Carb Freezing

[marty]

oh yeah.

heat is the easiest way to do it. the trick is knowing when to apply it. heat all the time will richen up the mixture too much. once ice has formed it can take a bit to clear it, and it will usually run worse before it runs better. buy a cheap temperature gauge and install it in the airbox. you'll get a picture of conditions and you'll know when to expect it. you must be able to pick up a carb heat kit from somewhere if it's a known problem

[MacD]

It seems that in the UK (and as an option elsewhere) a carb heater kit is available for the Bandit. This fits into the bowls and is normally switched on a few minutes before starting in cold weather.

Maybe check with Suzuki NZ as to availability here.

My Bandit 1200K1 is a UK import and has the carb heaters as standard. They are tube-shaped threaded units (look very similar to a temperature sender unit really) that screw into a recess in the base of each carb next to the pilot screw. I've attached a picture from the Haynes manual showing the location and associated wiring. I suspect the biggest issue would be the lack of wiring on a local market bike.

[rogson]

This is a Suzuki factory or importer/agent fault. Clearly, the factory contemplates carb freezing in some climates that's why the UK market bikes come with heaters standard. Suzuki should fix this at their cost.

I had a 98 ZX9R that had carb freezing problems that I didn't discover until I had owned the bike for about 6 years. I bitched to the local dealer who bitched to the importer, who bitched to Kawasaki Japan. The outcome was Kawasaki Japan shipped a new set of carbs and attachments designed for cold climates - free of charge! (Retail value in excess of $2500)

This was for a bike that was obviously well out of warranty.

Contact Suzuki......and bitch.

[Dodgy1]

My Bandit 1200K1 is a UK import and has the carb heaters as standard. They are tube-shaped threaded units (look very similar to a temperature sender unit really) that screw into a recess in the base of each carb next to the pilot screw. I've attached a picture from the Haynes manual showing the location and associated wiring. I suspect the biggest issue would be the lack of wiring on a local market bike.

Cheers mac......and everyone else for that matter. My local dealer has assured me he is not going to let Suzuki NZ sweep this one under the carpet. As others have stated I only suffer this problem when the conditions are right. Normally when there is a frost on the ground I can just about count on having problems. I a kit does become available I'm thinking of having a switch istalled to cut the power to the heaters so that I dont have to re jet etc for summer riding. Mac I wonder if you would mind emailing me a larger pic of that heater setup you posted?? I would be very gratefull.....Cheers everyone

[Pancakes]

You should have this taken care of by Mr Suzuki by the sounds of things but on any bike with an airbox wouldn't a temp switch and hot wire coil in the 'box fix this? With the air volume going past I doubt you'd lose much power by the air over-heating, esp if your close to but a bit above freezing? Jaycar do a curcuit for a few bucks that has adjustable on and off temps from -10 to +250 or something crazy.

[MacD]

I've attached a couple of views of the carb heater set up on my UK model Bandit. The wiring includes one earth lead (spade connector) and four heater connectors. The heater screws into a threaded blank recess next to the pilot screw.

[Dodgy1]

You should have this taken care of by Mr Suzuki by the sounds of things but on any bike with an airbox wouldn't a temp switch and hot wire coil in the 'box fix this? With the air volume going past I doubt you'd lose much power by the air over-heating, esp if your close to but a bit above freezing? Jaycar do a curcuit for a few bucks that has adjustable on and off temps from -10 to +250 or something crazy.

More great info......The more amunition I have for Suzuki NZ the better guys. I thank you all. Im particulaly interested in the airbox coil as quoted above. Can somone please point me in the right direction of Jaycar?? Cheers...Dodgy (Mal)

[Pancakes]

..................Can somone please point me in the right direction of Jaycar?? Cheers...Dodgy (Mal)

This kit (link) switching a relay and some high resistance wire shaped into your airbox would be perfect. Like any prototype the first one would be fiddly maybe but after that you could bang them out.