professor95 wrote:
Unyalli wrote:
I don't seem to find any discussion of jetting in this very informative thread. I live at 6200 feet and will probably never be below 5000ft when camping. I would like to install high altitude jetting, anyone else?
Jeff
I just spent a half-hour looking for an e-mail message from a poster on an innovative way of jetting leaner. I can't find it but do remember enough to give you a push.
Anyway, he had a set of machinist's indexed (numbered) tiny drill bits. He took the OEM jet out and found the drill bit that fit the opening - made a note of the size (part I do not remember). Next, he soldered the jet opening closed then carefully re-drilled it with a smaller bit (again, the size is what I can't find).
I have also been told that CPE has a "jet kit" but I am not sure if it is leaner or richer - I'm inclined to think it is richer and was offered as a possible cure for the "burp".
What would be helpful is to have at least one spare jet, two would be even better. Solder them up, re-drill and have them available for a speedy switch-out for high altitude testing.
Another way to test if a slightly leaner mixture will help is to remove the OEM air filter element so there is a lesser intake restriction. Not a good idea for dusty or pollen laden environments - but maybe OK for clean mountain air?
If you want to talk to a man that really knows these things inside and out I suggest you give Fran a call at the NY SuperGen retail store (315-573-7887). Fran is a mechanic that has worked on the CPE2000i since the day they hit American soil.
I remember the post you're referring too, and he didn't mention what sized bit he used. Soldering and re-drilling the carb jet used to be a common practice for those of us living at high altitude back in the old days with dirt bikes, outboards, and atv's prior to altitude jets being easy to come by for most carbs. Of course now I just try and make sure all my toys have fuel injection. If only it was an option for a generator, life would be so much easier.
As for the 2000i, I think an altitude kit will help to keep from fouling spark plugs and spark arrestors as fast as they do, but I doubt it will make much difference for the significant power loss which really limits these little generators at altitude. Even with optimized fuel mixtures you’re going to loose around 3 percent of your power per thousand feet. Going to a hotter sparkplug, and removing the spark arrestor helps a little keeping things from fouling, but it doesn’t help so that I can run my microwave at altitude.
When the camping season ends in another couple months I’ll get ahold of CPE and see if I can get a couple carb jets to play with to see if it helps. Things should be slowing down enough for me by then that I can take the time to play with my generators and see if I can improve on them prior to next season.
