KX Riders
Maintenance & Technical => KX500 Original => Topic started by: HULKSTER on October 03, 2003, 12:49:29 AM
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Ok...here is the deal. I have had 500's before. Older ones.
They were all smooth from low to high.
This new 500 has a DEAD bottom and it really comes alive from mid to top end in each gear. 1st and 2nd run out real fast like a 250. 3rd is a lot longer...and 4th is longer than third. 5th is usless where I ride. I couldn't even pull half of 5th on a long strait on the powerlines....lol...never even getting in the power.
To be in the power on this bike you HAVE to be in MID-TOP....period.
In plain english...IT HAS A POWERBAND....not POWER EVERWHERE like the old 500's. You gotta ride it like a 125 to go fast....ever try doing that on a 500? lol
I NEED my BOTTOM end...period.....I ain't no pro!
Ok...the Moose Reed Spacer is supposed to give better bottom. I believe the FMF Gnarly pipe is supposed to be a low-mid pipe.
Anybody else here have these issues before?
I know a 50 is in order in the back too...
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Thats strange, my '01 isn't like that at all - completely stock. My race bike has a FMF Fatty, reed spacer, VForce Delta II. various other mods internal and it pulls like a freight train from bottom to top. With a flywheel weight on my '01 it'll lug like an XR650. With that said... I'd betch there is nothing wrong with that bike that a little jetting and carb tuning wouldn't take care of.
What's in it now?
Main
Pilot
Needle
Air Screw turns
fuel / oil ratio
type of oil (Golden Spectro, Maxima, etc...)
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I have a 01 KX5 and compared to other big bore 2 strokes I thought it had a pretty good power band. I just sold my old 87 YZ490 and it truly felt like a 125 with all most no low and mid and would jerk your arms out of the sockets when it hit the power band. The problem I had with my KX 5 was starting and bogging down on the low end of the power band and also fowling plugs. :evil:
I took Paul's advise, well mostly! I installed a read spacer and put a FMF Gnarly pipe on it with the stock muffler. d**n was I ever surprised! :shock: No more bogging now more fouled plugs, mush easier and to quote Paul, "It pulls like freight train all the way from the bottom"! I also find that I am riding 1 gear taller all the time. It will pull wheelies in all 5 gears at the touch of the throttle. Even in soft sand with my 210 lbs and all my gear it is hard to keep the front end down. :D I am just a weekend warrior so I didn't think I needed the new reed setup.
So get a reed spacer on ASAP and you will be amazed in the difference! If you change pipes you will need and extra OEM rubber mount( buy extras the break often) for the additional bottom mount. I think the members are fairly split between the FMF Gnarly and Fatty, I chose the Gnarly because it is made of a heaver gage metal and I am a desert rat.
Alan :D
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Weird....my 2002 pulled clean and strong stock with factory jetting at 0 - 3000 foot elevation....I'd look at the Carb/Air Filter/Plug and see if all looks ok...maybe you over oiled the air filter and it's choking...? (Seems silly but I've seen it before...) Or the choke's on...? Seems like something crazy must be wrong cuz that bike should pull like a funny car from 0 rpm to redline....I've had other Honda/Husky 2 stoke 500's and this bike would stomp them all....Look for obvious stuff before aftermarket $$...
Sharc
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I will report back on my carb settings after.
The filter is fine.
Oh....it pulls from the bottom....just that it pulls MUCH harder from mid to top. It won't come up in 3rd, 4th, or 5th without being "in" the powerband (mid-top).
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As they say in the South:
"That ain't right!"
Manny
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If you're missing power on the bottom but the mid and top is awesome try stepping up on the pilot jet - one size at a time - and moving the clip down one slot on the needle. I think with a pilot that is one step larger (58 instead of 56) and richening the needle one clip setting you are going to start being much happier :wink:
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If you're missing power on the bottom but the mid and top is awesome try stepping up on the pilot jet - one size at a time - and moving the clip down one slot on the needle. I think with a pilot that is one step larger (58 instead of 56) and richening the needle one clip setting you are going to start being much happier :wink:
EDIT: I just took it apart. There is a 58 in there. The clip is on the 3rd groove.
