Carby NT Carb Tuning Basics

AussieSteve

Active Member
Local time
8:09 AM
Joined
Oct 28, 2009
Messages
1,733
Location
Nowra, NSW, Australia
A few basics on the Happytime NT Carburetor:-

Some pics identifying the basic parts:-
NT Carb without Top Cap or Slide etc.JPG


Float Bowl & Float.jpg


Float Bowl Gasket.JPG

Float Bowl Gasket

Float Level 21mm.JPG


Float Needle Jet & Main Jet & Tickler & Idle Screw.JPG


Float Needle Seat.JPG


Float Tang, Float Needle, Float Tang Pivot Pin.JPG


L-R Slide Needle - Slide Needle Jet - Main Jet.JPG


Slide Assembly.JPG


Slide Needle Grooves.JPG


Also see srdavo's NT Carburetor Assembly Pics for a bit more info.


Brief Description Of Operation

The NT side-draught carburetor operates by drawing air into the air inlet past the slide needle jet. 'Venturi' action draws fuel from the float bowl upwards into the in-going airstream.

The slide regulates the flow of air into the engine. A slide needle extends below the slide into the slide needle jet to regulate fuel flow during low to about ¾ throttle openings. When the throttle is opened further, from ¾ to full throttle, the 'main jet', screwed into the bottom of the slide needle jet, regulates fuel flow. The slide needle is adjustable, up/down, to increase, (enrich), or reduce, (lean out), the amount of fuel in the mid-range mixture. To adjust ¾ to full throttle mixture, the size of the main jet must be changed, by replacement usually, although drilling or soldering and drilling is an alternative. Larger = richer and vice versa.

There is no idle circuit, pilot jet or idle mixture screw on these carburetors. The slide needle setting also controls the idle mixture.


Specifications

Specs vary with individual carbs and suppliers.

For a 66cc engine, I've heard of stock main jets sized at 0.6mm,(MBB Imports), 0.7mm,(Many US kits) and 0.79mm, (ZBox 66cc).

In the end, many seem to run well on about an 0.72 to 0.73mm main jet, with standard exhaust and porting.

Bore diameter: 14mm.
Float level: 21mm.


Tuning

The NT carb supplied with most typical HT engine kits is very simple and so should be easy to tune, but many have trouble getting it right, resulting in low power, low revs, smoky exhausts, fouled plugs and excessive buildup on heads/pistons if the mixture is over-rich or, in the other extreme, overheating, melted pistons, seized engines if the mixture is (way) too lean.

The most common problem is a lean mixture due to an air leak where the carburetor attaches to the inlet tube or where the inlet tube attaches to the cylinder.

The second most common problem is a rich mixture, (usually after sealing the inlet leaks), resulting in four-stroking and reduced power output, often in both the mid-throttle openings and at full throttle. See 'Four-Stroking', in 'Diagnostics' below.

N.B. Before attempting any carby adjustments, ensure that the carb to inlet joint is well sealed, the inlet gasket is in good condition, the carb is clean, the fuel filter and air filter aren't blocked and that the inlet tube nuts are tight.


Adjustments

There is only one direct method of mixture adjustment on these carburetors. This affects low to ¾ throttle openings. The slide needle has a series of notches near the top, (four on earlier carbs and five on the later ones), so that the attached 'C' clip can be removed and refitted to raise or lower the needle relative to the slide and slide needle valve.

When the needle is set lower, relative to the slide, less fuel is allowed into the mixture for a given amount of air, making the mix leaner and vice versa.

To adjust the mixture at ¾ to full throttle openings, the size of the main jet needs to be changed, smaller for a leaner mixture or larger to make it richer.


Diagnostics
One of the best ways to check the mixture is by doing a 'plug chop'. In effect, the engine is first warmed up to operating temperature, then a new plug fitted. Run the engine at the throttle opening for the area of concern for a bit.
ie. Slide needle setting - about ½ throttle.
Main jet - full throttle.

Now, without changing throttle opening, pull in the clutch, hit the kill switch at the same time and roll to a stop.

Check the plug color. If it's tan, the mixture in that range is OK. If black and/or wet, the mixture is too rich. If the plug is grey or whitish the mixture is too lean.
I had thought about including pics of plugs, but don't have any that aren't tan, right now.

One of the more common signs of a rich mixture is 'Four Stroking'. This occurs when the fuel/air mixture is so rich that the engine only gets enough air to fire every second revolution, reducing power and making the engine sound like it is only doing half as many RPM. An overly smoky exhaust is another indication that the mixture may be too rich.

An example of 'Four Stroking', (thanks Al.Fisherman, for pointing it out):-
Four Stroking (YouTube)

Any corrections or other suggestions?

(If this has been useful, please give it a rating.)

... Steve
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Tan Spark Plug

Here's a pic of a tan spark plug, as a guide. The whitish color on the rear of the insulator is the original ceramic color showing through because the plug hasn't done many km, (about 10-20 minutes), not a sign of a lean mixture.
(Running 15:1 fuel/oil ratio still while running in.)

(I was too slow to edit the original post to add this)

... Steve

Tan Plug.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
A non contact thermometer is another usefull tuning tool as well.

I tune my HT for 170 C next to the spark plug at WOT (20 to 25 C ambient). Hotter is leaner and cooler is richer. The header temp near the port is usually about 10 to 20C hotter, when tuned nicely.

The pipe will be cooler than the head when rich and way hotter when lean.

These numbers also vary with the finish of the parts. Painted black or raw head, chrome or plain pipe.

Googling "2 stroke EGT" will give more info about this.
 
thanks for the labeled pics. I just got my bike running and the idle setting and mixture were a mystery until I saw your post. great job, very helpful.
 
Just to clarify- the last picture of c-clip on the slide needle "leaner to left and richer to the right" or richer closer to point end and then the statement under 'Adjustments' that says "When the needle is set lower, relative to the slide, less fuel is allowed into the mixture for a given amount of air, making the mix leaner and vice versa."

Does this mean that "less" of the slide needle is showing in the circular slide? Then the picture that has the spring, c- washer, c-clip on the slide needle, and slide... that would mean that the higher the c-clip on the slide needle, the leaner, and the lower the c-clip, the richer the mixture...
Very good thread info by the way. Thanks!
 
Last edited:
I guess you meant 'should'. Thanks for the vote of confidence.
If it was stickied, (Tom, srdavo?), it would save me having to constantly find the link and direct people to this thread. (Not that I mind helping.)
 
Last edited:
Thanks for tbe info, I ,ooked at my float level on my new carb, then looked at the float level on my stovk one, the stock one is hhigher, so I put it in my new one that was lower, I know jt going to work, I see to?marow, thanks a,ot Alvin
 
Back
Top