Dial-A-Jet
Automatic Fuel Induction System
Dial-A-Jet is a completely external jetting system that delivers maximum
horsepower from any engine at any temperature or altitude. "DJ"
improves throttle response and fuel mileage. It works well with stock
or modified engines, standard or high performance air boxes and exhaust
systems. Easy to install kits are available for snowmobiles, ATV's, dirt
bikes, motorcycles and automobiles.
The Dial-A-Jet system was invented by Dennis Dean, Ph.D. (Doctorate in
acoustics). Mr. Dean held over 120 world motorcycle drag racing records
and several Bonneville records. The Dial-A-Jet concept was used on all
of these machines. He knew that he needed a different fuel curve for the
launch area, middle of the track and the end of the track. He also had
to deal with different altitudes, temperatures, and air densities. Dial-A-Jet
proved to take care of these problems as well as providing that fine tuning
edge that meant the difference between winning and losing at this highly
competitive level.
Modern motorcycle engines come from the factory jetted on the lean side,
leaving little room for error. Motorcyclists often discard their standard
air filter and install a high flow air filter. This will upset the air
to fuel ratio making the engine run even leaner and hotter. Custom exhaust
systems are usually lower restriction which also causes the engine to
run leaner and hotter. The combination of the high flow air filter and
the low restriction exhaust system substantially alters fuel flow requirements,
leaning the engine and raising the operating temperature. The additional
heat that is generated can have a detrimental effect on engine longevity
as well as delivering poor performance. Gear selection may become more
difficult due to increase in oil operating temperature. The cure for these
lean conditions is to restore proper air/fuel ratios. This can be done
by rejetting which requires removal and disassembly of your carburetors.
This may be a very expensive proposition, paying for 3 or 4 hours of shop
time as well as purchasing a jet kit. Dial-A-Jet kits can usually be installed
at home in approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours without having to remove and
disassemble your carburetors. Dial-A-Jet now allows you to richen or lean
your engine in seconds simply by turning a dial. The ability to adjust
your carburetors externally may save you another trip to the local dealer
to adjust your carburetors if they didn't get it right on the first try.
Lonn Peterson became interested in using Dial-A-Jets on snowmobiles in
the winter of 1989/90. Lonn recognized a great need for this product in
the snowmobile industry. Large altitude and temperature changes had to
be dealt with, not to mention engine modifications requiring attention
to the fuel system. They worked so well and the feed back was so positive
that he decided to buy the company. Lonn and his wife, Ann, now own Dial-A-Jet
which is part of Thunder Products, Inc.
The basic concept of the Dial-A-Jet has never changed since day one;
however, it is a highly evolved product that has seen many improvements.
Performance has always been the number one consideration. Most other improvements
have to do with making the Dial-A-Jet more user friendly, such as fitting
into tight places or mounting in easy to access areas, filtering the air
to the Dial-A-Jet, reading the settings, etc.
Dial-A-Jet is a very reliable fail proof product that works every time!
Dial-A-Jet makes more horsepower on less fuel. You can expect gains in
the 3% to 5% range. It's much more than a quick and easy way to change
main jets. There are no moving parts or electronics to fail. Dial-A-Jet
is a small product measuring only 7/8" long, 5/8" wide and 5/8"
high. Air enters the Dial-A-Jet body through one of the five pre-selected
air correction circuits in the rotary dial. Each of the five air correction
circuits is a different size allowing either more or less air to enter
the mixing chamber. More air would be leaner (larger hole) and less air
would be richer (smaller hole). Fuel from the float bowl is instantly
drawn into the mixing chamber and swirled with air at a high rate of speed
emulsifying the fuel. The fuel mixture is like millions of tiny thick
skinned balloons with air inside. This is called an emulsified fuel charge.
The emulsified fuel charge is inducted into the carburetor through the
secondary main jets located in the fuel delivery tube. At this point the
Dial-A-Jet is way ahead of the rest of your carburetor. All of the other
circuits in your carburetor introduce raw liquid fuel into the air stream,
just beginning the atomization process. The lightweight fuel mixture from
the Dial-A-Jet only weighs 10% of what liquid fuel weighs. Slight changes
in engine load can be quickly and accurately compensated for with this
lightweight fuel mixture. Instead of losing as much as 15% of your horsepower
due to improper jetting, your machine can now perform at optimum level
at any temperature or altitude. A snowmobile will always run like it does
at 20 degrees below zero.
