Anyone used a colortune system?

[richardphillips6208]

G'day all.

I was just wondering whether anybody had used one of the colortune systems as listed on this site: http://www.carbtune.com/ ?

Looks like a more accurate method of adjusting mixture, but I'm not going to throw good money away if it is a dud.
If nobody knows I'll get one anyway, give it a go and let you all know how it went!

Thanks
Happy new year all.

Richard

[billwest]

I have, Richard, with reasonable results.  Haven't used it on the FJ, but used to on my Triples, to finetune idle mixes.  I have one if you want to try it out.

Bill.

[richardphillips6208]

Thanks mate.
Just discovered my petcock is leaking. Seals gone and the filter was missing too so I've got another one on order. When that and the forks are sorted I'll come up to the big smoke and catch up with you.
Shouldn't be more than a week or so to get it all done. Don't like riding with fuel dripping down the side of the bike though. Makes me a tad nervous!
I must say that it will be great to catch up with you. It will also be great once I'm married, have a proper shed and don't have to work out the front of the house all the time!

Warm regards

Richard

[Copterdriver]

G'day all.

I was just wondering whether anybody had used one of the colortune systems as listed on this site: http://www.carbtune.com/ ?

I haven't used one of those but I have used the Carbtune Pro that the company makes. I like it much better then my old mercury manometer, and the quality of the unit is very good. I saw the Colortune when I  was investigating the Carbtune and was curious to know how much better the mixtures could be tuned with it, so I'm interested in hearing how you make out and what you think are the unit's pros and cons.

Mike

[Marsh White]

I'm surprised more people are not speaking up on this topic.  I've never used one (I'd like to), but I know that LA Mike, Brian Hunt and many other members have used it over the years.  They have all said nothing but great things about it.

[Pat Conlon]

Marsh,  we use the Carbtune vacuum gauge (love 'em) I'm not aware of anyone using the Colortune spark plug view port.

[pdxfj]

I borrowed LA Mike's once and used it on my bike and Brian Hunt's bike.  It made a noticeable improvement on my stock engine, but the difference it made on Brian's bike was night and day.  Brian has a Wiseco piston kit installed (1 over) and some head work done.

We both noticed a smoother running engine, better throttle response and a noticeable increase in power on his bike.

Here's a video that shows how it works.  A yellow flame is too rich.  What you're looking for is a "Bunsen" burner blue flame color.  Be sure to have your sound turned on as you can hear the change in engine as it's dialed in.

Gunson Color Tune Plug Color

[Pat Conlon]

Hey cool beans Garth, I didn't know LA Mike had one. Sounds like it works.....
So this was used to dial in the idle fuel mixture screws, correct?

[edit] Or, did Brian use it to make jetting changes?  Recall your before and after settings?

[markmartin]

pdxfj,

Very cool. Nice video.  Did you have the one clear plug and adjusted one carb at a time, or did you have the four plug kit that Carbtune sells, and adjusted them all  ---one at a time of course, but with all four visible?

My experience with carburetors thus far has been to avoid them and let someone else work on them. That said,  I've bought the Morgan carbtune, and am going to attempt synchronizing my carbs this spring.  (Winter here now)
Syncronizing is good, but having them adjusted correctly also sounds like a good thing to have done.  The Colortune looks like something that would be helpful for anyone, but also for a rookie like myself to get the mixture correct.  Am I right to assume this?  

Of course, I'm always looking for the 'easy button'.

Thanks.

Mark

[pdxfj]

With Brian's bike he had already jetted it and we had tweaked it by feel.  Talking with Mike at the first Willits rally about his experience with the color tune we were quite intrigued.

After using it on Brian's bike he took it for a spin.  About half a mile past his house there is a straight dead end road that is about two miles long so you're really able to "test" how the bike is running.  He came back and I could see his eyes were wide open and the grin on his face though his helmet.  His report was that it wasn't the same bike we started with.  The increase in power actually scared him a bit.  The sound and feel of the engine and exhaust note were totally different. 

I bought myself a Colortune which pairs nicely with the Carbtune-II I bought years ago.  I only bought the single plug version.  One thing they make a point of is you don't want to run the glass plug for too long since you risk overheating it and having a failure.  You first do a carb sync, then use the Colortune.

Even though you're only adjusting the idle mixture screws it seems to make an all around difference.  I also noticed a change for the better, but not as drastic of a change as Brian (given is mildly modified engine).

Don't be scared of the carbs.  They are not as intimidating as they seem.  If you have any mechanical ability you can do all your own work.  The FJ is a very easy bike to work on.

Keep in mind that your experience can and will vary.  The Colortune isn't the holy grail of tuning tools.  Some folks will write it off as snake oil, but my personal experience has been positive.

Just a quick note that the video isn't mine.  Just something I found when researching what to look for when using the Colortune.

[markmartin]

Great information, thanks Garth.  I'll be sure to post my results if I end up buying one.

Thanks again,

Mark

[Travis398]

I'll be sure to post my results if I end up buying one.

Mark

Mark, If you buy one  I know a couple of FJ owners who will test it out for you, Just to make sure it works properly of course 

[markmartin]

I'll be sure to post my results if I end up buying one.

Mark

Mark, If you buy one  I know a couple of FJ owners who will test it out for you, Just to make sure it works properly of course 

Absolutely.  I'd be a good reason to get together, and, you could show me which carbie screws to turn.   

I'll let you know if  I get one.  The more it snows this winter, the better the odds are that I will.

[andyb]

I've got one, and the only reason why I picked it up is that I wanted the ability to get my low speed circuits close to right more quickly.  I work on too many bloody machines, and when you're sorta flying blind on jetting after mods, it's really nice to have a quick way to see if you're heading in the right direction (or even if there's another problem going on in there).

Plus it's kinda neato   Haven't used it for super-accurate fine tuning, for that I go by feel and some experimentation, but it's handy to go from totally lost to in the neighborhood.

[Troyskie]

Ok, thought I'd re-touch this old thread.......

F-ing brilliant!

Here is the trial.

Wainot Phil bought one over with a bank of XJR 1300 carbs to check on one of my girls. It worked well and to specs.

I ordered one and a couple of weeks later it arrives.

I checked against my first 11 tuned by a local legend (Glenn Henry), nothing to change, all good.

I checked against my rebuild 12, same until I get to #3 & #4, hmmm, running rich.

A quick test thrash, WOW, holy Teflon Smooth Man!!!!!!!!

I kid you not, massive difference. I can't attest to any extra power, but smooth, ooooh wow, so much smoother.

Thanks PHil, what a great intro.

To put those who don't know me in the picture I am a complete knuckle-head when it comes to mechanics and especially carbs and electronics.

All you need to do is balance the carbies first (I have a dumb persons tool for that), then do the colour tune spark plug one at a time.

It literally took me 1 beer to do two bikes. It was so quick I cleaned the pool after and SWMBO thought I spent the whole time fighting the Green Beastie she suggested I relax and muck around with my bikes  (I did)