I know that lean is caused by more air but I will forget that in 3 weeks. I need a mnemonic or is that nmeonic? that will help an ex-Mensa member remember whether lean is caused by more air or more gas. The only saying I can remember is :"You can't be too rich or too lean", and that doesn't help.

 

Forget about the air, because you can't usually adjust that.
Worry about the fuel.

It's pretty straightforward.
Rich = too much
Lean = not enough

 

Think of it like money rich good, lean bad

 

You've obviously never had a bike where the main jet came unscrewed and was lying in the bottom of the float bowl. There's such a thing as too rich.

 

The ratio is FUEL to AIR.
The changing gets done to the FUEL not the AIR.
MORE fuel = RICH
LESS fuel= LEAN
LESS IS LEAN
LL
?????????
WTF!!!
LOL
pick one

 

I write it on the waistband of my underwear next to the day of the week so i don't get confused...

 

Understanding the process and you won't have to memorize. Memory fails without frequent use, but understanding lasts forever.

 

LEss Air Needed?

 

When black smoke comes out of the exhuast, you're running too rich. When the pipes glow cherry red, you're too lean. Rich mixture gives more fuel per amount of air. Lean mixture gives less fuel per amount of air. The magic number to go by is 14.7 to 1 (14.7:1). So for every 1 lb of fuel to burn, it would need 14.7 lbs of air.

Its also like cooking steaks. Too lean of meat makes for a more chewy steak, not very appertize. A more fat rich steak makes for a tender meal. Too much fat rich steak, and you'll be wasting the fat by cutting it off.

 

Great quote