NOW WHAT? Try a 59?
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The temp here has been averaging 50 degrees F. BRB....going to shop for a #59 to have on hand.
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OK...back! They didn't have a 59 or a 60.
My jetting actually calls for a 58 with all my factors (500 elevation 50 degree temp); which is stock according to the book. The air screw is 1.5 turns out. The clip is on the 3rd groove.
All Textbook.
I went to shop...spoke with my buddy the mechanic. He said that he doubts that the jetting itself would not make me have a DEAD bottom. He said he thinks I should check the compression. I don't have a compression tester but I just know the compression "FEELS REAL GOOD" when kicking her over. I've had 500's before.
I was also told to check the powervalve to see if it's sticking.
I was thinking maybe to drop the clip one notch on the needle. What do you guys think? That...and check the owners manual to see about the powervalve. And yes...the 2003 does have one. :)
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After waxing a fresh 93 CR500 6 times in a row I'm happy now....lol.
I will get my bottom with the reed spacer, an exhaust, and V-Force reed setup.
Got video of me waxin' him too....
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OK, I am getting in on this post a little late, and feel really bad, but thought I could offer one more tip that will help. (In fact I probably should have added this to the tips section a long time ago :oops: )
Remove the pipe, and clean the pipe mounting port inside the cylinder as well as the headpipe where the O-rings ride. Use carb cleaner on a rag (don't want carb cleaner inside the cylinder), or laquer thinner. Once cleaned, put a bead of high temp black silicon over the O-rings, and reinstall the pipe. Let it dry overnight, and viola, you instantly have more bottom end power. The reason is that since combustion continues upon exit of the exhaust gas, any loss of pressure at the head pipe with decrease the effect. At high RPM, no problem, but at low RPM, a noticable difference.
Now, you might be thinking that the next time you pull the pipe you have to deal with all the residual silicon. Not so, as it will peal right off the pipe, all ready for the next installment. Don't believe this will impact bottom end power? Try it first and let me know what you think. Heck, high temp silicon is only a few bucks, so the test is cheap.
Rick
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Thanks for the tip. I will let you know how it works out on my NEW setup. I ordered a Pro Circuit Off Road Platinum Pipe and a Pro Circuit Factory Silencer for it today. Next week I will get the V-Force 2 reed setup and the reed spacer.
I just ordered the exhaust today. Will have it all by weekend.
My 14/50 gearing and Renthal sprocket should be here by Thursday at latest.
I got a feelin' I'm in for a decent change...
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Hold on to your a$$ :wink: :lol:
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WOW, 14/50. Might want to start your first ride in 2nd gear, and then work your way down to first. Lean way forward, and ease out the clutch on that first time in first gear. I'll bet you still get a huge wheelie. :shock:
Rick
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Hey HULKSTER, with the FMF Fatty, stock silencer, VForce Delta II, and proper jetting running 50:1 Maxima Super M in a 50/50 blend of Sunoco Purple and Pump 91 my '01 is capable of 111mph with 15/42 gearing, so do be careful :wink:
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He's in the "Real Northeast" where they've got realllly thight clutch killing trails. :shock:
I've ridden this stuff and I was killing my clutch plates w/ 14-47. :oops:
My friends in N.C. run this gearing with good results. I know it sounds funny.
I think we are spoiled out here! :lol:
Manny
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I don't use 1st much as it is....
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Haha, thats funny Rick. You just brought up a funny memory of mine. I run 15/47 gears on my 500. I was riding at motocross tracks alot and was tired of getting spanked out of the corners, so I changes to 14/51 gears. took a bit to get used to. Then a group of my friends went out riding and a buddy of mine wanted to ride my bike. I told him I had changed my gears and to be careful. I don't think he heard me cause he stood vertical for about 50 yards and came directly back to the truck and parked it. :lol:
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I am in the most northern eastern part of NY. Right next to Canada...
Well...I got my gearing on...it's ok...got my exhaust too...will test at Camp No Mercy on Saturday. Couldn't run Doug's track yesterday becauase the stupid UPS truck didn't get to my house til 5:30!
