7,000 Feet in Flagstaff
Saturday was my chance to test the Lectron at altitude.
The day before I had been tweaking the metering rod. I had done a plug chop (I haven't yet cut into it to look at the base of the insulator) which showed the apex of the insulator to be snow white.
So, I cranked the MR a full 1/2 turn richer. More power, but still white as a sheet on the plug. I took the test plug out and put in the old plug. Eventually I went another 1/4 and another 1/4 richer. The MR measured about 50mm (my Harbor Freight caliper wasn't exactly sure).
With no horribleness off-idle, I amused myself with adjusting the PowerJet which I felt was a bit lean. I tweaked it a 1/4 turn richer because another 1/4 turn caused it to burble at high throttle position unless the bike was *very* warm.
I put in the once-chopped plug in again and did a pair of 500-yard runs. It's still white on top. I'll have to cut the threads to look deeper.
With both setting being richer than I had had them before (with the PowerJet right on the edge) I felt this would be a good test for the Lectron up in Flagstaff near the "Airport Loop." This location ten miles south of the "Peaks" loop which would normally take me up to about 9,000 feet or so. I'll save that test for later.
Most have said that once set, the Lectron wouldn't need adjustment. I had my doubts based on what I thought the MR and the P-Jet were doing. My prediction was that this elevation test would see the metering rod would being okay while the PowerJet would be too rich.
I fired the bike up first kick and let it warm up. It needed a longer warm up period at altitude (no choke needed just a few seconds after the start). I did some runs up the forest service road and it was burbling on top. I let it warm up some more and started on our trail ride without adjusting anything.
As I moved the throttle, I could discern that the burble was hitting just about half throttle. I got off the bike and moved the PowerJet screw 1/4 lean. It made an improvement but the burble was still there. I stopped and did another 1/4 turn. Better, but not perfect. Another 1/4 turn had the burble almost gone unless I had been doing some low-speed sections and then opened it up. Once nice and toasty, the burble was almost gone. I did another 1/4 turn and after that, all was too my liking.
I got the bike back to Phoenix at about 1,200 feet and turned the PJet screw 1-full turn richer and fired the bike up. After warm-up, I did some speed runs. The bike burbled slightly. I did a 1/4 turn leaner and the burble was gone. So, there was a difference of 1/4 turn from one day to the next (unless I mis-counted).