Three things trigger Dial-A-Jet's fuel signal: 1) engine pressure drop
(vacuum or fuel signal); 2) acoustic sound signal which either amplifies
or de-amplifies the reversionary pulse waves of the intake tract (we will
explain more about the acoustics later); and 3) air flow and velocity.
Dial-A-Jet works from just above an idle all the way to full throttle.
Dial-A-Jet automatically gives you a perfectly calibrated carburetor that
feeds fuel linear to engine load. Feeding fuel linear to engine load means
being jetted properly whether you are pulling a heavy engine load like
a hard hole shot with good traction or just cruising easily on hard pack
at 40mph. Various speeds and engine loads require changes in your fuel
curve. Dial-A-Jet automatically monitors your engine's needs then alters
your fuel curve to match. A load must be placed on the engine for Dial-A-Jet
to function. You can't rev your engine up on the jackstand and watch fuel
go up the lines. Without loading the engine, there is no need for extra
fuel; therefore, Dial-A-Jet does not deliver fuel. This is normal.
Dial-A-Jet is an add fuel only device. You cannot add fuel to an engine
that is running rich or has an adequate fuel supply and hope to gain horsepower.
You must create a lean condition so that Dial-A-Jet has a window of opportunity
to function. Dial-A-Jet will automatically fill in the lean areas of the
fuel curve giving you optimum performance. The fine emulsified fuel charge
can't displace the heavier poorly atomized fuel from the other circuits
so it takes the path of least resistance and fills in the lean mix areas
eliminating fuel spiking and giving you a consistent fuel flow pattern
producing stable temperatures and horsepower. The only way Dial-A-Jet
can fail to perform is if you do not get the carburetor within range of
the Dial-A-Jet. This usually means that the main jet is too large. You
must create a slightly lean condition so the Dial-A-Jet has a working
range. This is typically about three or four jet sizes below a properly
jetted machine. A single Dial-A-Jet will deliver 10% to 15% of your overall
fuel curve in an emulsified state. There are five automatic fuel ranges
you can select from on each Dial-A-Jet. Simply rotate the dial to raise
or lower your fuel curve. With Dial-A-Jet each carburetor can be adjusted
independently. This is a huge advantage for maximizing the full potential
of each cylinder while giving you great protection against burn down.
Dial-A-Jet is an acoustical device that is triggered by acoustic sound
signals. The acoustic signal is generated when gasoline is ignited in
the cylinder just inches away from the Dial-A-Jet. This signal amplifies
the pumping action created by the reversionary pulse waves that occur
naturally in any engine's intake tract. The acoustic signal along with
normal engine vacuum or fuel signal causes fuel to be delivered to the
engine. We have all heard the sound of a fat, over-jetted engine such
as you hear at high altitude or very warm weather riding. It's the whaaa
whaaa sound. This is a slow, fuel rich reversionary pulse wave in the
intake tract. This would give Dial-A-Jet a de-amplified fuel signal resulting
in little or no fuel being inducted. The reverse of this is also true.
A crisp lean sounding engine generates a fast sharp reversionary pulse
wave, triggering Dial-A-Jet to automatically induct fuel. Detonation is
an extreme lean condition that generates a sharp reversionary pulse wave.
This excites the Dial-A-Jet causing a rapid response with additional fuel
delivery to stave off engine damage. Remember that we are moving a very
light weight emulsified fuel charge. This is the reason it is so responsive
to the engine's fuel needs over such a broad range.
