Jonathan H asked: Will this require me to switch to a fuel injected system before running E85 in it? I’ve seen the kit by Dabbs engineering, but it is $2000 and I can’t find where to purchase it (besides an email address). But I am really looking for a simple conversion or doing it on my own. Thanks.
Caffeinated Content
I guess it can be done. You need to know your mileage suffers a lot. I think like 15%. On a motorcycle, that really cuts already limited range. That would be my beef, not to mention, depending on where you go, you have to find E85, which could be a problem given the newly limited range of the bike.
So you want to change the entire engineering of a motor and have it be ’simple’? No. Either spend the $2000 or get a bike more suited to that kind of conversion. (A Harley running with a motor based on 1950’s technology and an outdated carb isn’t exactly prone to ‘efficiency’)
As of today, the EPA has not certified a single aftermarket kit or component to convert a gasoline engine to run on E85. Even the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition warns such a conversion is “extremely difficult.” The group’s Web site also says: “Technically speaking,
” converting a vehicle that was designed to operate on unleaded gasoline only to operate on another form of fuel is a violation of the federal law and the offender may be subject to significant penalties.”
You can rejet the carb so that instead of delivering a 14:1 air-fuel ratio, it gives you 6.5-7:1 (i.e., jets that will flow about double the volume). Of course you’ll be stuck with using E85 and unable to use regular gas. Personally, I wouldn’t bother because I think the results will be disappointing.
BikinKaw forgot one other thing, you also need to change timing 20-30 degrees. The jets need about 28% larger by volume than with gas. (these recommendations are for pure ethanol but should be similar for E 85)