Motorcycle Repair: 2004 Honda CRF250X (CA) carburetor, honda crf250x, air fuel mixture

Question
I purchased a new Honda CRF250X, Calif. model. The bike is a dog. One of the hop up mods is to remove the restrictive air box cover. After removing the cover the bike would only run with the choke on. I figured, too lean. So I rised the needle two notches, turned the mixture screw out to 2-1/4 turns (from 2 turns)and increased the main jet from a 130 to a 135. I also disconnected the CA vacuum pump and plugged the manifold entry, (Don't tell the nazis). It runs tons better but has a slight hesitation towrds the bottom at full throttle.

Thanks,
Tom

Answer
Hi Tom,

The Gestapos won't take us alive. : )

You're on the right track. Read the colors of the spark plugs and keep dialing the carb in until you get the right air-fuel mixture that produces power.

Make one tuning change at a time to know what effect that change has made. Adjust air-fuel screws 1/8 to 1/4 turn increments.

Carb tuning often requires removing the carb numerous times before getting the mix dialed in.

Respectfully,
Mark Shively