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Do you get carb icing when it's raining?
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:28 am
by MiG
This is the second time I've had significant carb icing (surging power losses) and this time it even stalled the engine when pulling up to lights. The temp was 14.5 with a dewpoint of 13.3 and rain, which according to this chart
http://ibis.experimentals.de/images/car ... assl14.gif" target="_blank is "serious icing". This is happening even though my GPX has a coolant fed carb heating circuit.
Is this a common thing?
Re: Do you get carb icing when it's raining?
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:32 am
by MickLC
Might be worth checking that the coolant is getting to the carbs and there isn't a blockage in the system.
Re: Do you get carb icing when it's raining?
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 11:31 am
by photomike666
Check you ht leads and plugs. When it is really wet, even slight pours in the HT leads will cause a weak spark, which will result in power loss. Also, if you are sucking in 'wet' air, it can affect the carburation. Make sure your air filter is in good nick and that any areas designed to capture water entering the air box are clear (there's usually a condensor plate and a drain hole in the air box).
Re: Do you get carb icing when it's raining?
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 5:53 pm
by Rossi
There is a filter on the coolant heating circuit........gets shit up really quick and blocks of the heating to the carbs
How to do it on a ZX9 is below but should be the same

Re: Do you get carb icing when it's raining?
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 5:55 pm
by Rossi
Cleaning Coolant filter.
Things you will need:
10mm socket on extsion bar.
Phillips screw driver.
Long nose pliers.
Old toothbrush or compressed air line blower.
Old rag.
Cup of tea...
The reason for doing this is to help prevent carb icing in winter or on damp days as it will often get over looked at servicing!
Firstly you will need to remove the pillion seat and riders seat, and then remove the phillips screw in the center of the
fuel tap and then remove the tap but make sure it is in the "off" position if not you will lose all your fuel over the garage
floor ! Next slide the hose clip back on the fuel pipe on the back of the tap and then pull the hose off the back of the
tap trying not to split the hose.
Now we can remove the tank by removing the 2 10mm bolts at the front of the tank and then the 2 10mm at the rear
of the tank and also pull the breather pipe off at the back as well and lift tank off.
You should now be able to see the coolant filter highlighted in picture, remove the two pipes either side of it (place
some rag underneath to catch spilt coolant) and pull the guaze insert out. As you can see from the second pic mine
has got some crap in it and i only cleaned it out the other week.
With a tooth brush or airline blow/clean the crap out and put it back in start the bike up let it warm for a bit and rev the
engine to push the coolant back up and round the pipes. Thats it basically put your bike back together and job done.
Re: Do you get carb icing when it's raining?
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 6:47 pm
by 6maniac
& the cup of tea goes where?
Re: Do you get carb icing when it's raining?
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 6:54 pm
by Saki
where is the pics ??
Re: Do you get carb icing when it's raining?
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:07 pm
by Rossi
6maniac wrote:& the cup of tea goes where?
That proves it beyond a doubt...............
You do not have the capabilities to become a m/c mechanic

Re: Do you get carb icing when it's raining?
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:52 pm
by Rossi
Saki wrote:where is the pics ??
Didn't bother with the pics cos the write up was for a ZX9...........
Just posted as a reference point for MiG's GPX

Re: Do you get carb icing when it's raining?
Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 3:11 pm
by MiG
Rossi wrote:There is a filter on the coolant heating circuit........gets shit up really quick and blocks of the heating to the carbs
Ahhh, I didn't consider that. I saw the filter when removing the heating circuit from the carbs but I didn't bother doing anything with it. I will check it out when I do the big belated 20,000 km service (damn bikes have low maintenance intervals).