Everyone with a Nikki carb- Please read...
 

Concerning Nikki carburetors...

I'm in the process of designing my site and I'd like to know what all of you Nikki carb owners would like to see on it. The site will explain in detail the Nikki carburetor services that Carl and I provide, as well as services that I/we will offer in the future. Though Carl has his own site and agenda as I have mine, we've been working as a team on the Nikki carb rebuild/modification service, and will continue to do so.

I'm planning on having detailed pages on my site outlining adjustment procedures like an on-line manual but with much better illustrations. It will benifit anyone with a Nikki carb, modded or not. This has been inspired by the redundant tuning questions on this board as well as some people going to the trouble to post great illustration photos- even circling things, ect.
The process will take a long time, as I'll be trying to get the best possible photos, ect- plus this shit is alot more time consuming than I thought! But my advantage is having a steady flow of very clean carbs in various stages of rebuild to photograph.

I want to do it right, and give the first gen community what it wants and needs regarding Nikki carburetors. You won't see the infamous RB "proprietary information" clause anywhere on my site regarding straight-up rebuild procedure, even though we offer the service.
I figure that when people start to demonstrate satisfaction with our services and technical support, we can generate a re-interest in moddified Nikki carburetors.
Unfortunately, though he provide a great moddified carburetor, Mr. Yaws lack of responce to the mass' aftermarket technical questions has left the rotary community soured on modded Nikkis.
Carl and I strive for better, and with some things we are each developing, we feel that we will soon be offering modifications that will push the limits of the Nikki carb, and far surpass that of the imfamous Yaw carb.
-A major claim, yes. But I would'nt say it on the largest public Rx-7 forum if I did'nt think it were true.

What would you all like to see on a website dedicated to first gen intake modification?

Hey did you see my ap adjustment article? Havent had the chance to put up the pics yet, maybe today. Finished the accel cable article, just havent uploaded it yet. :)

Re: Everyone with a Nikki carb- Please read...
 

This is an excellent idea Sterling!

Let's start with stock stuff:

1) trouble shooting FAQ, including idling issues, dead spots, etc.
2) vacuum leak issues including the dreaded shutter valve, it's problems and solutions, the anti-afterburn hose, etc
3) a pictorial of all the components and what each does
4) how to adjust the idle and mixture screws
5) carb cleaning howto

DIY Modifications with pics:
1) A/P mod
2) Mechanical secondaries
3) CAI

Sounds great!

I'd love to buy one of your modded carbs, but I'm leary about how to do the transplant, so for me a step-by-step process, along with troubleshooting after installation, would really be great.

B

AP adjusting. Did it 15 minutes ago with fantastic results.

Detailed pics of what is what on the carb would be great.

Choke system explanation and troubleshooting.

How about a section that deals with the adjustments
for the emissions side of the carburator. I'm not sure if you guys have gone as far to R&D top performance while still retaining all the emissions crap. And IF it's possible. And issues on the float level that result in high
hydro-carbons. I hope you guys kick yaws over rated ass. Awesome deal, sterling/carl .IMO

please post a link to your site when possible, I know absolutly nothing about carbs, but will nieed to learn since I bought my little bro a first gen.

Re: Re: Everyone with a Nikki carb- Please read...
 

I think inittab pretty much summed up everything that immediately lept to my mind.

Brian

Sounds like a great idea!
You guys know your stuff about these things, I think it would greatly help out the first gen forum.

Its great to see that you guys are sharing info so freely. I like to do everything myself and having a source of info like that will make things go much easier for everyone who is like me.

Are you refering to intake manifold mods in the last sentense of your post? A guide about "cleaning" an intake up without spoiling airflow would be great! I've been reading about guys on here that have attempted porting (stock carb) their manis with poor results. Documentation is also poor in the few threads I found.

Thanks
Ben

Carl is researching flow rates now for manifolds, and porting is a service we are concidering.
My last sentence was meaning anything to do with the intake system, so yes, that too.

There are no secrets to properly rebuilding and setting up a stock Nikki carb. But just like any other mundane task, the people who do it repetitively ultimately find out shortcuts and tips that make the job easier.
Carl and I believe that those of you inclined to rebuild your own Nikki carbs have already made up your mind to do so, and certain people, no matter what kind of in depth help is available, simply have no interest in doing it. Why not share this information with the ones who do ...information that can be found elsewhere, too, I might add. It's not in our best interest to not help people, and we are both recieving emails for help on occasion anyway.

Regarding carburetor and intake modifications and other future services, certainly an in depth description of exactly what we'll be doing in these services is warranted. But I cannot say that I would be inclined to give out details on exactly how we will do some of these things. This would not be in our best interest.
Again, no major secrets, and with a few books, the right tooling and about a dozen carburetors to destroy by doing trial and error "wrong" modifications to, carburetor modding is far from mysterious.
However, as I'm learning from the Wizard Carl and his flow bench, the tiniest nuiances can make the hugest differences when it comes to high velocity air.
Take the ultimate spoiler design and all the physics that go with it, and wrap it into a tube. That's the venturi design we're trying to create.
A little knub inside the manny not ground correctly can hang up flow far worse than you might've imagined, and thanks to Carls inginuity, discipline and perserverence (he blew it up once!), he has created a wonderfully invaluable tool for his (and my :) ) research.
We'll ours and hours to R&D this stuff, trying to catch up to decades of testing in order to bring ourselves up to speed in the understanding of it all, and then forge ahead where they all left off.
Some info we simply can't give away.

