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Everything may move when you manually move it... but that doesn't mean that the actually actuator isn't broken.

What you can do is remove that cover on the left side... start the bike, warm it up... rev the bike to 6k and over and the nut should start to turn. If that is happening then you can pull the pipe... look at the valves on either side... turn that nut and see if they open with a turn. If they do... then the KIPS is working.

The main thing is to note if they are staged correctly. At rest they should be closed. When you turn the nut... you should start to see the ports that are cut in the valves....

This is a start...

Indawoods wrote:What you can do is remove that cover on the left side... start the bike, warm it up... rev the bike to 6k and over and the nut should start to turn.

It does!!

Indawoods wrote:If that is happening then you can pull the pipe... look at the valves on either side... turn that nut and see if they open with a turn. If they do... then the KIPS is working.

Had friends waiting on me to ride, so I didn't get to this part. I'll check it one evening this week though.

I dunno, maybe I'm just trying to lug it a bit too low in higher gears on climbs? We met some riders today &, much to our surprise, a couple were championship riders in the VCHSS.... or so they said. Hehe, they seemed surprised that we didn't recognize their names, but we don't race or keep up with such things. All on tricked out KTM 300XCW's & superb riders. Crazy fast on singletrack & very skilled.
Anyway, one of them runs a shop & offered to throw a leg over my 220 & I obliged. He said nothing's wrong with it & that it ran as it should. He suggested I call FMF & give them the # printed on the header to find out if it's the rev model & that could possibly be the source of my complaint. Fwiw, the # is 055-020057 if that tells you anything.
But I'll for sure pull the pipe again & check what you told me too. Thanks for the continued advice.

More info:
145 main
47 pilot - 1 1/4 turns out
1000' to 1500' elevation on average
Reeds looked new but had nothing to indicate brand or model
Moist at the tailpipe but no drips after a hard days ride.

PS. This thing is a blast to ride now that I'm gaining confidence with it. My buddy was shocked to see me over his shoulder all day. Me too.

I pulled the pipe again today & performed the last check that Inda suggested. The valves appear to work fine.

However, I may have stumbled onto something. It looks like I'm missing the metal ring that fits between the header & engine.
I'll order THIS and hope that's all there is to it. If FRP's ring is supposed to add torque then surely no ring at all is problematic?

Correction for my previous post: 42 pilot

That will take a little off the top...

The best thing is just the copper ring. Keeps your pipe from beating on the soft aluminum.

Indawoods wrote:The best thing is just the copper ring.

Noted!
But is this missing ring enough to explain my lack of low end?

No...

What sprocket sizes are you running?

Never had a 220 but that pilot sounds pretty big in that thing....

Indawoods wrote:What sprocket sizes are you running?

A previous owner has a 13/47 combo on there. Good idea though, I'll look around to see what others are using.
EDIT: Looks like I have stock gearing.

Indawoods wrote:Never had a 220 but that pilot sounds pretty big in that thing....

I've seen one or two other 220 owners running the same 145/42 combo at similar elevations over on the TT jetting database. I'm not getting anything more than barely perceptible spooge & the bike is quite responsive overall, so I dunno if a slight deviation from the current jetting would be that big a factor? But I'm obviously no expert.

After further investigation, it appears that my jets are the stock sizes? I'll have to read up on jetting.... since I deleted that info from my brain when I started running an Edelbrock pumper on my other bike. (No jets.) Maybe I'll experiment with sprockets later on.
I don't care what that KTM shop owner told me.... this bike ought to pull better in the lower rpm range IMO.

I might finally have a possible explanation for my lack of low end grunt. Hopefully the experts here can tell me if this would do it?
I've been noticing that my trans fluid (ATF) has been magically disappearing with each ride. No leaks or drips. No spooge at the muffler but I do get a lot of smoke when I'm hard on the throttle. After searching around on here, it's been said that failing crank seals can cause a loss of power. Sigh....
There's a mechanic in town with a good rep so I'll just let him tackle the job. I don't trust myself to split the cases & get it all back together correctly. (I don't have the required tools anyway.) Think I'll go ahead and send the head & carb to RB while the bike is down.
On a side note, I've been holding off on installing my Dynaring while I investigated the disappearing trans fluid. Glad I did. I'll install that when I get the motor back.

That edelbrock carb is interesting.

Yeah, crank seals will do it! Can check with a leak-down tester. I got a harbor freight one for $25 a while back, and it's come in quite handy.

Update for anyone interested.

I pulled my motor on Friday & carried it to someone I trust. I'm having ALL seals & gaskets replaced. Seems like a perfect time to have Ron Black hook me up with the carb & head mods. Putting them in the mail early this week & Ron says I'll have the goods by early May. (His shop is closed 16th - 24th)
Dynaring goes in when I get everything back.... just in time for the WV trip a few of us here have planned mid-May.
I'm stoked!

I'm fairly flabbergasted here. Shipped my carb & head to RB on Tuesday. The lady at USPS said she figured RB would get it on Friday. I just got a notification from USPS that RB has shipped my parts TODAY. That's a 24 hour turnaround!?!
Now I just have to get the motor back too. Hopefully later in the week.

ya know...........i was going to say something about your bike bogging down so much in your videos, but didnt want to piss you off. ........i bet youll think your on a diffent bike when you get it back together.

kdxmaniac wrote:ya know...........i was going to say something about your bike bogging down so much in your videos, but didnt want to piss you off. ........i bet youll think your on a diffent bike when you get it back together.

I guess you missed it, but there's another thread here (& also earlier in this thread) where I gripe about the lack of low end. I was already pissed.

My RB shipment arrives today. He must've overnighted it. Unbelievable turnaround.

Well I'm happy to report that I have low end grunt now, although still a bit of disappointment when compared to a KDX250. I guess it's true what they say... there's no replacement for displacement.

Having said that, the RB head/carb mods when paired with 607 reeds are freakin' wonderful. Throttle response is so good that it feels "twitchy" to me now, but in a good way. Just a little twist of throttle sends the bike into "git'er-done" mode. My engine performance truly shines now & I'm amazed at the level of improvement given the price. Anyone on the fence about getting RB'ed should wait no longer imo. Totally worth it & Ron's craftsmanship is beyond professional.

I just picked up a 220....and although it doesnt have the raw power of my 250...it lugs great and spools up faster!! I am loving the little one! and I am sure you will too...once you get it straight!