Need advice.....

[Hughesc99]

Ok i have a 2006 z400. Heres whats done...

Lexx slip on
k&n filter with outerwears
airbox lid off-snorkle removed
stock carb
150dj main jet
stock pilot (22.5)
needle on 3rd notch
fuel screw at 2 turns out (also tried 2.25 and 2.5 turns)
running 91 octane with a little fuel stabalizer
i live in kansas (about 400 feet elevation)

now my problem....i had a 155dj main in it and with a new plug installed...revving the bike up to wot it would blow a hint of blackish smoke and the plug had black soot on it. so i put a 150dj main in it and ran it all day today...power felt pretty good but felt like i could get more out of it. felt like it should rev up a little quicker. pulled the plug again half way through the day and still had black soot on it. a buddy riding behind me said that when i nailed the throttle it smelled a little rich. also when i would get on the side wheels it wanted to bog out and start to die..i also noticed this when jumping if the bike kicked to the side a little... if anyone has any ideas what i could do to make this better and get more power out of this i would be very greatful! thank you in advance

[Hughesc99]

Oh one other thing i forgot....sometimes when starting it you could here the motor pop through the air intake...like a back fire through the carb

[Hughesc99]

Am I just an idiot when it comes to this? I dont assume carburetors do this when they are jetted? From what i read the spark plug should be a darker tan color...but ive always know known if a carb is rich it has a fuel smell on it..mine doesnt , just soot

[CFM-Z440]

Forget trying to read a spark plug with modern day pump gas. The spark plug is only valuable if you kill it immediately after running wide open for about how long it would take you to pull through 5th gear. Then you have to cut the threads off to read it. Even then, it will be hard for most people to read.

Instead, concentrate on how it runs. Obviously if it runs better with a 150 than it did with a 155, your going the right direction. Its all about trial and error even though its a pain.

However, before you go that far, I think there is something wrong if it is acting up when you turn. I would check your float level before doing any more jetting to verify that its correct. You may have bent the float or something while you were in there. Float level will affect your jetting, so it needs to be correct before anything else.

[Hughesc99]

Thanks for the advice...i found one problem...the choke was sticking open so in turn allowing more fuel in. as far as the cutting out part ill have to double check the float. im going to ride it tomorrow and see how much better it does but for the most part the super rich problem i think i have cured...thanks again