Future projects that will be offered as services may include an emissions compliant modified Nikki (called the Klean Karb? :) ), a string of racing carbs and special engine port-specific carbs ala Carl, addition modifications of my own design for governing fuel consumption on any Nikki (You'll be able to turn even you modded gas guzzler into a grandma carb for long trips with just the turn of a knob), my "Sterling Charger", an Eaton M-90 supercharger mated to a stockport 12a engine with some very unique control properties that are quite uncharacteristic of a supercharger (You won't have to change pullies to change boost on this one, boys!) which I'll document on line as I build, and whatever else we can conjure up and you all ask for.

While everyones attention is being recaptured by the rotary through the introduction of the Rx-8, and with Yaw basically forsaking the first gen community for the new, presumably "greener" lawns of those that can afford to put some of that green into modifying a brand new car, I feel confident that this is a great time to pop our heads out of the woodwork and offer up some rotory goodness that's really geared towards the average sized wallet.
Doing the carbs is great and Carl and I are having alot of fun, but we both want to cut new roads. Not to trod on my friends ground, I'll speak only for myself in that my long term ultimate goal thus far is to be the first person to be able to bring to you all 12 lbs of carbureted, user-variable(!), intercooled (!) supercharger-given boost in a completely bolt on kit - with some kind of warrantee, that will cost you less than $3000. Total.
So, big plans-big plans.
It starts right here with carburetor rebuild and modification services, guys.
Thanks for all your support.

Sterling, have you and Carl figured out everything you need to do to prep them for boost yet?

DIY:
ACV block off plate
decelleration butteryfly removal
Air pump removal

:drool:

Brian

Good stuff guys. Thanks for posting this Sterling. :) He's pretty much got it all nailed down. Except I blew up the flowbench twice. :eek: Good thing I was wearing clean underwear! :rofl:

Darn, my carb missed all the excitement!

This has to be the best idea i have heard this year!

Good work guys!Cant wait till its done!

Karis

I am as of yet hesitant to dull out carb advice for boost applications, as a boosted lean-carb condition combined with incorrect timing adjustment can have disasterous results. It's not a lack of confidence in the carburetor mods or in my approach to tuning, but rather in the mannor in which I explain it.
-I always begin to feel as though I need to write a full page disclaimer before giving out such advice.

Boost-prepped modded Nikkis are on the R&D agenda. Depending on what's involved, I may prep all of the Sterling Carbs to be boost-applicative, or I may reserve the additional mod for those specific clients who request it. I have to do what's best for Carl and myself at some point, and I can't have people who don't know what they're doing fucking up their engines and blaming my carb. I see by more established business' practices that they don't seem to care. But at this stage of our game, we need to care about everyone.

Carl and I will be researching the carburetor under boost.
You can expect miricals out of any carb that has replaceable air and fuel jets under boost as long as the emulsion circuit can handle it. Education about what is happening inside the carb as air flows thru it is key to better tuning.

There will be a section on my site devoted to the subject.


__________________

Something basic, but
 

I've searched the forums and can't find a basic "how to tune the car" thread. I've got an 85 12A manual that we've removed the "rats nest" from, along with the after burn valve. Whats left on the carb is basically timing advance and some bits on the right hand side I don't fully understand.

The MTBE in our wonderful gas has popped the Accelerator pump, but even if we buy a new carb (which we will) it would be nice to know how to tune the darn thing.

Scott

Re: Something basic, but
 

-How do you mean?

The reports I've heard indicate MTBE breaks down older rubber and causes leaks and failures. I was being somewhat facetious.

I have no proof the MTBE did it, but I do know that the bellow accelerator pump is ruptured. (maybe they are assembled different than the Holley's I am used to, but the leaking fuel and performance characteristics are identical to failures I suffered with the Holley's)

Sorry if my impertinence obscured my point. I appreciate the work you're doing on the public's behalf.

Scott

Bummer, no its the same basic design as a holley accel pump. What kind of tuning? Idle speed/mixture stuff? Or tuning for power?

That's probably the most common cause that prompts a rebuild- an accelerator pump that won't work. Fuel varnish makes the checkballs and wieghts stick, and the diaphragms get old and tough and even tear.

Don't make the mistake of purchasing just the AP diaphragm. I've heard of people paying more than $18 for one. A $20 rebuild kit will have one in it, and you can choose to rebuild entirely (suggested) or at least have the gaskets if you decide to do it later. (You would still be able to use that same diaphragm probably up to a year later in an overhaul).

In regards to Tuning, yeah, just basic stuff. Mixture, mostly. If its the same as the holley/most carbs then I'll be alright, but if its different, I'd appreciate some pointers.

Later we can tune for power, right now the focus would be tune not to cause any damage.

Scott

I also would like to see some jetting combinations. Results of how each jet sizes affect the performance, if possible.