how to adjust the needle on an '01 400ex

[frockalicious]

I need to know how to go about adjusting the needle on my carb. I know how to change all the jets and I am familiar with the setup but I am not quite sure which screws to pull to get that needle out and how to adjust it. Any help would be appreciated guys.

[honda400ex2003]

the two that have the mounting point in the top brass cover have to come out of the sleeve to get at the needle. it is not bad just dont strip them out and you should be good. I would suggest just taking the screw out of the arm that goes down inside the slide so you can get into it a bit easier too. good luck, steve

[honda400ex2003]

up leans it out and down richens it up too. that is with the clip position on the needle. if it is stock it should be in the 3rd position from the top. steve

[frockalicious]

I have an outerwear airbox lid, a pro design intake kit, choke removed, and spark arrestor taken out of my stock exhaust. my jetting is 42 pilot and 155 main, and about 2 and 1/2 turns out on the fuel screw. I am running at 5000 feet. I am a student so I don't have a whole lot extra to spend on mods so I just did some cheap stuff. what do you think about the jetting and should I leave that needle on the third?

[honda400ex2003]

you should be alright on the 3rd spot if it runs good. some good cheaper mods are a sparks key, a 450r carb, and a hotcam stage 1. I would say that the 42 is a bit rich but if it starts and idles good why mess with it. the main sounds to be pretty good with what you have. how does the plug look after a chop? steve

[frockalicious]

I haven't done a chop. Isn't that where you run it where you wanna test it and kill it and check the plug? Ya I thought a 42 was a little rich too but it's got balls off the line so I think it's ok. I have a sparks key on the way right now. Does it help quite a bit? I also backed the screw out a half turn but my friends ex is exactly the same as mine except I have a better intake and his pulls harder through the mid range up the hills. I am not sure if his needle is adjusted or not because he bought it used and hasn't checked. That's the only thing i think it might be. His jetting is the same too. Unless he has a sparks key and doesn't know it. Mine should just be faster and it's not. Slightly annoying. Could it have to do with taking the arrestor out and not having any back pressure? his is the same though so i dont know. Any suggestions? Oh and when installing the sparks key do I have to buy a massive allen wrench to get that big screw out of the middle so I can take the case off? I know I need a gasket and I ordered one.

[honda400ex2003]

i am not real sure on the key, since i have not put one in. That is how you do a plug chop just make sure you put in a new plug after it is warmed up and then test where you want. you can go to the 2nd slot on the needle to see if leaning it out a bit helps but taking the baffle out of the stock stuff is not real good since it does not have as much pressure but if it jetted good you should be alright. To get the plug out you should get a big allen socket it makes it much easier and is not as easy to strip or mess up. i have a whole set that is for a 3/8 socket set so that is what i use. Steve

[frockalicious]

First I wanna tell you thanks for all your replys to my questions. I really appreciate your help. Anyways, Today I was riding the dunes, and I switched from my 13t front sprocket to a 14 just because I like my second gear to be a little longer and towards the end of my ride my quad started acting like the choke was on! It was sputtering and crap just all of a sudden. Right through the mid range too. It wasn't in the pilot circuit, I think it is the needle. Like you said I think it needs lowered a notch to lean it out. But what was weird is I rode all day the other day with the jets the same as they are now and no sputtering. Sprocket maybe? I doubt that would do anything though. Kinda weird. I am going to lean out the needle a notch and see what happens. If that's where you think the problem is?

[frockalicious]

and by the way my choke is removed, so no possibility that it was on

[smokindw]

u may of made a typo but if u want 2 lean the needle out u want to raise the e-clip on the needle! For example if ur on the 3rd notch down from the top u would go to the 2nd notch from the top 2 lean her out. just wanted to make sure that u do it right cuz i personally dont like messin with those 2 shi*** screws that u have to take out 2 get 2 the needle-they strip very easy so take ur time!!

[honda400ex2003]

agreed ^^^ good luck and take your time. steve

[frockalicious]

ok guys so the bogging and sputtering started out of nowhere in the middle of riding. I had ridden with the jetting set up the same one other time with no problems. I did however wheelie over going up a dune the day before it started and bent my bars. I bought new ones and changed everything up and also put on a 14 t front sprocket. That was all I changed and then out of nowhere the next day it started actin like the choke was on. I lowered the needle down ( raised the clip a notch) thinking that would fix things and it didn't do anything. It kicks in at about a third throttle. my pilot is a 42 and main is 155. I think the pilot may be a little rich but it shouldnt affect it that much should it? it was fine for a few rides. All i have done to it is an intake kit and I took the spark arrestor out of the stock exhaust. HELP ME i am clueless

[frockalicious]

and im at about 5000 feet elevation. st anthony sand dunes.

[honda400ex2003]

maybe something came loose a bit in there. I am not sure anymore. if it ran fine something must have came loose or clogged something inside the carb to make it do that. if it is at 1/3 throttle the pilot is out of the question it does not work that far into the position. i would take it apart and make sure your float bowl goes up and down good and make sure nothing is clogged. check your filter for dirt and oil, gas, anything. check out your tubes going to the boot and make sure there are no holes make sure it is tight all around. check motor and gaskets, spark and cdi maybe it got messed up and is stalling it out on the higher rpms cause it is not getting enough spark. Good luck, steve

[frockalicious]

I posted both at the same time I wanted some immediate feedback so I can get to work on it tomorrow. I already had them both posted before you replied. I didn't mean to offend you or anything or insult your intelligence I appreciate all your advice

[honda400ex2003]

hey bro no prob i was not offended or anything sorry if i came off that way to you. i was just wondering what happened with this one to start another thread. lol, let me know what you find. steve

[frockalicious]

So I put in a new plug to no avail, so I opened up the carb and the main jet fell out. Ya I dunno What happened when I put it in I must have only hand tightened it or something but it runs now. I feel like my pilot is a little rich what do you think?

[honda400ex2003]

I think that the 42 is a bit big, but you can try to turn in your f/a screw a little more and see if it helps. Otherwise you can put in a 40 and try it. I like my 38 but you dont have a choke and i do. if you still feel it bog a tad at say 2 turns out on the f/a then i would go smaller and start at 3 and go in from there if you have to. Good to hear that your machine is running better now. steve