YICS tool headache!

Well I'm looking on here and seeing all this about the YICS tool. I think I may try to make one. Not sure which variation yet though. But how often do you need to clean out the passages. I may go with the one Robert has a pic of. But why do you bend it, for leverage? I may giveit a try, looks like a headache waiting to happen, but I guess I have to do it.

 

Clean the passages? Once every 24 years at 130,000 Km And then they did not need cleaning. Yamaha claims matenence free. YMMV.

Bend it to make it easy to remove.

For tool making instructions:
http://home.westman.wave.ca/~jbe/YICS.htm

You don't Have to make one, alot of people don't use them. Set the idle at 1400 rpm and sync, if you are not happy with the results you could then try the Rick's clothes line MMO method, still not happy make the tool. Up to you, might not make any difference whichever.

Two different tune up guides:

http://members.tripod.com/dave_jack/id38.htm

http://www.surenet.net/~verhey/colourtune/Intro.htm

 

Placing a RED STAR Cartridge in the Very Pistol; aiming it skyward and pulling the trigger!!!


One thousand four hundred revolutions per minute ... is NOT Idle.

14-hundred revolutions per minute is Off Idle and is the beginning of the Power Band.

1,400 rpm's is drawing fuel from the Main Jets.

1400 rpm's at Idle is a throughly embarrassing statement that the over-revving engine is making for all to hear; that the engine isn't tuned-up right and the owner either does not care or does not know how to adjust it to spec's.

The XJ650/750 Model Motorcycles should not exceed 1,050 rpm's at Idle.

You've got your bike tuned-up razor-sharp when you have the Idle set at 900 rpm's; and you can sit in a lawn chair, nearby, and listen to it purr like that, all day, until it runs out of gas.

The link regarding ColorTune is current.
The link suggesting Exhaust Gas Analysis (CO) is obsolete.

The practice has been abandoned. A Properly working YAMAHA EGA devise for testing in-line four-cylinders, virtually impossible to find.

When new, the EGA Machine readings, provided by the technology at the time, and used by untrained technicians ... were inconsistent, prone to break-down, enormously expensive to repair and calibrate; so the Dealerships unplugged them, covered them up and left them to collect dust.

 

1400 to set the sync.

CO as done by Dave Jackson to Alive's XJ 900 a couple of weeks ago.

Sugesting Dave doesn't know his stuff, well you have not met the man. I have met many XJ owners locally who Dave has tuned their XJs, all say their bikes are great after he tuned them. Better than the local shops could ever get them.

Set idle at 1050 after tune. 900 is wrong.

Whatever.

Try both.

 

I made this one a few years ago and it cost about $4 and took 20 minutes to make. It isolates my carbs good enough to get a good sync, but then again, some people just don't believe in them. -Nick

 

True some don't. Some also find their bike runs worse, some better when using them. Only way to know for sure is to build one eh?

Yours looks good for $4 and 20 minutes invested!

 

Oh? Is that why every single smog check place uses exhaust gas analyzers? Tell me, Rick, how many of them use Colortune plugs instead? None, you say?

I've related my experience with the Colortune plugs. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: They DO NOT WORK. They are useless, and I told the people at Gunson as much when I sent the bloody thing back to England and let them know I would never use any of their products ever again.

If it says Gunson on it, it's not touching my bike.

 

Schmuckaholic,
Your comments interest me. Can you please explain your reasoning (I am not disagreeing with you- just want to understand) why you feel the colortune does not work?
Thanks

 

Well one thing what is color tune and how does it work.

 

To properly set the CO with an analyzer ... on a motorcycle ... the device has to be hooked-up to the EGA Ports at the bottom of the Headers.

Sticking a probe in the muffler isn't telling you how the individual carbs are set-up. That's just a test for combined emissions.

One could be lean and another rich ... and they'll average-out at the tailpipe.

The EGA Test that used to be done required 4 Probes hooked-up to the bike at the EGA Plugs at the bottom of the exhaust headers.

On the vast majority of all bikes having the plugs there for testing ... the Plugs are in there ... frozen-up solid.

