Colortune

swooshdave · May 26, 2011

Oh, I so love thee...

I had been fiddling with the carbs, following the 1 1/2 turns out but it still wasn't running right. It sounded ok but not great. My brother sent me the Colortune, apparently he wasn't as infatuated with it as I am...

I first got it when I was probably 16 or so and used it to tune my MG, those dual SUs took some loving' to get right. So I've had it for... let's see, ugh, that would take math. How about we just say a long time?

Got the bike warm, pulled the spark plug from one side and replaced it with the Colortune. Fired it back up, I could see yellow so I knew I was rich. Opened the air screw up until I could no longer see the yellow, but not too far. Just a nice blue. Don't run it too long, just long enough to get the mixture right. Maybe a minute or so.

Did the other side. Now it just purrs. I'll probably double check the slide lift syncro again. Might as well, still have a week before I can register it. And the weather is crappy.

I still suspect the timing might not be perfect. We'll see how it starts from cold next time.

AussieCombat · May 26, 2011

What is this Colortune that you speak of. It's sounds like a very helpfull thing'o type apperatus.
Do they cost lots of money.
AC.

swooshdave · May 26, 2011

AussieCombat said:
What is this Colortune that you speak of. It's sounds like a very helpfull thing'o type apperatus.
Do they cost lots of money.
AC.

Let's just say I've gotten my money out of this one. :mrgreen:

AussieCombat · May 27, 2011

You didn't tell me what it is. I have'nt heard of it.
AC.

Hobot · May 27, 2011

Its a device used to see combustion color to tune for idle only and is mostly useless waste of time and less useful for new age lean clean burn fuel, along same lines past plug chop color don't apply as well nowadays.

It everything else it good enough you vary the float level to get the designed in fuel feed base line of 1.5 turns open. A proper tune is said to require a bit of choke or tickle to start cold.

Here's it in a Norton but should search up other video's to see the desired blue flame color.
http://s165.photobucket.com/albums/u41/ ... r02102.mp4

GRM 450 · May 27, 2011

http://www.gadgetjq.com/ctune.htm

Hello AC, see the link above.

They have all gone to sleep over there in the US.
Repco used to sell them here, it's a glass plug that lets you see what colour the flame is in the cylinder.
Yellow = rich and blue = lean etc.
I have used one years ago and they are good for initial idle mixture settings.

Graeme

AussieCombat · May 27, 2011

Thanks Hobo, Graeme. Sorry ..typo, Hobot.
AC.

davamb · May 27, 2011

Wouldn't an exhaust Oxygen content analysis tell you the same thing (if not more)? Do they make such a thing (say based on a Lambda sensor) for the DIYer???

Edit: Yes they do. Something like this. Interesting. Will investigate further.

Hobot · May 27, 2011

Takes wideband to try to cover low rpm combustion and even then back flow from outside is a real issue.
Narrow bands only work well in about WOT conditions. Search oxygen sensors issues or errors to see more scope on this. Vacuum gauge or manometer would be another way to monitor idle dial in.

http://www.classicinlines.com/Vacuum.asp

Oh yeah Colortune alerts to be aware of. Some swear by them, others swear at them.

I bought it and used it twice. The first time it turned my #1 exhaust pipe BLUE! You're substituting your standard spark plug for this quartz-windowed plug that has simply a one-size-fits-all gap with a no resistance, metal-to-metal spark jump. The result is a *very* hot spark. It took about 10 minutes of running with this thing to turn my pipe blue. Agree with OKC_Kent, re: adjustments. This will only tell you *after the fact* if your main jets are set properly. Cute idea but not very practical.

swooshdave · May 27, 2011

If you think you're going to tune your jets with it you're delusional. But for setting the air screws evenly at idle for a twin carb set up I think it's fine. Could I have just set it at 1 1/2 turns and then fiddled? Sure, and that's what I did initially. But this was much quicker and I feel that it's more accurate than "just by feel".

Tintin · May 27, 2011

davamb said:
Wouldn't an exhaust Oxygen content analysis tell you the same thing (if not more)?

Best thing to do would be a wideband Lambda sensor as you already discovered. When I hade new headers made for the Atlas I asked the guys to install two bungs - however I'll use the Colortune before I actually screw the sensors in for a very simple reason: They are quickly deteriorated by oil and its deposits in the exhaust gas stream so I'll check for an orange flame before.

We're using a Innovate LM-2 @work for some road car applications. Works quite well.

Tim

travelerjerry · May 27, 2011

AussieCombat said:
What is this Colortune that you speak of. It's sounds like a very helpfull thing'o type apperatus.
Do they cost lots of money.
AC.

AC, here is a picture of a Colortune kit I aquired some few years ago. I believe I paid around $40.00 US for it.

swooshdave · May 27, 2011

travelerjerry said:
AussieCombat said:

What is this Colortune that you speak of. It's sounds like a very helpfull thing'o type apperatus.
Do they cost lots of money.
AC.

Click to expand...

AC, here is a picture of a Colortune kit I aquired some few years ago. I believe I paid around $40.00 US for it.

I think that is even older than the one I have!

CanukNortonNut · May 27, 2011

Hi Dave
1+
I've got one too, and they work great for setting idle. You need a good shaded garage to see the flame change clearly. Low light conditions work best. Also don't drop the plug. That ceramic material is very thin. The picture doesn't show the ceramic but on mine it has one.
Regards,
CNN

AussieCombat · May 27, 2011

Thank you all.
Yep looks handy for rebiulds or new carbs etc.,and reasonably priced.
Nuff said.
AC.

swooshdave · May 28, 2011

AussieCombat said:
Thank you all.
Yep looks handy for rebiulds or new carbs etc.,and reasonably priced.
Nuff said.
AC.

They aren't $40 anymore, I think they are closer to $65.

maylar · May 28, 2011

Be careful not to leave the plastic view shroud on too long - it will melt. BTDT

swooshdave · May 28, 2011

maylar said:
Be careful not to leave the plastic view shroud on too long - it will melt. BTDT

Like I said, only use the Colortune long enough to get the reading and make the adjustment. If it takes more than a minute you're taking too long. For the Amals, set at 1 1/4 turns out, start bike. Check color (probably yellow), turn out until you see blue, done. Repeat other side.

Colortune

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