High Altitude Fix For Carb'd '03 T100

Discussion in 'Technical Help' started by Eli Hardof, Jul 20, 2020.

  1. Eli Hardof

    Eli Hardof Member

    Jul 16, 2020
    90
    18
    Las Vegas
    I live in Las Vegas and just recently added this '03 T100 to my garage. We are regularly at 2000-3000 feet elevation and the bike purrs, but Mount Charleston is a frequent and great ride just 30-40 minutes away. I never gave it it much thought while riding my fuel injected Beemer there on the twisties at 7000-10,000 feet elevation but just realized that if I go on my Bonnie I may have problems. I'm not going to re-jet just for a quick morning ride there but I read that higher octane gas might help.

    Not sure of the octane requirements for the T100 so have putting 91 in the two tanks I've done so far. Would an octane booster get me through an hour ride at about 8500 feet? if not, any other options?

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  2. Helmut Visor

    Helmut Visor Only dead fish go with the flow
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    Oct 3, 2018
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    I'd be surprised if it really makes much difference at that height Eli, it is above 10,000ft where it gets a bit tougher. At 18,000ft you are on about half O2 content. Don't know about additives though I'm afraid.
     
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  3. Tricky-Dicky

    Tricky-Dicky Crème de la Crème

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    #3 Tricky-Dicky, Jul 20, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2020
    I agree at that sort of altitude it shouldn't make that much difference just dont be loading the engine up too much you could also use one stage (edit sorry meant hotter plugs) if your worried way easier than re jetting.
     
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  4. Callumity

    Callumity Elite Member

    Feb 25, 2017
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  5. Wire-Wheels

    Wire-Wheels Elite Member

    Apr 26, 2019
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    I have much the same conditions here. My main residence is about 3040' according to my GPS. My vacation home is just over 6200'. If you make changes to your jetting, don't go too rich. Otherwise it will not run well at the higher elevation. Changing octane will NOT help. Higher octane is required, only if your compression is increased. These engines are set up for mid-grade fuel. I would stick with what the factory engineers spec. out unless you have done some engine mods that raise the compression. If you raise the compression, you should also shorten the ignition advance curve. ...J.D.
     
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  6. Tricky-Dicky

    Tricky-Dicky Crème de la Crème

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    Higher altitudes tend to make already rich mixtures richer because the air is thinner IE less dense therefore requires smaller jets to compensate.
    Most EFI will self compensate due to usually using air density or pressure measuring.
     
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  7. JtC

    JtC Elite Member

    Apr 20, 2020
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    This is an excellent thread, Eli. I have been wondering the same with it being about 3500 here in Artesia and about 8000 (I think) up in Cloudcroft where the twisties are. This is helpful.
     
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  8. Eli Hardof

    Eli Hardof Member

    Jul 16, 2020
    90
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    Las Vegas
    Consensus seems to be that it won't be much of an issue until at least 10,000 feet up. I'm thinking maybe to open up to exposed air filters, maybe might help oxygenate better at altitude and get a little performance boost at 2000' where I live in Vegas.
     
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  9. JtC

    JtC Elite Member

    Apr 20, 2020
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    Hopefully sometime before winter I'll get a chance to see how she runs up there. It's only about an hour and a half away, I just need to take a Saturday and do it.
     
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  10. Eli Hardof

    Eli Hardof Member

    Jul 16, 2020
    90
    18
    Las Vegas
    Yes, I agree, my BMW R1100R has EFI and never had any issues at 10,000 feet at mount Charlston. I'm just a bit hesitant to take the carb'd Bonnie up there and stall out. Do you think exposed air filters might help?
     
