Mikuni conversion complete.
OMFG what a transformation. I haven't got the pod filters on it yet and it was dark when I finished so didn't want to go too far with no indicators but the little joy ride I just went on made all the dramas worth it. There is instant throttle response with no flat spot whatsoever. I can decelerate on approach to a roundabout with no stumble, just smooth engine braking, then I can potter around the roundabout (small, single laned) in 2nd @ 2000 rpm, still no stumbling, then I can accelerate out of the roundabout with no flat spot, just smooth acceleration. Then when I stop and go again WOT it just goes from 1200 to 8000 instantly, no fuss, no cough, no flat spot just a big kick up the arse with the front wheel lifting off the road.
Goes like a 900SS.
So, I thoroughly recommend doing the mikuni conversion...BUT, if you decide to do the same I would advise using a carb from a 900ss not a Yamaha (TRX/TDM) as the cables come in from the back which creates its own dramas. I managed to get around them by using longer cables but its just so much easier to go with Ducati from the onset.
It pays to strip the them down and kit them (or just get one from Gerhard
) and clean them and check everything is where it should be. First start up saw the bike running on one cyl. at idle and then the other kicking in when throttle opened. I thought this was just a balancing issue but it turned out there were bits missing! (A small jet buried deep in a foxhole next to the main jet was missing, is this the idle jet? or is that the larger jet with a screw slot in top in the same group of three? Dunno, doesn't matter) I only knew there was something missing when I looked in the other one! Luckily my mikuni came with a spare (thanks Dan)
I had stripped the head of the mixture screw and couldn't get to it to re groove, so I drilled 3 very small holes in a row in the head so I could get a screwdriver to turn it. Got it out, ditched it and replaced with a good one from the spare carb. I replaced the little o rings as well, as the DJ kit came with a bunch of little o rings
I wound both out 3 and a half turns.
Thinking I had covered everything, I put it all together on the bike including tank and seat and went for 2nd start up. She burst into life and all was looking good for a test ride. As I was wheeling it out of the garage I noticed fuel pissing out and onto the floor
it was coming out of the overflow on both carbs. I'm still running the electric fuel pump so I removed the restrictor jet in the return line and now no more leak
I will be using the vacuum pump I got from Gerhard (thanks again G.) but the electric one works so for now it stays.
I still have so much more to do but now it's goin so good I just want to put the fairings back on and ride it...so I think I will
We still have some riding weather here in West Oz before the wet stuff sets in so I'm gonna go make hay........