Tuning Lights

[Kart 15]

ive never really looked into these at all but I saw them on the kartbay website, would it be worth my money to by one or should they be high on my priorites list.

and if so what ones and how much should i expect to pay...........................

[tom]

Tuning lights are a pretty neat item to have, i'd have a set of them before a tacho for example..

I use the supatuna lights, they are well calibrated. From memory they were $220.

I'm pretty surprised they aren't more common, i guess other's are a lot better at knowing if the motor is spot-on with it's tune than i am!

If you are running KT and are playing with your ignition timing or high compression you will need to be spot-on with your mixtures to prevent detonation.

[Mr X]

I would personally stay away from tuning lights as I have had bad experiences with the cheaper brands not performing.

But I have heard that a lot of people on bitchemen use them and dont have a problem (must have been the expensive ones).

Best bet is not to play with the Jets unless you know what you are doing.

[tom]

I agree there can be problems with the tuning lights, but now i have used them i wouldn't like to run without them. Tuning by the plug isn't accurate enough. Tuning by the header color is OK unless you are using ELF, but then you only know how your kart was tuned after the race.

To tune during the race unless you are VERY experienced, you need to use EGT or lambda. In my opinion the lights are way easier to read than an EGT number.

Staying away from the jets means you need to set them too rich for optimum performance (especially in KT). You will be at a disadvantage over someone that knows how to tune.

[Admin]

Tom,

Where can you get the supatune lights?
Online,where did you get yours?

[tom]

Check out this site:

www.airtimeproducts.com.au/supatuna.html

Before i bought mine i emailed the guy and he was very helpful. I've been using the old model for over 2 seasons, and am just on to my second sensor.

[Admin]

Thanks for the info Tom.

[vinnyholmes85]

i have exact tune on my 125. looks pretty similar to supatuna. only issue is after i wash kart it wont turn on for couple days! any one got info on exacttune?

[tom]

I haven't seen an exacttune, but all the tuning lights work on the same principle and as far as i know all use the same integrated circuit. It's just the fine tuning that is different between the brands. A couple of things to look out for. The display unit isn't waterproof, either take it off or put a plastic bag over it when you wash your kart. Also the sensor should be mounted so that it is angled downwards, if you fill the external shrouding with water or muck it can distort the readings as it uses atmosphere as a reference for the oxygen levels in the exhaust gasses.

[lyonsy]

i dont see why people are so worried about tuning on the run esp with kt's as there very forgiving.
hell on roll a rounds i usualy turn my high off and screw the low in till the engine picks up rpm and use no throttle lol hit the throttle all it does is go burr lol come to the flag wind the low out half a turn hit the throttle give it half a turn more the open the high.
tight corner shut the high on the straghts open the high up till the engine 4 stroke's or you fell it stop pulling and shut it back a touch.
it really is easy.
only time ive seen kt's blow up is when people run the low too lean.
easyiest way to make sure its not is richen till it hesitates when you go full throttle then lean off till it doesent thats your low tunedfor that heat.

btw if you run tunning lights you need to replace the sensor at least every 12months as the 2 stroke mix covers the sensor and it wont read correct anymore if i did run them i would replace it every 6 months

dont try and tune by tuning lights on roll arounds you will never get it in the green

[tom]

I've only used the tuning lights on the leopard. I agree the KT is forgiving (the leopard even more so). The method you describe will get you close to the correct tune. I bet you can't tell the difference if you are on the "correct" (maximum power) setting on the high, or are 1/16th turn too rich though. Sometimes you only need 1/4 kart length over the length of the straight to make a pass, that 1/16th turn will get you there.

The low jet is even harder to tune by "feel". While it's not as critical in my opinion, you still need to be within 1/8 turn.

Tuning lights aren't for everyone, you need to understand what you are reading, and ideally need to find what mixtures give optimum power across the rev range using a dyno and then match them to what you are seeing on the display led's. (with my lights at the factory setting the 'top' led wasn't the right one for optimum power at high revs)


If you use ELF BFK07 and HTX909 the sensor will last for a long time. I'm only onto my second sensor as i had a water leak into the combustion chamber on a motor and it fouled the sensor. The sensor i've had for the last 2 seasons is as accurate and responsive as it was when it was new. (This fuel mix is also good for spark plug life, and preventing carbon build-up in exhausts.. My spark plugs always look white, and the exhaust still looks new inside).

If you are forced to run pump fuel, who knows what you are putting into your combustion chamber ?

With a leopard they are particularly useful as you can run the mixture that gives you optimum power without causing damage to the engine. With a modified KT i suspect that the mixture that gives you maximum power will result in overheating the motor, so more time on the dyno will be required to work out what you will need to do for the mixtures. When i ran KT's it was common practice to slightly lean off the high jet to make a pass, then return it to a richer than optimum setting to prevent the motor seizing.

[Admin]

Tom when washing your kart with the supatune lights what do you have to take off?

Do I have to take the sensor out of the exhaust aswell? or just take off everything else.

Just want to know now before I install and wash my kart so I don't stuff the sensor up. I couldn't find it anywhere in the Manual.

Thanks William

[tom]

When i wash mine i leave the sensor in the header. I have a blanking plug for the lead, but you could just put a bag on it and tape it. I take the head-unit off and just wipe it over.

The sensors are designed to work in the exhaust of a road car, and are subject to road grime and moisture, it's just the connector that you have to keep moisture out of.

The head units are usually only spray proof, if it gets water in it, it will fail.