Awaiting arrival

[Mark N.I.]

Hi all,
I am proud to say I am awaiting the arrival of my 1st bike, a 1989 Dart, hence posting here, from NLM.
Passed my test back in November, just before all the new regulations came out, and been looking for something different and unusual and came across the Dart.
Can you still get K+N air filters, or any decent replacement ones, to help it breath better?
Many thanks

Mark

[EVguru]

Take a look at my website for de-restricting mods.

There is a K&N filter that fits, but the standard paper filter is more than large enough to flow enough air. If you really want and K&N, then match it up from the dimensions.

I could have sold you two Darts!

[MickeyMoto]

Hi Mark,

I am running RamAir filters with 100 MainJets and it is still running rich (pipe is sooty). With 108s it would not rev above 4500. There is a terrible hole from about 3500 to 4500, although it pulls well from small throttle openings and revs to the red line. I am going to try a standard airbox again as well as smaller jets, but like the RamAirs.

Went for a ride last night, the Dart seems to think its way around corners with no effort. The suspension soaks up road irregularities very well too, and we have a lot of them here. Snicking through the gears with no clutch (up and down - that is very satisfying, getting the blip in the right place), hanging off the side like a GP125 racer, howling exhaust, flies on the visor, and the speedo didn't read over 110 (kph), it was most enjoyable. Haven't had such fun on a bike since I sold my Strada.

Hope you enjoy yours too.

regards,

Mike.

[EVguru]

Running open filters inside the bodywork was never going to work. The air is too turbulent and far too hot. Besides which without the support of the airbox, the inlet manifolds will likely split and you'll wear the slides out due to vibration. If you really are running too rich, then check the fuel level is correct, ie. float settings and needle valves (the carbs shaking around unsupported really won't help).

Put the standard airbox back on minus the filter sleeve and you'll need at least 108 jets to get it to run propperly. One of my Darts is running 112 mains, the other 115 (different exhausts).

Manufacturers spend a lot of time and money on airbox designs and they seldom get them wrong. Just occasionally an airbox may be deliberately restrictive (power limit compliance) or be a be designed with limiting induction noise more in mind (I think that might be the purpose of the Dart filter sleeve), but mostly they improve power and/or rideability. Very few dynamometers can simulate airflow when riding, so even if you were to see a power increase by removing the airbox, you probably wouldn't seen any improvement on the road. The increased noise might make you 'think' the power had increased though.


If you look on my website, I've collated most of the know working de-restricting modifications for the Dart.

[MickeyMoto]

Hi,

It only doesn't work in a 1,000 rpm band. It is running rich. Probably not related. If I can get that sorted I will be happy. I will be trying the standard airbox too.

I had this problem on an earlier Sport where somebody had fitted a 2-1 and decided to jet up. It needed jetting down! It then pulled very well indeed.

It is a bit presumptious to say the carbs. aren't supported. There is also little in the way of extra induction noise. That is not my aim.

It nearly works for me, so my next step is jetting down some more. The bike is still great to ride, rev the nuts off it and smile! That is what it is all about, just need to fill in the hole in the middle to make it a better town bike. With that wonderful gearbox, swapping cogs to keep it in a 2 stroke power band is not a hardship. Maybe the original box is the answer.

Mike.

[Mark N.I.]

Thanks for the replies.
The bike landed on Sunday and got out for a good run last night with my dad on his Guzzi 1000 S, some sight us two muppets, but was great fun.
Returning home and I was finally getting the hang of the dart and the riding postion and was very pleased with how it went and stopped and handled.
Paul, Ill have a look at you site, thanks for that extra link.
The bike was serviced before I got it, including carbs, oil, jets and belts.
Rear suspension is a bit soft, or is that just me.
Also, I cant seem to find neutral unless I turn the bike off and then put it in to neutral, i this normal?
Many Thanks

Mark

[EVguru]

It is a bit presumptious to say the carbs. aren't supported.

I just didn't 'presume' you'd added any support structure.

Ask Stewart at NLM how many complaints he's had about inlet manifold rubbers splitting only to discover that people are running individual filters.

Feeding the carbs with hot (less dense) air will give rich running and running without the airbox will almost certainly do that.

If you put the airbox back in PLEASE do so with standard 92 main jets AND fit the filter sleeve ('flower pot'). If it still runs rich at this point you have another problem; wrong float levels, leaking needle valves, starter circuit, etc. A stock Dart pulls well throughout the rev range, but is rather lacking at the top end. Taking out the filter sleeve should make the bike almost unridable.

From Tom Farrow's 'Darting to the Dolomites' article; http://www.morini-riders-club.com/thecl ... mites.html

'Firstly a huge thank you to everyone who gave me some suggestions as to how to rectify my Dart's erratic behaviour a few weeks ago. The solution came in the form of a hideous, restricting plastikky piece of junk from the airbox that was missing (it had rolled under Dads '49 Meteor when we changed the aircleaner), thereby causing the bike to breathe freely for the first time in it's life! Of course, the emissions regulations which affect the Dart call for all this strangulation (and of course re-jetting) but given the bikes scrooge-like fuel consumption on a recent trip, I don't know why it needs it…'

[EVguru]

Rear suspension is a bit soft, or is that just me.

Initial travel is indeed very soft, indeed it was called the 'softdamp system' or at least it was when the frame was in a Freccia.

Also, I cant seem to find neutral unless I turn the bike off and then put it in to neutral, i this normal?

Normal, possibly. Correct, no.

I've always found the Dart shift to be one of the better ones even for finding neutral, which isn't always a Morini strong point.

I'd strip and clean the clutch, which you should do from time to time to remove the dust build-up. It helps if you adjust the operating lever as far out as it will go without touching the side casing, rather than the factory recommended 15mm.

[Mark N.I.]

Hi,
Yes this bike came from Stuart at NLM and it turns out the rear shock is a new Hagon unit and should be set up spot on. After a few small runs, between the rain, its seems spot on, just the initial sit down and new bike no doubt.

Right, Ill have to have a look at the clutch, still cant seem to get into neutral without turning the bike off, not really a huge problem, just a tad annoying.

So far, Great Fun and well pleased.
Cheers

Mark