Single carburetor upgrades

[dontwantapickle]

I can't help but thinking that if putting a single carb on a goldwing was a good way to go....... the factory would have done it.

[Oldewing]

4 carbs are faster, one carb is easier to work with... your choice.

[robin1731]

Old discussion that won't go away. Won't change most peoples minds on either side. But we do have a section just for single carb conversions and other unique carb conversions.

Really don't need to start/rehash the subject again. IMO

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[CYBORG]

4 carbs are faster, one carb is easier to work with... your choice.

I agree.....but if you don't understand them...….single carb MIGHT be the second choice

[dontwantapickle]

It's obvious that the engineers were willing to accept the complexity of the fuel system to make the engine perform optimally.
If the single could ever be made to work as well as 4, I'm sure that Honda would have went that way.
If anyone could have done it, I would have been them.

[ericheath]

Although not a single, it may has well have been one on the 1500. So as to Honda thinking more carbs were better, that doesn’t add up. It may have been a cost saving measure, six carbs vs two carbs, but for the multiple carb people, there was the Valkyrie, and the Valkyrie was the higher performing bike. It seems Honda knew and proved both had there place and could be made to work.

I’ve never seen 1500 dyno results.

On that note, I got up this morning and thought I was buying a 1990 GL1500 with shift issues and 13k miles for $1000. By the time I asked if the seller had title, it was sold. Maxwell Smart I am.

[pidjones]

Also, the original GL1000 carbs were just adapted from automotive use. Honda engineers must have reasoned that it was the best way to go, as the '75 was the best performing. Later versions were detuned for drivability as a tourer. The sport bike heritage still lingered for a long time, though. Pistol Pete has some pre-production carbs with accelerator pump provisions still in the float bowl casting.

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[Gowing]

Also, the original GL1000 carbs were just adapted from automotive use. Honda engineers must have reasoned that it was the best way to go, as the '75 was the best performing. Later versions were detuned for drivability as a tourer. The sport bike heritage still lingered for a long time, though. Pistol Pete has some pre-production carbs with accelerator pump provisions still in the float bowl casting.
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That’s interesting. Like the information.

[Randall.Huston]

I can't help but thinking that if putting a single carb on a goldwing was a good way to go....... the factory would have done it.

While the stock setup is admittedly the higher performing setup, I went with a single for ease of maintenance and reliability. I don't have to go like a rocket sled from 0 to 60 but I did want something that had reasonable power with minimal fuss. I was told that the single carb was never going to be satisfactory as to performance, fuel economy and that I'd lose most of the rideability. That has not been the case. When I bought my bike it had sat for at least 4 years and whoever did the original carbs should have had his butt cut off because they were a mess. I rebuilt them and never had much luck getting them to settle down. There are 4 shops here that won't even look at an old wing. Too much hassle they all said. There was also no way I was going to pay someone 500 dollars to fix the carbs on a bike that was worth maybe 1000. So having said that I got a manifold and a "real" 34 Pict 3 and with a little tinkering I've come up with a completely rideable bike that doesn't make me feel like I'm going to be walking home every time I ride it. I'm getting 32 mpg and go from 0 to 60 in about 7 seconds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4-K16NqEdY

[ob1quixote]

I'm getting 32mpg on the Solex 30, depending on how hard I am on the throttle. 26mpg when I'm exercising my wrist and in boogie mode.

Not quite done with the fine tuning yet, but happy enough so far. I adjusted the screws a bit on the trip up to altitude a few weeks back, and did not have to readjust when coming back to sea level. My 34 required attention to the screw adjustments during the same trip last year, on the way up and down.

A little flat spot in the mid rpm... probably a little lean.

[Randall.Huston]

I had flat spot issues until I went to a 135 main jet and drilled out the idle jet to .008. I have a 30 and I'm waiting on a different manifold before I try using it.

[gregforesi]

I'm not a fan of single conversions but I could be if there weren't so many manifolds out there that don't work and are un-tunable. I do like the design that HOTT came up with for one of his bikes. Some manifold designs would require heating the plenum to keep from icing up. That isn't an easy project.
I don't follow here like I used to but has anyone ever posted dyno numbers on a single carb bike?

[robin1731]

snip........
I don't follow here like I used to but has anyone ever posted dyno numbers on a single carb bike?

I've asked that same thing several times. Never any response. You would have to do back to back. Possible to do. Most quote "dyno time expense" as one reason they don't/won't do it. But if a person "really" wants a confirmed answer that is the only way. Or 1/4 mile times at the track.

Butt dynos are notoriously wrong.

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[ob1quixote]

A buddy of mine was challenged to race a Harley on the dyno at Bike Week, at the Harley compound.
He has a KTM 1290, heavily modded with ALL the good stuff.
After spanking the harley lightly, they went again.
He snapped the clutch out at 7500rpm...

https://youtu.be/mId9eUzSnts

ripped a 4 inch wide nylon strap, luckily the damage was light, and a cooling fan shroud kept the bike from launching into the crowd...no dynos for me!

For me, the single carb solution was simple. My rack of carbs was in horrible shape, and I could see a lot of time and money spent chasing down all the issues. Add to that my personal dislike of CV carbs {x4}, and the want to ride instead of wrench. I dont care how much power it makes, and it makes enough for me. As tuned now, no adjustments from sea level to Mt Mitchell. 34mpg at a relaxed cruise on state highways, less as I exercise my wrist more. Can change every air or fuel jet in minutes. Parts availability, not that I have needed any. as it sits now, I would ride it across the continent if I wanted to.

[ericheath]

Robin offered to pay for for Dyno time for a heavily modded Goldwing with a progressive two bbl. Didn’t work out. It was a 1200 with 1000 heads. Too bad. It would have been nice to know.