I can't imagine why you weren't able to get your ColorTune Plug to work.
I used to be very skeptical about ColorTune, myself.

I'd do a Commercial for them, now, if the guy asked me too.

I had the connection lead "Shorting-out" problem; too. But, after contacting them about what to do ... they sent me a "New and Improved HT Extension Lead.
I'm not having that grounding-out problem anymore.

 

Hey Rick...

When Dave tuned my 900 a couple of weeks ago the 4 bolts were rusted solid in to the collector box (mine arn't in the headers) He just hit them with a gas torch until they were cherry red and they just about fell out. Used the analyser on them 1 at a time while the sync tool was setup and it took him about 10 minutes to ger her purring lke a kitten

 

I'll chime in. The EGA is valid provided it is use properly and plumbed to the correct location (thanks for pointing that out Rick). The Colortune is no less valid but does not give definitive, hard numbers. There is still room for error given that the guide suggests finding the bunsen blue for optimal. Some, if not all citizens from my world have no idea what that looks like and would not be able to tune given the device. That is one of two of my criticisms, the shorting issue being the other.
That said, for Joe Everyman, a colortune is a reasonable cost device and yields acceptable results for anyone provided they apply the tool correctly. I expect with experience and familiarity, improvement is bound to occur.

 

The correct place to shove the meter is explained in the link I provided, as is the heating method of getting the bolts out or indeed re-taping them if it is needed. Sometimes I do wonder if anyone clicks on the links provided or reads them if they do. :roll:

I also provided links to both methods by two people who know their stuff. Use whatever method suits.

Don't have to bother myself, EFI RULES!

Oh well, if you live in CA or some other places (like Europe) and you fail emissions test you can tell the cop, "But I colortuned!" as he (or she) writes the ticket!

 

Sorry Kiwi but bikes don't require emissions test in California...yet. I'm sure some dim-wit will fix that in due time.

 

If the Good Lord "Miracle'd" a brand new EGA Machine next to my toolbox ... along with new Oxy-Tanks, Cordless drill, carbide bits, and a brand new set of tap and dies ...

And ... a Computer-controlled robot ... capable of using all the new stuff to heat-up the bolts, drill-out any broken ones, tap new threads, plug-in the EGA Leads and adjust the CO ... so perfect ... that yo-mama would love you even if it wasn't payday ...

I wouldn't flip the switch to start the robot ... even if it could make perfect coffee!!!

I have my Degree from "The Old School"
If it's got wheels ... I can make it go!

They quit handing-out Old School Degrees back in 1965.

 

And don't forget that the majority of XJ's on the road are running aftermarket pipes by now. Very few of them will have a port for the sensor any more.

 

I gave my EGA away some years back, constantly having to fuss with it. When the magic smoke came out of the power supply board I gave up. Kicked it to the curb. I'm not to savvy with the "tuning" part of tune up, never developed the "ear" for it, so I have to rely upon the usual crutches to get me by.
You sure about the degree cut off date?

 

don't worry, I'm sure it won't be long!

Just a bit of ribbing eh?

 

I'm not really positive about that cut-off date.

I can remember listening to a few of the recorded lessons on 8-Track.
You could fill-up three bikes for 5-Bucks.
Comb in rear pocket.
Nike's were new anti-aircraft missiles.
On Graduation Day I got a ride home in a SuperSport 409 with cheaters on the back and these funny-lookin' eye's on the back window over lettering that said: "Moon Equipped"

 

Ahhh, my 8 track is still in storage, waiting... Don't think I've got any tapes that survived. My vinyl survived though. I do recall the GTO sitting in the drive way with knock-off US slot mags and Hi-Jackers stuffed under the rear end. Dad wouldn't let me touch the car. Wonder why. Dad's Honda 360 (don't even recall if this is correct, old age catching up with me) wingding sitting in the garage was off limits too. Seemed he was worried my brother and I might get into some trouble if we ventured into the garage. Small wonder, my brother backed that GTO right down the driveway into Dad's new Pontiac Sunbird, yeouch! He was hopping when he got home. To make matters worse, he (my brother) kept trying to pull the GTO back up the driveway but hadn't quite gotten the hang of the clutch and proceeded to bash the living tar out of the side door of the Sunbird. I threw a lot of papers for the next four years to help pay for the damage. Man that sucked.

