2008 CRF 450X-Camso DTS. Carb heating option(s)

[Ben 500RR-S]

My brother in law is trading a boatload of beef for a 2008 CRF 450X. After having ridden my snowbike on Saturday, he is hooked.

I am going to order him a PST engine jacket, and heated grips.

What should I do for a carb heater? Avid?

What is the simplest system we can install to keep the carb warm?

 

[M5-]

I've only built one carb heater for a 4 stroke, lots for 2 strokes. The issue is the airflow into the carb, the 4T needs the factory intake boot and all its associated inner moldings in order to direct airflow to the air bleeds. With a carb heater on there the bike won't run above 3/4 throttle. Honestly your best bet is to just wrap the carb mouth with some kind of line and tie it to the coolant system then get a carb jacket. 4Ts are way less prone to freezing than 2 strokes.


M5

 

[Ben 500RR-S]

I've only built one carb heater for a 4 stroke, lots for 2 strokes. The issue is the airflow into the carb, the 4T needs the factory intake boot and all its associated inner moldings in order to direct airflow to the air bleeds. With a carb heater on there the bike won't run above 3/4 throttle. Honestly your best bet is to just wrap the carb mouth with some kind of line and tie it to the coolant system then get a carb jacket. 4Ts are way less prone to freezing than 2 strokes.


M5

Thanks. I had no idea with 4s and 2s. It's good to hear that 4s are less prone to freezing.


I am ordering him a PST engine jacket with the cold weather panel and we'll see how it goes with just that, and maybe blocking the radiators.

Does anyone make carb jackets?, or is it up to us to make something ourselves?

 

[M5-]

Somebody used to make them but it doesn't need to be fancy just whip something up. The PST blanket will likely be enough, try to rig up some kind of cover for the carb side of the frame between the bike and the kit where the snow flies up.

M5

 

[Ben 500RR-S]

Somebody used to make them but it doesn't need to be fancy just whip something up. The PST blanket will likely be enough, try to rig up some kind of cover for the carb side of the frame between the bike and the kit where the snow flies up.

M5

Thanks again.

I just got off the phone with Brad at PST-that guy also knows his stuff and had mentioned the same things you did in that the CRF 450X doesn't have too much of a problem with the carburetor provided the engine jacket is on.

I got both the jacket and the cold weather panel.

I ordered a Thermobob and a temp guage, $392 all-in.

It just so happened that he had a lot of experience with the Gen1 CRF 450's when Timbersled first came out back in the day.

Thanks again M5, it is much appreciated. I really didn't feel like installing a carb heater and am so glad I won't have to.

 

[Motogeek33]

I'll second what M5- said -- in 5 seasons riding my older, carbed WR, I only had a problem with carb icing one time, and that was on a day when the conditions were just right (very cold, dry powder flying everywhere, and a long pull, breaking trail up a road for about 5 miles). And that might not have happened if I had been using an engine jacket and had done a better job of sealing the airbox.

 

[Ben 500RR-S]

This is all great news. I thought that a carb heater was mandatory for all bikes, with carbs. Good to know that 4s seems to be exempt with an engine jacket almost mandatory.