Q & A, September 2007 - Project Honda CRF230F - Part 25

Sep. 01, 2007 By Rick Sieman

 

SUBJECT: QUICK QUESTION ABOUT CRF230 POWERUP KIT

Hi Rick,
Sorry to bug you, but I have a question about the CRF230 power up kit. I thoroughly read your how-to and will follow your instructions to the letter. However, I just wanted to get a couple points of clarification if you have a minute.

You mention to replace the needle jet with the new part number listed in the how-to. However, in follow-up comments you also mention the stock needle jet and new one are the same, although the part numbers are different. Other than the nicety of having a spare part, is there any specific reason to buy the new needle jet?

On another CRF dedicated website, they specify the same 2 parts you do for the power-up (needle jet and main jet) but they also say to buy a new pilot jet (size 45). Do you think this is necessary? It isn't mentioned in your writeup. Or if it is, I missed it somehow.

Thanks for your time!
Dave


Careful there, Dave.  I said that the needle jet seat was the same, not the needle.

 

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SUBJECT:  STRIPPED SCREWS

Hey Rick
I've been following your writings on the CRF230
project and decided on buying a new 07' from the dealership here. Of
course I started with step one "uncorking the bike" and I ran into
trouble when I stripped the very soft headed screw on the link arm in
the carb. I can't see any other way to get the needle out, but it
there???
Dave
Canada

 

Nope.  You have to take the screw holding the throttle plate down.  Sorry.

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Comment: Hey Rick, My parents got me a CRF230F 07 model and i was
wondering if i can put the power up kit in my bike. i ask this because
this project is done on an earlier model to the 07. is the part numbers
the same for the 07 asit is for the 05 and 06? cheers rick
Daniel Hode
Pert, AU

 

Sure, the carb workings on the 230 haven't changed in years. Have fun. 

 

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SUBJECT:  JETTING CHANGES ON  THE 230

Excellent thread! I purchased a 2007 CRF 230 and I have read
all of your upgrade recommendations. I have 2 questions: When you first
changed the jetting, you said to replace the needle but then later on I
thought you said the needle is the same as the stock one. Do I need to
change the needle or not? Is the BBR pipe worth the money or is
satisfactory to run the stock pipe without the baffle? Thanks for the
great work.
Mark
England

 
Mark, refer to the first letter for the correct info. Re the BBR pipe:  We picked up a few horsepower over the un-baffled stocker, but not a giant amount.  The BBR pipe is much lighter, looks better and tucks in nicely.

 

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SUBJECT:  KICK STARTER FOR THE 230?

Hey great job on the bike i just got my 07 crf230f and have
done the jetting and exhaust and I'm very interested in a kick start
conversion and i wanted to get a list of the parts i will need to get to
complete it .
Thanks
ryan
Fitzgerald, GA

 

We haven't done a kick start conversion and have no plans to do so.

 

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SUBJECT:  RACING THE BAJA 1000

In one of your previous articles you said that you may enter
the CRF230F in the 2007 Baja 1000. Any plans for this? I am considering
doing it in 2008 and the CRF230 is one bike I'm thinking obout. What is
you opinion on that? All I want to do is finish the race.
J. Corder

 

I had planned on doing the Baja 1000 this year, but my knee replacement operation is taking a lot longer to recover properly.  Perhaps next year.  If you plan on riding to finish,  a carefully prepped 230 will do the job.

 

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SUBJECT:  A SMOKING 230

I have a 2003 crf 230f and the airbox is open the baffle is out
i put a new filter in and after long rides there is smoke coming out of
the exhaust and even while riding it smokes bad and stinks!!
Jeremy
Canada

 

If you removed all the baffles without installing the power up jetting kit,  chances are you've done some damage to your engine.

 

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SUBJECT:  UNCORKING THE 230

I also did the uncorking exactly as you said. When I crank the
throttle real quick, it dies. It seems like several others are having
this same issue. What do you recommend?
Thanks
DaveA
Willow Springs, IL

 

If you left out the jetting kit, the bike will respond exactly as you described.

 

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SUBJECT:  FMF EXHAUST FOR THE 230

I have just recently installed a fmf q exhaust muffler to my
2006 crf230f, and i have not seen any changes in performance. From what
i understand i need to rejet my bike in order to get performance out of
the modify. If this is correct, i beleive that i need some type of
jetting kit to do this. I am having trouble finding a jetting kit that
is for a crf230f. Could you help me out, maybe a part number or a
website?
Thank you so much
JD
Pittsburgh, PA

 

Look through the early parts of our Project series for the number of the jetting kit.  You can't modify the exhaust without changing the jetting.

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SUBJECT:  HESITATION

Rick: I've just completed the installation of the Power Up kit
on my 2004 Honda CRF230. The bike has a noticeable increase in power and I thank you for your step by step instructions, they made the
installation a breeze. I've noticed that throttle response has changed
in that if I quickly position the throttle fully open, the bike almost
(and sometimes does) cuts out. Any suggestions on possible areas I can
persue to overcome this?
Regards,
Mark Sheppard
Port Moody, Canada

 

When the 230 is not warmed up completely, it'll do that.  Also, your idle might be set a bit too low. 

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SUBJECT:  CAN YOU DO IT TO A 150?

Rick:
Can these instructions for Power Up be used for the 150?
My girlfriend rides a 150 and I have purchased the kit, I'm just wary
about following your 230 instructions word for word for hers in case
there are some issues I'm not aware of. Appreciate your help. Regards,
Mark Sheppard
Canada

 

I have not attempted to jet the 150, but my best guess would be that it would not be correct.

 

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SUBJECT:  FORK MODS

Great job on the bike. I put a set of 1985 cr500 forks on my
2003 crf230 it worked out perfect except the factory bump stops on the
bottom triple clamp dont match up so my triple clamps will hit the gas
tank. Is there any way to fix this or what did you do. Thank you very
much for everything you have done.
Justin
Eagle River, AK

Use a set of the recessed allen headed bolts instead of the protruding stockers.  Also, you can put some hot water in the tank and make slight depressions in the contact area, the while keeping pressure on, drain the hot water out and put cold water in make the tank hold the new shape.

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SUBJECT:  HIGH ALTITUDE JETTING

I just bought a 2007 CRF230 and would like to do these
modifications to it. Gunnison is at 7700' and I often ride at 10000'.
Will the suggesting jetting modifications be OK for me at this altitude?
Crystal
Gunnison, CO

 

If you ride at such extremely high altitudes, you'll have to lean out the main jet a bunch.  How much?  That one, you'll have to experiment.  One thing:  no matter what bike you ride at that altitude, the bike will loose a lot of power.

 

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SUBJECT: PROJECT HONDA CRF230F - CHAIN/SPROCKET QUESTION

Hey
I've followed this article for my CRF230, and I want to do the chain/sprockets next.  I've tried to find the sidewinder setup you used but can't locate it.  I want to go to a 15 tooth front sprocket with a 520 chain and the sidewinder rear sprocket.  Couple questions:

Is the rear sprocket you used the same number of teeth as stock, 50??

Where can I buy all of these parts?  Sidewinder 15 tooth front, 520 chain, rear sprocket, master link?

Thanks a lot!!
Adam

 

The Krause rear sprocket we used was the stock number.  Contact is: krauseracing@sbcglobal.net

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