 

Rookie rubber-banded ... or, the Paper-boy roll-'n-tuck?

 

What's this I hear??

Oldies showing their age :lol:

 

Thank you, Captain Obvious.

I must lead a charmed life. Mine came out quite easily, thankyouverymuch.

On1Wheel: A Colortune plug is a replacement spark plug with a crystal in it that permits one to see the air/fuel mixture as it burns. Gray means it's lean, Orange means it's running rich, Blue means it's more or less set properly, and arcing from the input lead to the head means the plug is working normally.

TonyP12: search the forums for a post I put up ("Grrrr!") in which I was more or less venting over various problems I was having. Long story short, the older models of Colortune plug have the aforementioned problem where the voltage coming from the spark plug wire, instead of going through the crystal and firing at the electrode inside the cylinder, shorts across from where the extender wire screws into the plug to either the outside of the plug, or the cylinder head itself. Other users report later models have solved this problem; I have no intention of throwing good money after bad trying to find out.

Kiwi: As mentioned, California does not require emissions testing on motorcycles (but, Arizona does). Story I heard that was when Honda was coming out with the Magna bike, they put a larger engine in (hence the V65 model) because the state legislature was intending to require emissions control equipment on motorcycles. The measure failed, but Honda left the larger engine in anyway.

Alive: that's right, dagnabbit. Now get the hell off my lawn, you young whippersnapper. :mrgreen:

 

Do I have to get my bike off the lawn too??

*considers doing a burnout*

 

Rick, I dutifully tucked, rolled and banded all of my papers and never, ever missed a porch. I slept through middle school, small wonder my grades were so poor.

Shmuck, you are very charmed. Every XJ I've owned or touched has had those bolts rusted tightly into place. Your P.O. must have been one of the few thoughtful folks to put a little anti-seize on them (The force is strong in this one...). I'll echo your concerns over the earlier colortune issues. Bad for business and the poor folks stuck with the chunk of expensive useless tool.

Alive: Do it! Do it!

 

Rusted header "sniffer" bolts heated cherry red out they come replace with 8.8 high tensile bolts. Why Yamaha used snap bolts on almost everything on these bikes? They never thought most of them would still be going now! Yamaha, oh ye of little faith!

 

A "Sniffed" bike ain't goin' to beat a "Tweaked" bike to the next Red Light, though.

I guess you guys could benefit from another Old School Trick.

Go get the bike sniffed ... and then "Mark" where they set the Pilot Air Screws with a nice, clean line on the Carb Body with the edge of a small piece of an Ignition Points File.

That's where you put them back to ... after you Sneak-Tweak the bike to your favorite running mixture. Which you can't mark because it might raise suspicions.

Win; win.

Unless you will lose sleep, nights, worrying about your bike's individual contribution to Global Warming.

 

No... that you can leave behind. Along with the keys. :wink:

Robert: You actually threw papers onto the porch? I always rode right up to the house.

Perhaps, but your Tweaked Bike, by your accounts, will have its carbs blown off by some squid on a Gixxer.

 

Yep, threw. Ruin two screen doors and woke a lot of folks up in my four years but they still appreciated the paper being on the porch on time. I had it good (as paper routes went, 700 circulation on Sunday, what a heap of paper!).

 

*Throws the 900 in to a donut before flying off the lawn*

How's that? :lol:

 

Mrmph. My paper delivery was in the afternoon after school. I also had it a bit easier; growing up in a small town, at it largest, my route had 60+. Then again, I delivered in rain, snow, and tornado warnings.

Where'd you get a donut that big, and how did you manage to pick up the bike?

 

Mmmmmmm......Giant donut.........

 

I could tell ya... But then I'd have to kill ya 8)