I just bought a completely stock 81 1000LTD and want to get the jetting setup correctly. It came w/ stock needles and 127.5 mains. Stock mains are 122 and the stock needle has no adjustment. Also have spare needles which are from the 1000J model and have 5 grooves w/ adifferent taper. Would you reccommend staying w/ oem setup or richening things up a bit? Has the stock 37.5 pilot jets now as well. Bike is running pretty lean, may have petcock problems? Thx

 

welcome to KF saggs

Where is the lean spot complaint? At idle, mid or wide open? And how are you verifing this lean condition? I am assuming by a plug read at wfo and the throttle response at mid throttle and the non adjustable needle that you have a good understanding, but you know the saying.... thought I would ask anyways.

I have not googled Central Vermont for elevations

 

Thx for the welcome! I just bought it and took it on the freeway and the thing had trouble pulling w/ any authority past 65mph. It feels pretty torquey down low but the mid and upper rpms just seem like it's fighting itself. The plugs were real white and at idle you could pull the #4 plug cap and it made no difference. Head pipe never got hot. I opened up the pilot screw from 1.5 turns to 2.5 turns and that brought the idle up and got the pipe warm but it just doesnt seem to have the spunk it should. I'm getting 150psi in all 4 cyls and all valves are w/in spec. The spark is pretty weak looking though. Kinda a blue thread at idle, nothing fat. I have cleaned the carbs out but didnt want to reassemble them until I knew what I should be running for jetting. I'm at 1100ft elevation. Thx