Colortune will not change color!

I have been trying to tune my carbs by ear with some success. I am not very experienced in the matter so my ear is not as tuned to the process. When I try to use my colortune it just stays blue. I have only tried the outside cylinders, but both outside cylinders do the same thing. I have turned them all the way out, all the way in and no change.

Yes the carbs are clean, and yes the pilot holes are thoroughly clean.

 

You've still got blockage in the carbs somewhere;

or your float levels are off.

 

Or you are out of sync or the idle is too high.

You will be hard pressed to see any change in the colortune on a 650 unless the idle speed is at 1000 or even lower. Above that you're getting too much air and fuel from ahead of the throttle plate to make much difference.

 

Also, have you or the PO done anything which might require rejetting that wasn't done? When I tuned my carbs, I had to pull my screws WAY out past the suggested starting point. I've later come to suspect this is due to the K&N filter the bike came with - I believe haphazardly swapped from the parts bike I also got in the deal.

 

I can't recall the consensus on the YICS blanking during idle fuel adjustment...it should be blanked, right?

 

Yamaha wanted it blanked when using the EGA so I'd say yes. You're adjustting individual carbs, so you want individual readings.

 

Hmmm well it is not a YICS. Carbs are synced and carbs were throughly cleaned.

I am beginning to suspect that since it is an older model colortune (500) it might not be of quality enough for the job. Float levels are spot on as well.

I am not ruling out that something could not possibly be blocked, but I certainly would like to think I did a fairly extensive job haha.

The interesting thing is that following Rick's "tweaker" guide is a lot more helpful than the colortune. Each screw does make changes to performance when it is too lean or too rich. After detuning all carbs and retuning following his guide, it is running fantastic. No hesitation, no misfire, no excessive shaking, pretty smooth. I planned on getting new plugs today and doing a plug chop.

I have a couple of questions. Is it completely necessary to actually cut a new plug?

Also, from my understanding, for the best fuel economy, you lean a pilot screw in until the rpms drop, then back out 1-1 1/2 until you achieve the highest rpm correct? I know it is not overly accurate but is it a start?