Dial-A-Jet works great on stock or modified machines giving a realistic
10% to 20% increase in fuel economy or more. Throttle response is extremely
fast and smooth. Throttle lag is virtually eliminated. Throttle lag is
where the airflow in your carburetor out accelerates your fuel, which
finally catches up. Being that the Dial-A-Jet delivers such a lightweight
fuel charge, the air can no longer out accelerate the fuel as it once
did. The result is major league throttle response! Dial-A-Jet automatically
purges your float bowl of alcohol, water, benzenes, or other unwanted
sediments that could cause engine damage. Modified or piped machines will
have fuel needs that require a higher fuel curve when the pipes and modifications
kick in. In other words you need one fuel curve when running below peak
and another fuel curve at peak horsepower. This is why a piped machine
is so fussy to jet. More horsepower requires more fuel. Dial-A-Jet will
automatically raise or lower the fuel curve optimizing performance. Dial-A-Jet
feeds fuel based on engine demand. Spark plugs will last longer. The plug
color will be lighter and piston wash will be minimal or disappear due
to the improved fuel delivery and combustion efficiency.
Now that we have talked about Dial-A-Jet having so much automatic circuitry,
you need to know how the manually adjusted dial fits into the picture.
Each of the five positions represents a higher or lower fuel curve (richer
or leaner). It's not a case of starting and stopping from one position
to the next. There is a great deal of overlap with each setting. For the
most part you will seldom need to adjust the dial. A big change in altitude
or temperature will be about the only time a change will be necessary.
Dial-A-Jet comes with a very easy to understand installation and tuning
manual that explains in detail how and when you may need to change settings.
The Dually Kit consists of two Dial-A-Jets per carburetor. It delivers
20% to 30% of your overall fuel needs. This kit was designed to service
engines that have high cubic feet per minute of airflow. Highly modified
engines or large displacement engines usually fall into this category.
Another circumstance where a Dually Kit is used is for extreme temperature
and/or altitude changes. You can ride in the Midwest at sea level or you
can ride in the western mountain ranges. The Dually provides a very broad
tuning range virtually eliminating the need to change jetting. You seldom,
if ever, need to adjust the dials due to the high percentage of fuel automatically
being metered through the Dually system.
The Snorkel kit is a fitted rubber cap that goes over the Dial-A-Jet
body. A vent line is inserted into the rubber cap and routed up the handle
bar shaft, exiting just outside of the hood. A foam filter is attached
to this end of the vent line. Cold clean air is fed to the Dial-A-Jet.
This also eliminates belt dust, snow, ice or other debris from plugging
the air correction circuit in the Dial-A-Jet making it run rich. Problems
with under hood pressure are eliminated. The snorkel is a must for ATV's
and dirt bikes equipped with Dial-A-Jets.
Dial-A-Jet has even been successfully installed on fuel injection machines.
One Arctic Cat dealer wanted to run performance pipes on a 580 EFI. The
existing fuel map worked fine on the bottom end and midrange; however,
the top end was extremely lean. Dial-A-Jets were installed on the throttle
bodies. Fuel was pulled from a remote float bowl (available from Thunder
Products) attached to the return line of the fuel injection. Dial-A-Jet
cured the top end lean condition. The set-up worked great, yielding a
crisp broad power band! The Dial-A-Jets could be adjusted for temperature,
altitude, engine load, or fuel quality. The installation was simple and
effective. More than 3,500 trouble free miles have been logged on this
machine.
Does your engine require aviation gas or other high test fuels? Maybe
not. Dial-A-Jet can be installed on your carburetors and used to induct
many types of fuels or fuel additives such as octane boosters, alcohol
(methanol), alcohol blended with nitro, propylene oxide, etc. One of the
lowest cost, user-friendly fuel boosters is alcohol (methanol). This is
a very easy and inexpensive way to raise your octane while lowering engine-operating
temperatures by approximately 150 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Dyno tests
have shown a 5% to 6% increase in horsepower. Installation is very easy.
Install a set of Dial-A-Jets in the conventional manner. Now you will
need a small tank mounted under your hood for the alcohol. The tank should
have a fuel shut off. A remote float bowl with a needle and seat will
also be needed to handle the fuel from the tank to the Dial-A-Jet. Simply
hook the Dial-A-Jets to the remote float bowl and you are ready to run.
This is very simple and effective, it can be used on any ordinary trail
machine to safely boost performance and raise horsepower while lowering
temperatures.
Dial-A-Jet is a very cost effective product. Each kit comes with a complete
installation and tuning manual. Thunder Products provides full time expert
technical support for all of their products.
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