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  11. Wire-Wheels

    Wire-Wheels Elite Member

    Apr 26, 2019
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    All the newer carburetted Triumph are set up brutally lean from the factory. Over the years I have rejetted all three of mine. People usually rejet when they change to an aftermarket exhaust. But what most people do NOT realize is the airbox is quite restrictive. In the old days [pre-fuel injection] it was not uncommon to see a hole cut in the side of an airbox. My buddy had to do this on his Honda CL350 when he moved from S. California.to Ogden, Ut. @ 4000ft. .[A few yrs. later he moved home and brought the bike back with him]. It is also.common practice among those of us riding the old carburetted Triumph triples to modify airboxes [sometimes extremely]. But airbox and exhaust changes must be finalized BEFORE jet sizes.are.determined. …J.D.
     
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  12. Tricky-Dicky

    Tricky-Dicky Crème de la Crème

    Dec 12, 2016
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    May do but not by much try the hotter plugs however you would still need to return to the std heat range at lower altitudes although if you just go one stage hotter you should be fine if that is enough to avoid fouling due to over rich mixture.
     
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  13. Tricky-Dicky

    Tricky-Dicky Crème de la Crème

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    Do you know if the ignition units run knock sensors on the later carb versions? if the factory setup is that lean then i wouldn't worry about high altitude...will probably perform better in that case.
     
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  14. Eli Hardof

    Eli Hardof Member

    Jul 16, 2020
    90
    18
    Las Vegas
    Anything I have to undo after riding Mt Charleston isn't a great solution since I'll only be riding up there very infrequently. I think the performance air intake is the best starting point. But I think that I may have to just take a chance and ride to the peak to find out. A least I can coast most of the way back down if problems ;-)
     
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  15. JtC

    JtC Elite Member

    Apr 20, 2020
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    Well, if I get to ride up there, I can help with that. The previous owner removed the airbox and installed K&N air filters. I think he also rejetted it for the after market exhaust he installed, too. I bought it in Albuquerque but I don't know what the altitude is there. It runs great here. I will make it a point to post what happens when I ride up to Cloudcroft. I don't know when that will be, though.
     
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  16. Wire-Wheels

    Wire-Wheels Elite Member

    Apr 26, 2019
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    #16 Wire-Wheels, Jul 21, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2020
    There are no knock sensors on those bikes. I also do not.like the fact the the ignition advance and timing is fixed at the factory. The big problem I see with most guys is they make too EXTREME changes. Stock Triumph jetting is usually good to about 5000' from what I have experienced. You can stretch it beyond that, but, I set my idle speed up and just live with the fact it is a bit rich. I have a carburetted triple that I set up a couple of years back that still has a stock exhaust. I bought a new airbox because the previous owner had totally destroyed the original one. I cut the new box the way I wanted it, then installed jets I knew were too rich. I then took it out and ran it and lowered the jet size to what works the best. She runs great. ...J.D.

    Emgo fairing on 2000 Legend TT.jpg
     
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  17. Eli Hardof

    Eli Hardof Member

    Jul 16, 2020
    90
    18
    Las Vegas
    9000 feet baby!!! Took a test ride this morning to Mount Charleston and Lee Canyon. Reached just a hair under 9000 feet elevation and the Bonnie purred the whole way, not a knock or a miss.

    I purchased this bike from a motorcycle rental shop in San Francisco and they were the ones that did the Cafe Racer conversion which included a pair of Bassani free flow performance exhausts(silencers). I don't know if they jetted or tinkered with the carbs to match the Bassani's but either way the bike rode perfect. Very relieved!

    Elec 8437.png
     
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  18. Eli Hardof

    Eli Hardof Member

    Jul 16, 2020
    90
    18
    Las Vegas
    Rode to Mount Charleston...hit just under 9000 feet elevation and the bike purred the whole way!
     
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  19. Wire-Wheels

    Wire-Wheels Elite Member

    Apr 26, 2019
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    If it works well, leave it alone. ...J.D.
     
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  20. joe mc donald

    Subscriber

    Dec 26, 2014
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    Eli Hardof
    Welcome to the family and so glad the bike behaved. Now there's no stopping you. Go do it and have fun.
    Regards
    Joe.
     
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