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The 2-Stroke Garage => Turning Wrenches => Topic started by: RDSingh on May 26, 2020, 06:22:21 AM

Title: VM30 carbs
Post by: RDSingh on May 26, 2020, 06:22:21 AM
Hello, I want to change carbs on my 78 rd400. Its a ported setup. Stage 1 with Yz85 reeds and rz350 cross-over. Bike has spec 2  exhausts. Could anybody tell me the jetting numbers for vm30. Read many positive reviews regarding tm34 also. So just confused with what to use vm 30 or tm34. Not sure if tm34 are good option for stage 1.  :umm:
Title: Re: VM30 carbs
Post by: Seizer on May 26, 2020, 10:24:29 AM
Here's a good baseline for VM30's:


3.0 cut slide
6DH3 needle
159-P2 needle jets
2.0 air jet
45 pilot
280 main
40:1 premix

Title: Re: VM30 carbs
Post by: motodreams on May 26, 2020, 12:43:28 PM
I was also after this info.  There was quite a bit of discussion on the old 2-stroke site and broadly speaking they approved of the VM30s as best for the 400.

Title: Re: VM30 carbs
Post by: Yamaha 179 on May 26, 2020, 06:51:40 PM
That's goofy.  For street riding, even hot street riding, with up to Stage 2 porting work Mikuni VM 28s are fine.   Tractable around town and runs well on the big end.  Raced with them for years with Stage 3 top ends and chambers; never a problem.  You can use a Y boot filter easily and there is a lot of jetting info available. 
Lyn Garland
Title: Re: VM30 carbs
Post by: motodreams on May 26, 2020, 10:13:29 PM
I honestly think you were involved in the discussion regarding VM30 on the old forum Lyn and may have even provided the specs.  This is likely the Spec2 'hot' porting which I have no clue on the specific stage name.  Bike has pipes ignition etc.  Daytona 400.  So you think sticking with VM28's is a better decision that running VM30s?
Title: Re: VM30 carbs
Post by: m in sc on May 26, 2020, 11:28:02 PM
here's my much less experienced take on it (compared to  lyn):

i've seen a 70 hp rd with 28mm carbs. it absolutely can be done.  -however-, when there's no race class restrictions, it opens up other options. the larger carbs will, in my experience, let the motor get into the powerband quicker with less efficient porting work. its kind of a cheating mod, the bigger carbs, in some ways. also, bigger carbs just look meaner , which has no performance value. also, you really really know how to tune for big hp with smaller carbs as well. they are more sensitive to changes IMHO.

a 30mm carb isn't  a 'big' carb at all, so id def consider it.  IF i were to go with smaller carbs on a build, id go with pwk 28s or 30s. the easiest carb to tune IMHO and very, very effective.

Or, stick with the 28's, its simple for sure and can work extremely well. Boils down to preference.

Title: Re: VM30 carbs
Post by: SUPERTUNE on May 27, 2020, 01:28:04 AM
Quote from: Seizer on May 26, 2020, 10:24:29 AM
Here's a good baseline for VM30's:


3.0 cut slide
6DH3 needle
159-P2 needle jets
2.0 air jet
45 pilot
280 main
40:1 premix

This is a great baseline I use for 30mm carbs.
Chuck
Title: Re: VM30 carbs
Post by: Yamaha 179 on May 27, 2020, 07:39:42 AM
There's a lot that goes into changing carbs and I think that you should look at the whole picture.  I don't think anyone can fault the VM 28's for all round high performance street riding.  The single action choke for both carbs, the ease of fitting good air filters, use of oil pump, availability of parts, and information are all big pluses.  The problem may be available RD carb bodies.  I haven't tried to buy any RD carbs but they may be scarce.  I know SUDCO still lists VM 28s in their current catalog but they are not RD types.  Problems going to VM 30s include replacing the reed manifolds, throttle and throttle cables, maybe air filters, and oil delivery systems.  Only the pilot and main jets will cross over from the VM 28s to the VM 30s.

The limiting factor in the RD engines is the transfer port system.  The transfers just aren't very good.  They can be made better but it takes a lot of work to improve them very much.  Usually a Stage 1 or a Stage 2 porting job does not involve a lot of transfer work.  Raising the ports, blending them and matching the casting to the liner sure; but changing and redirecting by changing the wall and roof angles is unlikely.  That is serious work and takes time and effort; more like Stage 3 or the ultimate job.  A light job on the transfers will not require 30mm carbs. 

So, is it worth the extra money to put VM 30s on in place of 28s?  I think not.  I'm old school but if I were thinking of changing carbs on a mildly tuned RD 350/400 I would put a flat slide 28.  Probably be a much better use of your money. 

