Glowing header pipes ZX9

I've just taken the standard pipes with race can off the ZX9-C1 and
replaced them wit ha full Akrapovic titanium system. When warming it up I
noticed all the header pipes glowing red. It has a dynojet kit
fitted. Whats up Doc?

 

eric the brave says...

It sounds like it is running very lean and way too hot. Get the jetting
checked and sorted asap. I wouldn't ride it like that myself.

 

True enough. I was wondering how Bonwick got on with the Akrapovic Bro
sold him. If he has the same problem as the system is the same.
Considering it already has a race can I'm surprised it is running this
weak. Although saying that, warming the bike up at constant throttle is
bound to find the weak. I just wondered if there was anything obvious I've
missed. It has a standard air filter. A bit dirty from summer use so it
should not be that bad.

 

It may be OK, actually.

Standard headers are steel and often double-skinned. A light titanium
system is likely to have thinner wall tubing and single skins, and I'd
expect it to get hotter. Many headers glow under, er, stress.

But I'd do a plug chop to check the jetting, anyway.

 

Thanks Tog. I think you might be right. You can se them start to glow at
3-4k. If you drop them back down to tick over the pipes stop
glowing immediately. It was dark so I probable noticed it more.

As of interest I've had some other feedback:-

1. Ignition retarded - Is this posible on the ZX9?
2. Tight exhaust valves - Major service 1k ago. and all ipes are exactly
the same.
3. Running lean. - I have a Dynojet fitted.
4. Shit fuel - Not sure on this. The bike has only done 1k in the last
year so the fuel could be 10% two stroke oil for all I know.
5. Bikes f***ed - sell it to me for a fiver

Any other suggestions?

 

Retarded ignition would make it run cooler. Advanced ignition results in
hotter running.

Definitely not this.

Possible, but a good Dynojet kit, properly fitted, whould be OK.

Total bollocks.

OK

Seriously, do a plug chop - if you don't know how, then get it into
abour fourth gear, and give it full welly, preferably slightly uphill.

Then hit the kill switch and pull in the clutch at one and the same
moment. Remove plugs and check the colour.

I appreciate that doing this on a ZX9 might mean removing half the
bodywork....

 

I had an XBR500 that made one exhaust pipe glow red, after I'd removed
the cam follower on one exhaust valve. This was at tick over only, and
didn't seem to affect the running of the bike, except there seemed to be
a bit more low down grunt, and less top end.

 

But would it not make the pipes glow red? Mind you having run a fair few
bikes without exhausts the flames comming out are a bit like a blow torch
anyway.

Good. Well I might end up having it set up on a Dyno.

Not bollocks at all !

10% oil in the fuel would make it run as weak a f**k. A typical reason why
two stroke engines hole pistons. More oil in the mix means less fuel.

Plug chop is OK for full throttle. I'm not at that stage yet. I'm thinking
of low speed town work at 4k with cherry red pipes.

Easier to get the work done on a Dyno me thinks. I can get it set up at
all throttle openings throughout the rev range. THe Akrapovic probably
deserves it. My ZXR never used to glow red though. But that was like
having the choke on at low revs.

 

eric the brave says...

Absolutely correct. By adding 2-stroke oil to petrol you effectively
lean off the fuel/air ratio. We always upjetted strokers to compensate
for this when going over to premix from oil injection.

 

^^^^ ^^^^^^^
Oxymoron alert!

A plug chop showing the mixture at WFO and high revs will tell you
absolutely nothing about mixture problems just off idle.

It's quite possible to be dangerously lean at low revs and too rich
at full throttle.

 

Eiron wrote

Good enough reason to keep the throttle open then innit.

 

On my 250, the radiator has to come out to get to the plugs. Not a big
job, but still a bit of a pain.

 

Oh yes, agreed. I just meant that it's bollocks that this is likely to
be the problem in this case.

 

So do more than one plug chop, duh.

 

It might be. He had MX bikes in the garage. I know the tank was dry
because he told me he would put some petrol in. The battery was OK because
of the Optimate.

 

Good point...

 

Reminds me of a ZX9 and a Hotel in France.

Where did you get the race bike dyno'd ?

 

<poised>

 

Slick performance.


--
Alex
BMW R1150GS
DIAABTCOD#3 MSWF#4 UKRMFBC#6 Ibw#35 BOB#8
http://www.team-ukrm.co.uk
Windy's "little soldier"

 

Basstard!