So I think I got this whole flat-spot thing worked out! I will be headed out on a ride once the rain passes to confirm, but initial checks around the neighborhood were promising... So I ride primarily around 1200 ft elevation, and often higher. I did all the mod's (the slip-on excepted... for now) but was still getting hesitations on the throttle, especially around 6k. Hoping NOT to have to take off the carb and re-jet (c'mon, 128 should work, right?), I first pulled the needle and dropped the clip to the middle, or third, indentation from the top. I also installed the NGK iridium "hot" plug now that we're mid november. I also clipped two coils off the spring, just for the helluvit. The results were NOT subtle!! WOW... pulled up my street like crazy, no bumps on the tach, and *seems* to be good to go! Hard to believe the needle adjustment would make such a significant difference.

Now I did run into a little trouble with the slide gasket expanding... she didn't want to go back in at all. Remembering something I read somewhere, I put it in the freezer for about 5 minutes, and bingo! Right in there. An oem slide is a hundred bucks, so I was way pleased. Also, I've heard lots of concern about plastic vs metal slides... my '07 has a plastic slide... have no idea why this matters, but it seems to work just fine.

Thanks to all who've rendered assistance! Caney Fork, look out!!

Cheers, y'all.

Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2008 8:31 am
Location: Forest Hill Country Club, Western NC
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So would you attribute the performance gain from the new plug or you raising the needle a notch?

My kit said to have it at 3rd from the top to begin with. Where did you have yours?

What model # for the Iridium plug?

 

Congratulations on the fix, to be honest I ahve no clue on anything that has to do with the carb. I had a mechanic that also races the local circuit. Mine has the 132 and 40 jets, and I don't know where the other settings are. All I know is that I'm at 400 ft and I can ride up to 2000 with no problems. The bike is a powerhouse and has run flawless since the work was done, and that was 8,000 miles ago.

On another note, it looks like we might have missed the opportunity to give you an official Kawasaki Forum welcome. So if you want you can hit the new member area and give us a hello. Later man.

 

I am pretty certain the improvement comes mainly from droppping the clip down, which richens up the mixture a bit more. The plug may help burn more cleanly that particular mix of gas/air. I don't have the plug # handy, but will post later. I got mine at autozone, and simply asked the guy for the IRIDIUM version of the the two stock NGK plugs. He did the cross reference and had them for me the next day. I got both the 7 and the 8 version... I'm running the hotter one right now as per the owner's manual due to the cold weather. Will likely go back to the stock (iridium) in the spring. Hope this helps! I will post that # though ASAP. PEACE!

 

CR8EIX if I recall.

 

I ordered the NGK Iridium Sparkplug CR8EIX from RockyMountainATV for $6.99.

Is that what you ordered?

 

That's the one... wow RMATV has a WAY better price... like by HALF!! there is the CR8 and CR7... and while I don't recall which is the "hotter" of the two, that's the one I'm running now... 16 degrees here in NC the other day, and haven't had a day much above 50 in the last week or so. And the higher you go elevation wise, the snowier it is already! Layla Badass has already been snowboarding on some natural snow and it's not even T-giving!

 

Hmm sounds like I should be OK. It dropped to 38 or so the other night. It's 70 degrees outside now. Temps vary greatly night and day around here. I am used to NJ ice-storms and freezing my *** off.