Disclaimer:  Couple - three years ago our rider won the WERA vintage Formula 250 championship with his RD 250.  He had VM 35.5s on it for one race and VM 38s for three races.  Significant transfer porting work was done and the carbs had dividers on both the intake and output sides to improve airflow.
Lyn Garland




Title: Re: VM30 carbs
Post by: m in sc on May 27, 2020, 10:06:06 AM
to Lyns point & play devils advocate:

remember, rz350s stock come with 26mm carbs. Just food for thought.  :twocents: :vroom:
Title: Re: VM30 carbs
Post by: Jspooner on May 27, 2020, 10:58:34 AM
FWIW - the 350 I just sold had stage 2 porting by Spec II and I had VM30s on that. I have no leg to stand on as far as a comparison between those and the stock VM28s but I will say it sure ran good with the 30s on it. That thing did not stop pulling until you let off the throttle and they did not make it hard to ride at lower speeds and RPMs. I would not hesitate to put 30s on one again. With that being said, If I had a good set of RD carbs I'm not sure I'd replace them just for the hell of it but if I had to buy carbs anyway I'd probably go with 30s in either variety (TM or VM).
Title: Re: VM30 carbs
Post by: Jspooner on May 27, 2020, 11:11:28 AM
In Lyn's defense, there other things to take into consideration when switching out carbs like, cables, autolube ports, carb spigot size, physical carb body size, choke (two levers VS one) so its not just swapping out carbs and back in business in a couple of hours, you need to be ready and able to make other changes.
Title: Re: VM30 carbs
Post by: rodneya on May 28, 2020, 01:21:27 PM
Quote from: m in sc on May 26, 2020, 11:28:02 PM
here's my much less experienced take on it (compared to  lyn):

i've seen a 70 hp rd with 28mm carbs. it absolutely can be done.  -however-, when there's no race class restrictions, it opens up other options. the larger carbs will, in my experience, let the motor get into the powerband quicker with less efficient porting work. its kind of a cheating mod, the bigger carbs, in some ways. also, bigger carbs just look meaner , which has no performance value. also, you really really know how to tune for big hp with smaller carbs as well. they are more sensitive to changes IMHO.

a 30mm carb isn't  a 'big' carb at all, so id def consider it.  IF i were to go with smaller carbs on a build, id go with pwk 28s or 30s. the easiest carb to tune IMHO and very, very effective.

Or, stick with the 28's, its simple for sure and can work extremely well. Boils down to preference.

I have to agree that bigger carbs look soo much better, even more so if they are flatslides or Lectrons.
Title: Re: VM30 carbs
Post by: RDSingh on June 01, 2020, 04:00:46 PM
Thanks for great info regarding vm 30. What is the base line jetting for tm34
.
Title: Re: VM30 carbs
Post by: Hawaii-Mike on June 01, 2020, 08:48:37 PM
To save money, try UFO's on the VM28's.  I used them on my H2 (which happens to have VM30's) and the UFO's smoothed out the midrange power significantly.
Title: Re: VM30 carbs
Post by: rodneya on June 01, 2020, 10:14:17 PM
Quote from: RDSingh on June 01, 2020, 04:00:46 PM
Thanks for great info regarding vm 30. What is the base line jetting for tm34
.

Not sure for a 400, but I recently bought a set of TM34's to use on a banshee 421 motor with pods and Shearer pipes and came up with the following online.

change 389Q2 needle jet to Q0
300 to 310 main
40 to 50 pilot
Title: Re: VM30 carbs
Post by: SUPERTUNE on June 05, 2020, 08:49:39 AM
TM34's baseline on my stg 1 or stg 2 RD400's:
37.5 pilot = 2 turns
310 main
389-QO / no airjet
#1 needle clip most of the time, but you can try #2.
Stock 4.0 slide
YZ85 VF reed cages/ UPP manifolds/ TSR-Barlow boost bottle/ Uni pods

Chuck
Title: Re: VM30 carbs
Post by: quocle603 on June 14, 2020, 08:47:33 AM
Quote from: m in sc on May 27, 2020, 10:06:06 AM
to Lyns point & play devils advocate:

remember, rz350s stock come with 26mm carbs. Just food for thought.  :twocents: :vroom:

Throwing in the monkey wrench lol.
Title: Re: VM30 carbs
Post by: Dvsrd on June 15, 2020, 09:37:13 AM
What about "Small Body" (Snowmobile) VM30 carbs? They should be easier to fit, and should most likely flow better than regular VM30 (which share body with the larger VM32 and 34 carbs)
I think Polaris Indy 340or 400 had VM30.
Title: Re: VM30 carbs
Post by: m in sc on June 15, 2020, 10:07:56 AM
thats the same as a stock h2 carb, basically, which -will- fit in the stock intakes and arobox boots, so that is a plus. I have used those on an rd build btw.
However, the larger body ones have a bigger bellmouth and basically a velocity stack built in by comparison. I went from a small body 34 to a large body 34and i had to jet up a hair. and i used the exact same jet tube and needle and pilot to start.