so you don't make it too small.
Hey, I know this video was posted a while ago. I have a 1998 virago 1100 and got this same kit from BIP. The bike runs at an idle over 2000 rpm. I tried adjusting the air/fuel screw and still nothing changes. Anything you know that could point me in the right direction?
Hi, first of all nice work on that lovely bike ! I'm interresting into buying one BPI kit for mine XV 1000 (87 made) Just to be sure i've figured all good : Idle near 850 / 950 rpm Original Main jet 260 Original pilot jet 40 And then ajust with the air-screw (about 2 and half out) After that raise the niddle clip from one upper (See the spark plug to get that sweet chocolate color :) ) And you use the same throttle cable but adapted it ? Is that correcte ? Thank you from France I'm sorry if i've misspelt some word
Hi Gyom. Mostly correct however every engine is different even the same one. Things like your compression, your valve clearances, state of tune effect your tuning. So just because i raised my clip on the needle up one doesn,t mean thats what you will need to do. Also make sure your charging system and battery are 100 % otherwise you won,t get accurate tuning. Go by the spark plugs and take your time.
Take the end of the cable that use to go on the carbs (barrel end) put it in a vise and hand file it down till it fits in the little notch on the slide of the vm 30. Took me about 30 minutes to file it down. Adjust it so you have 2-3 mm of play at the throttle.