Head pipe question

[jake"08"400]

I've tried searching with no luck at all. I remember reading somewhere about head pipes but I can't find it now. My question is is it normal for my head pipe (yes it's stock head pipe) to be a dark color like blueish it's been on the bike since I have had it. And also is there anyway to make it shiny again like any tips other than hours of fine sanding and polishing? Also will a aftermarket head pipe turn colors also ?

Also I bought the quad brand new so I'm the only owner.

[tri5ron]

your sig shows a uni filter and a slip on muffler.
Are you also running a open airbox?

If so,... and you did not re-jet,... then you are probably running lean, which would cause higher exhaust temps (that's a bad thing), and not only could it cause your headpipe to turn colors,...
But you are very likely to burn up your exhaust valves too.

Make sure to re-jet it correctly with the increased airflow.

as far as getting it off, sanding/polishing are the best method.

[jake"08"400]

Yea it's got a 155 main and 42 pilot......and has 6 uni air filter elements but no open air box. It did this not longer after I got it. (brand new)

[jake"08"400]

<a href="http://s1115.photobucket.com/albums/k558/jakekeener/?action=view&current=4wheeler.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k558/jakekeener/4wheeler.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>



Here's a picture if you can make it out at all.

[hondaking52]

its just normal heat, all exhaust pipes do that..

[tri5ron]

Jake,
You might find this thread interesting.

when we did mine, with the 400EX carb, basically the same mods as yours, (except I also had a Sparks +6 Timing Advance Key), ...

The dyno runs were best at a 165 main, 42 pilot, 4th clip from the top, and 2 1/2 turns on the A/F screw.

check it out...

http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=409169&perpage=10&pagenumber=1


here is also a very comprehensive thread, on proper jetting.
Enjoy,...

http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=394028

[jake"08"400]

Yea I've read all them man before I'm pretty sure my jetting is close I had a 160 in it before I dropped it to a 155, and when I would hammer down on it it would kinda bog at high rpms. Same thing with a 158. Just not as bad. Now on your dyno you said that the 400ex carb runs was with 165dj jets, isn't the equivalent to a 185 in kiehen jets? But maybe I should go slap my 160 back in her and see what it does lol. I was just going by other people specs of what they was running with mods close to. So what do ya think?

[CJM]

Blue header means to much heat=too lean.

Might need to increase the needle clip position or go up 1 jet size and live with the bog.

Course it also matters when you jetted the machine how cold it was outside. For every 20 degrees the air temp drops you go down a jet size or two. Cold air requires more fuel=larger jets.

Ex: Its 50F when I jetted and Im at a 160 main. Its now 80F outside when I go riding again-so I change the jetting to say 158 or 155, etc. Maybe mess with the needle slightly as well to make it leaner or richer.

Its a pain sometimes and I know some people like to just leave it alone and never rejet it cause they find a jet size that works best for all environments and live with whatever the jetting causes when cold vs hot or vice versa.

Im at a 170 main, 3rd clip and 2.75 turns out the a/f as well as a 42 pilot. I jetted when it was approx 40F outside, im guessing that I will probably need to drop to a 168 or 165 in the near future when it gets to be about 70-80f outside.

[jake"08"400]

<a href="http://s1115.photobucket.com/albums/k558/jakekeener/?action=view&current=DSCI0548.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k558/jakekeener/DSCI0548.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>



There's a way better pic of what I'm talking about

[CJM]

Flash is killing ya man lol..

Looks normal tho, your jetting might be slightly lean. Pull the plug, electrode should be chocolate brown.

see my thread aobut plug chops and jetting for more info.
http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?threadid=463320

[400exrider707]

Stock headpipes are pretty hard to discolor.

Have you checked the spark plug to see what it looks like for jetting?

I see everyone is offering jetting suggestions, but that's going to boil down to a lot of different things, and ultimately every bike is different.

Check the plug and go from there.

[jake"08"400]

Yea I pulled it it was brown. (because this plug was my normal everyday riden type of use) But did a plug run and as I was afraid it was grey(hardly ever on it WOT like that unless I'm just going down the road) so I bumped my main to a 160 going to do some more tinkering with it tomorrow when I have daylight and a nice warm day lol. But thank CJM and Ron for ya replies.


O and sorry bout the flash it was dark in the garage…lol

[jake"08"400]

O and CJM I think alot of that was because of factory setting on my bikes jetting. I had it a year and six months before I put that exhaust and a filter on it which i did this past christmas so I'm pretty sure they come from the factory lean. I mainly wanted to know if it's normal and if I can get it pretty again lol.

[CJM]

NP Jake.

They all come lean, lean = more power-but at the cost of the heat created by not giving it enough fuel! O a stock bike your pretty much ok, a worked one not so much. Remember they usually try to set it up from the factory for a very wide variety of places one could ride in all over the country.