I did however get about a 40 minute ride in. When I bought that pipe I was told it was a BOTTOM-MID pipe. I even verified this with some guy at Pro Circuit. Well...all it did was SMOOTHEN out the whole powercurve. :evil: Didn't give me any more bottom! I'm pretty mad about it. I went to Pro Circuit's site today and I see that the description for thier "Off Road" pipe was DIFFERENT from what I was told.
It says: "Off-Road - KX500 pipe broadens the power from bottom to top end. Dual stamp design helps eliminate rock damage. This is the same pipe TEAM GREEN endorses and used to win the many off-road championships."
This really pisses me off....as I wanted a bottom-mid pipe. I liked it better STOCK!
I am going to look into a FMF Gnarly setup....and send this Pro-Circuit BACK!
EDIT (Take 2): Just went to the shop...talked about it...can send it back....This one will do for now....here is a couple pics of my TEMPORARY setup.
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Hulkster I have the same PC pipe and yes it just smoothes out the power,stock pipe hits harder but for long rides the PC pipe will tire you out less if that makes you feel better.I crashed once and even with a pipe guard I got a fist size dent below the little tag that has the pipe # stamped on it,I was going to fix the dent but it seems to make it hit harder so I left it there.
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Personally....I think the KX has a dead bottom end....that's where I want it most for the riding I do...
Yeah....it did smoothen out the mid hit....but didn't seem to help out on the bottom much....feels like a 4 stroke now....grrrrrrrrrr
UPDATE! I just sent that PC back! I ordered my FMF Gnarly! I want my bottom end d**n it! That with the reed spacer....oh yeah.... :twisted:
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I had to add a Flywheel weight to get the Bottom end I wanted. I also geared down beyond belief, but I was riding all the extreme Rocky Rooted deep woods New England terrain. I'm running 14/52 ratio.
The Flywheel weights also increase rear tire life, and seem to increase the amount of available traction.
It really gives me an advantage in the technical stuff, and on most trails its nice to be in the taller gears that are farther apart. Less shifting.
It does suck when other Lesser bikes blow my doors off on the powerlines at top speed though. I don't give a Rat's ass about Powerlines anyways, I like the stuff thats so rough other people complain about it.
I added the thicker headgasket too, originaly to save my kickstarter levers that I snap off like twigs, but I like the effect on performance it had too. More over rev, and easier to control the power.
I guess I need the Reed spacer now. LOL
:roll:
Benson
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Hey Hulk, Ive got the exact same issue with my power curve on my bike it just wont lift in the lower rpms, only when up top in the rpm does it lift and thats not when i like it to. i also have tryed just about everything besides a fly weight and im reluctant to do so because i dont want to slow it down any. ive also tryed the reed spacer and im thinking about pulling it off now other than starting better i dont think it helped my power issues at all, first without re jetting it i found little more bottom end (Not what i was looking for) and a major shortage up top, after re-jetting i got most my top back to the point that its not to noticable a loss but it the process of re-jetting im back to square one no bottom again only better starts and little loss up top.
However i have found my best results so far in rear suspension seems the better i get it to hook the more happy i become with the power BUT everything effects traction on a daily basis and its not consistant.
Let me know what you find.
Just my .02
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If your trying to get bottom end power, and you don't go with the flywheel weight FIRST your waisting your time and dreaming.
A Heavier Flywheel is the main thing that sets the motor in an Enduro apart from a Moto-X bike. It's not Rocket science.
I would sell my bike before I EVER rode it again without a Flywheel weight. The difference is that Profound. Just the extra traction alone is worth it to me.
But I ride in New England, where you really need bottom end power, and smooth delivery. I also like the roughest most brutal terrain possible, and I HATE Sand pits with a passion.
Just be smart and get the flywheel weight. It comes off pretty easy if you can't handle the tractor like power.
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FMF Gnarly Pipe is supposedly super for bottom end pipe....that's all I found out before the cops picked up my bike....
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Hey,
If the bike is new try checking the timing. The wrong advance can focus the power higher. Possibly the power valve may not have full range of motion or be adjusted wrong. Just some ideas.