healeys
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: Needle position was: haystack Was: Oxygen Sensors

To: Dave & Marlene <rusd@velocitus.net>
Subject: Re: Needle position was: haystack Was: Oxygen Sensors
From: "M.E. & E.A. Driver" <edriver@sasktel.net>
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 13:59:33 -0600
Hi Dave

A review of  Des Hammill's book "how to build and power tune SU
carburettors" has some excellent information on needles. It is a
worthwhile read.

Kind regards
Ed
www.vintage-sportscar-touring.ca
'65 BJ8              '89 Morgan 4/4


Dave & Marlene wrote:

> While we're on the subject, It seems that corelating carb piston/needle 
> station position to engine load & speed is a major problem. How can you 
> know what needle stations are actually in operation under given 
> conditions. For example - large carbs on a small engine will never have 
> the pistons as far open as would be the case with smaller carbs. A carb 
> capable of flowing 400 cfm will not be fully open on a engine that can 
> only use 300 cfm.  How do you know exactly what needle stations are in 
> play at low, midrange, & full power?
> 
> I once tried running with the hood off & a measuring stick in the top of 
> the damper to see what was happening under various loads. Not too 
> successful or accurate. It would be pretty easy to do on a chassis dyno.
> 
> In spite of gas analyzer readings, without this knowledge, we are still 
> completely guessing on needle profiles. Very little better than dozens 
> of needle trials.
> 
> I think people make assumptions that the piston is closed at idle, half 
> way open at some assumed midrange, & fully open at full throttle - high 
> rpm. Not likely in most cases. We need the equivalent of a throttle 
> position sensor to determine piston position.
> 
> What's the answer?
> 
> Dave Russell
> BN2
> 
> Freese, Ken wrote:
> 
>> Martin,
>> I read about using the oxygen sensor years ago for tuning SU's on this 
>> site.
>> I thought it would be good to see if my PCV valve and the headers 
>> affect the
>> mixture and the Colortune only really works at idle. I got the digital
>> readout last year. Maybe I will get the oxygen sensor installed next 
>> year, a
>> bung for the front three and a bung for the rear three. But for now, I 
>> need
>> to fix a burned valve. Ken Freese
>> 65 BJ8





<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>