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Addendum to the Mikuni SBN Tuning Manual
Where to begin?
Over a decade ago, after having tuned a few dozen Mikuni SBN equipped skis, and after having helped explain to many others the processes I use for tuning, someone said to me, “Hey, you should write your own tuning manual…”
Apparently, some believe that I enjoy writing ��
I thought about it, and the idea I came up with would be to write an addendum TO the Mikuni SBN manual that has already existed (since 1994, I believe – at least my original hard copy is dated 1994). After all, the original manual itself is very good. I simply came up with some additional ideas/thoughts/techniques that expand on it.
With that said, before even bothering to read my addendum, you really need to read and become familiar with the original “Mikuni SBN Tuning Manual”. It’s like, you don’t take Calculus until you’ve taken and passed Algebra. The manual is easy to find. Simply search “Mikuni SBN Manual”. You will find links to the free PDF, which you can download. You will find hard copies you can buy for $5-10. Just get it, read it, read it again, and read it some more, same as I did back in the 90s. No, I won’t post a link. If searching for and obtaining the manual is beyond what you can do, or are willing to do here, then carb tuning should also be out of reach. Just sayin’.
I don’t recall exactly when I worked on writing the addendum, but I recall the job/office I was working at during that time, so it had to be 2008-2010. I had to dig through old files to find it, which I did. I never really finished it. Some of what I did still needed editing and proofreading. But I do want to share it, so my plan is to drag it into this thread as I go through and edit it, and as I create more content to be able to complete it.
Everyone is free to ask questions along the way. Everyone is free to offer criticisms or whatever. I can take it.
Disclaimers:
1) Everything I’m sharing in this thread is stuff I came up with from my own firsthand experiences. It’s essentially stuff I taught myself in the years before the internet/forums even existed. It was a labor of necessity really. I’ve always been inclined to teach myself stuff as needed, for better or for worse, probably because of how things were during the years I was growing up, LOL.
2) With that said, I am in no way saying that what I’m presenting here is the ONLY way to tune a ski. I’m not even claiming these are the best ways to tune a ski. I’m simply saying this is how I taught myself and how I do things. In fact, often tuning isn’t easy, and it takes me more time than I might like. So if there are better/faster tricks out there, I’m all ears and I’m not bothered by that.
3) I repeat, you really need to be very familiar with the original Mikuni SBN Tuning Manual for this thread to benefit you fully.
4) I’m a tuning geek. You will either appreciate that, hate that, or simply tolerate that. Doesn’t matter to me. I believe part of my geek-ness is because I’m a cheap person of Polish descent. Let me explain. I jokingly say, “It takes 14 dollars’ worth of little brass screws with holes in them to make your ski run absolutely perfectly”. With that said, then why would anyone spend thousands of dollars on pipes and pumps and whatever, to build the modified ski of their dreams, and then NOT take the time to determine what 14-dollar combo of jets will make it run its absolute best???
5) Much of my addendum will be rooted in the “mindset” of tuning. The philosophy of tuning if you will. Please realize this and take it into account as you read. Sometimes I’m writing to help the reader (and myself) to get their head in the right place to be able to progress.
6) I’m very much a “big picture” guy. I will often take 17 variables, quickly balance and weigh all of them in my head, and then produce a decision that I believe is ideal. I don’t always take the time to explain all the variables and what I’m juggling/balancing, so I might leave you wondering about something as a result – or if you are focused on just 2 or 3 of the variables you may not agree with the decision I produce. That’s fine. Just ask me to explain further, and I will as time allows.
Ok, so here we go. My plan is to essentially post/present “segments” of what I believe should be shared. This may take me weeks or months, so please be patient. I will try to keep it as logical and orderly as possible. I promise, you will get your money’s-worth, LOLOL.
Where to begin?
Over a decade ago, after having tuned a few dozen Mikuni SBN equipped skis, and after having helped explain to many others the processes I use for tuning, someone said to me, “Hey, you should write your own tuning manual…”
Apparently, some believe that I enjoy writing ��
I thought about it, and the idea I came up with would be to write an addendum TO the Mikuni SBN manual that has already existed (since 1994, I believe – at least my original hard copy is dated 1994). After all, the original manual itself is very good. I simply came up with some additional ideas/thoughts/techniques that expand on it.
With that said, before even bothering to read my addendum, you really need to read and become familiar with the original “Mikuni SBN Tuning Manual”. It’s like, you don’t take Calculus until you’ve taken and passed Algebra. The manual is easy to find. Simply search “Mikuni SBN Manual”. You will find links to the free PDF, which you can download. You will find hard copies you can buy for $5-10. Just get it, read it, read it again, and read it some more, same as I did back in the 90s. No, I won’t post a link. If searching for and obtaining the manual is beyond what you can do, or are willing to do here, then carb tuning should also be out of reach. Just sayin’.
I don’t recall exactly when I worked on writing the addendum, but I recall the job/office I was working at during that time, so it had to be 2008-2010. I had to dig through old files to find it, which I did. I never really finished it. Some of what I did still needed editing and proofreading. But I do want to share it, so my plan is to drag it into this thread as I go through and edit it, and as I create more content to be able to complete it.
Everyone is free to ask questions along the way. Everyone is free to offer criticisms or whatever. I can take it.
Disclaimers:
1) Everything I’m sharing in this thread is stuff I came up with from my own firsthand experiences. It’s essentially stuff I taught myself in the years before the internet/forums even existed. It was a labor of necessity really. I’ve always been inclined to teach myself stuff as needed, for better or for worse, probably because of how things were during the years I was growing up, LOL.
2) With that said, I am in no way saying that what I’m presenting here is the ONLY way to tune a ski. I’m not even claiming these are the best ways to tune a ski. I’m simply saying this is how I taught myself and how I do things. In fact, often tuning isn’t easy, and it takes me more time than I might like. So if there are better/faster tricks out there, I’m all ears and I’m not bothered by that.
3) I repeat, you really need to be very familiar with the original Mikuni SBN Tuning Manual for this thread to benefit you fully.
4) I’m a tuning geek. You will either appreciate that, hate that, or simply tolerate that. Doesn’t matter to me. I believe part of my geek-ness is because I’m a cheap person of Polish descent. Let me explain. I jokingly say, “It takes 14 dollars’ worth of little brass screws with holes in them to make your ski run absolutely perfectly”. With that said, then why would anyone spend thousands of dollars on pipes and pumps and whatever, to build the modified ski of their dreams, and then NOT take the time to determine what 14-dollar combo of jets will make it run its absolute best???
5) Much of my addendum will be rooted in the “mindset” of tuning. The philosophy of tuning if you will. Please realize this and take it into account as you read. Sometimes I’m writing to help the reader (and myself) to get their head in the right place to be able to progress.
6) I’m very much a “big picture” guy. I will often take 17 variables, quickly balance and weigh all of them in my head, and then produce a decision that I believe is ideal. I don’t always take the time to explain all the variables and what I’m juggling/balancing, so I might leave you wondering about something as a result – or if you are focused on just 2 or 3 of the variables you may not agree with the decision I produce. That’s fine. Just ask me to explain further, and I will as time allows.
Ok, so here we go. My plan is to essentially post/present “segments” of what I believe should be shared. This may take me weeks or months, so please be patient. I will try to keep it as logical and orderly as possible. I promise, you will get your money’s-worth, LOLOL.
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