Hey guys i am in the middle of installing a 2016 timbersled 137 on my sons 08 yz450. I have a pst engine jacket, pst intake for the carb and a thermo bob with temperature sensor. I completely rebuilt the engine from the crank up so reliability should be good. Few guys i talked to said i should have bought a FI bike instead. Will the carbed yz be decent as a snow bike? Anything else I should be looking at or adding ?
08 yz450 tips
- Thread starter Brayjay
- Start date
My buddy ran a 2008 WR for years. It worked fine as a snow bike, sure it didn't set the high mark but it never failed him either. Seems like you have it covered for the basics, you might want to consider heated handlebars or at a minimum gauntlets for the bars. The YZ wont run electric heaters really.
Thanks good to know. I should probably get a set of rad blockers also as the snow where we are at is super dry and blows all over the place. Did he ever have any problems with the carb icing up?
I have a buddy that’s ran one for the past two seasons, no issues. No thermostat or engine blanket. Where in California, and about half of our group is running carbed bikes without any issues.
That is encouraging. Hard to say but i may have issues with carb icing as im in northern BC and temps are way colder with super dry snow. I doubt we would ride in any colder then -20 as that is my cut off with my sled.
4 strokes are way less prone to icing than 2 strokes if it happens just idle the bike for a bit and it will melt out. Good shrouding and you should be fine. Do you have bar bashers on there
Yup I have a set of Cycras to put on.
Best thing you can add to a carbed bike is an intellajet IMO
Custom adjustability to 4 or 5 main jet sizes on the fly. This gives you not only altitude and temp adjustment but also you can lean it out on the trails with no load and then richen up for varying loads.
I have my adjuster mounted by the front of my tank and I can tune while riding.
Custom adjustability to 4 or 5 main jet sizes on the fly. This gives you not only altitude and temp adjustment but also you can lean it out on the trails with no load and then richen up for varying loads.
I have my adjuster mounted by the front of my tank and I can tune while riding.
You mean like a vari flow? I have one on my old mountain max 700. Works awesome. Wasn't aware they made them for bikes.
Ok i googled it. Same principle as the Holtzman vari flow. Looks good.
Yeah I remember those from those generation of sleds, but couldn't remember what they were called.
It works great and Lon gives great customer support, give him a call he will talk your ear off, lol.
It works great and Lon gives great customer support, give him a call he will talk your ear off, lol.
Another good carb trick is to cut up an old wetsuit if you have one kicking around and wrap the carb in it to prevent icing. On really cold days you can even throw a couple handwarmers in there.
But remembering an aluminum frame yz450 carb that is going to be a tight process......
The yz is probably doable but the WR carb is a nightmare.
I think those were memories I was trying to forget.....
I owned a 07 WR450 back in the day.
I owned a 07 WR450 back in the day.
I've been running a 2007 YZ450F for a few seasons now. Love it! I installed an AirPro and Jet Kit and havent' had any issues here in California. I've ran a few different bikes and always go back to the YZ450F. Carbureted bikes have been fine for us, no issues. I'd recommend installing a heavier flywheel and disconnect the TPS (On the left side frame under tank. Just unplug it and seal open ends to keep moisture out). That really smoothed out the power delivery and lets you lug it through the trees better.
Why would you ever put a fww on a snowbike?
You want them to spool up as fast as possible and it's not like your looking to smooth or tame the power.
And you're not going slow enough to worry about stalling it.
Ive been running a carbed CRF450x for 4 years. I run HEAT in my fuel, wrap my pipe to keep steam down (leading to carb ice) have removable rad blockers, engine blanket, homemade rear engine shield and a thermobob. Ive been down to -20 F with no problems other that thawing it out first thing in the morning lol. Far as Carb mods I just used the JD jet kit blue needle and that worked before i moded my engine. After i got a R&D racing bowl and a remote air screw. It just made it easier to tune. But once it was set i havn't really touched it. I occasionally have to adjust the needle settings and air screw for major elevation changes.
What were you running for a main and pilot jet in those temperatures?
