Moto RenzoJetting database

Dell'Orto PHBH 28 – jetting & tuning

Dell'Orto range without accelerator pump; jet needles of the X series. Fitted from the factory to 21 documented models from Aprilia, Benelli, KTM, Laverda, Moto Guzzi.

Dell'Orto PHBH 28 (example picture)

Dellorto PHBH 28

Dell'Orto range without accelerator pump; jet needles of the X series.

Complete carburettor

We don't stock the complete PHBH 28 at the moment. The individual parts are listed below.

Fitted as standard to

All figures at a glance (table)
Factory jetting PHBH 28 at a glance
ModelYearMain jetPilot jetStarter jetNeedle (clip)AtomiserSlide
Moto Guzzi V35 Nevada19911084560X57 (2)262 EH30
Moto Guzzi V35 Custom19851124260X 19 (2)262 CE30
Moto Guzzi V35 NTX19861124260X 19 (2)262 EH30
Moto Guzzi V35 Imola II19841124560X 24 (2)262 CE30
Moto Guzzi V50 III (USA)19811184560X 22 (3)262 T150
Moto Guzzi V50 Monza (USA)19811184560X 22 (3)262 T150
Moto Guzzi V50 Monza19801185060X 6 (3)268 T50
Moto Guzzi V35 Florida–1124260X 19 (2)262 CE30
Aprilia 125 H₂O (Motor Hiro)19811025570X 27 (2)266 BN40
Aprilia 125 S H₂O19831025570X 27 (3)266 BN40
Aprilia AF1 stradale19871205065X 42 (3)264 DT40
Aprilia Tuareg 125/8819881156270X 53 (2)262 EF55
Aprilia AF1 125/8819881255570X 56 (3)264 T55
Aprilia Tuareg 125/8919891286570X 53 (2)262 EF55
Aprilia AF1 125/89 (PHBH)19891205870X 4 (3)266 CF50
Aprilia ETX 125/89 – Pegaso19891306270X 56 (3)264 T60
Aprilia AF1 125 Replica 8919891325270X 40 (2)264 T55
Benelli 125 Jarno19881255565X 31 (2)262 EF45
KTM Cross MX 8019861507070X 24 (2)270 T40
Laverda 125 LB19831006065X 4 (3)268 CF60
Laverda 125 LB19841006065X 4 (3)268 CF60
Laverda 125 LB Uno / 125 CU Ride19841006665X 7 (3)264 CF40
Laverda GS 125 Lesmo19861224565X 38 (2)264 DG40
Factory jetting PHBH 28 at a glance (swipe sideways)
ModelMoto Guzzi V35 NevadaMoto Guzzi V35 CustomMoto Guzzi V35 NTXMoto Guzzi V35 Imola IIMoto Guzzi V50 III (USA)Moto Guzzi V50 Monza (USA)Moto Guzzi V50 MonzaMoto Guzzi V35 FloridaAprilia 125 H₂O (Motor Hiro)Aprilia 125 S H₂OAprilia AF1 stradaleAprilia Tuareg 125/88Aprilia AF1 125/88Aprilia Tuareg 125/89Aprilia AF1 125/89 (PHBH)Aprilia ETX 125/89 – PegasoAprilia AF1 125 Replica 89Benelli 125 JarnoKTM Cross MX 80Laverda 125 LBLaverda 125 LBLaverda 125 LB Uno / 125 CU RideLaverda GS 125 Lesmo
Year1991198519861984198119811980–198119831987198819881989198919891989198819861983198419841986
Main jet108112112112118118118112102102120115125128120130132125150100100100122
Pilot jet4542424545455042555550625565586252557060606645
Starter jet6060606060606060707065707070707070657065656565
Needle (clip)X57 (2)X 19 (2)X 19 (2)X 24 (2)X 22 (3)X 22 (3)X 6 (3)X 19 (2)X 27 (2)X 27 (3)X 42 (3)X 53 (2)X 56 (3)X 53 (2)X 4 (3)X 56 (3)X 40 (2)X 31 (2)X 24 (2)X 4 (3)X 4 (3)X 7 (3)X 38 (2)
Atomiser262 EH262 CE262 EH262 CE262 T1262 T1268 T262 CE266 BN266 BN264 DT262 EF264 T262 EF266 CF264 T264 T262 EF270 T268 CF268 CF264 CF264 DG
Slide3030303050505030404040555555506055454060604040

“–” means: not fitted on this model, or not documented in the source.

Not running right?Pick the symptom, we show the part responsible.
Pale, greyish-white plugs; flat and gutless at the top end; overheating
Throttle rangefrom ~1/2 to full throttle
Responsiblemain jet
What to dotry one size larger
Runs better on choke; popping/banging on the overrun
Throttle rangeidle to ~1/4
Responsiblepilot jet + mixture screw (check for air leaks first)
What to doricher: larger jet or screw further out
Hesitation/flat spot when opening the throttle
Throttle rangetransition idle → needle
Responsibleneedle position, pilot jet
What to dorichen, check function
Surging/leaning out at steady speed and mid throttle
Throttle range~1/8 to 3/4
Responsiblejet needle (clip) and atomiser
What to doraise the needle one notch (clip lower) = richer
Sooty black plugs; burbling running; smell of fuel; high consumption
Throttle rangenarrow it down: idle ↔ mid ↔ full
Responsibledepending on range: pilot jet / needle + atomiser / main jet
What to doleaner: smaller jet or needle lower
Gets worse the hotter the engine runs
Throttle rangeusually idle/part throttle
Responsibleoverall setup too rich; also check float level
What to dolean it out, check the float height

Always change in single steps (“one or two jet sizes, then check the plug colour”), judge only on a warmed-up engine and make just one change per test ride.

These notes do not replace a proper check. When in doubt use a lambda meter, a dyno or a specialist workshop – an engine running lean for long periods can be damaged.

Further reading

Frequently asked questions

What does the atomiser do and why does it matter so much?

The atomiser (also called the needle jet or emulsion tube) is the sleeve the jet needle runs in. Together with the needle it governs the mixture in the part-throttle range — exactly where you ride almost all the time. Experienced tuners rate it at least as important as the main jet: a single step (say 262 to 264) changes how the bike rides noticeably. With Dell'Orto the number is the bore and the letters are the design (e.g. AB, AR).

Discussion: caferacer-de

What does the needle clip position do?

The needle hangs from the throttle slide and its taper opens up the cross-section in the atomiser. Move the clip one notch down (needle sits higher) and the part-throttle range gets richer, one notch up (needle lower) leans it out. The factory figure counts the notches from the top. The needle position acts roughly between 1/4 and 3/4 throttle — not at idle and barely at full throttle.

Discussion: caferacer-de

How do I set the mixture screw correctly?

As a starting point the Moto Guzzi workshop manuals for the carburettor models consistently give 1.5 turns out from lightly seated. Fine tuning on a warmed-up engine: turn the mixture screw on each cylinder slowly until the engine runs at its smoothest and fastest, then correct the idle speed and synchronise both carburettors. If the engine only runs cleanly at well over two turns, the pilot jet is usually too small or the circuit is dirty.

Discussion: 2-ventiler.de

The engine hesitates when I open the throttle — why?

When the slide is opened quickly the mixture leans out briefly. PHF and PHM have an accelerator pump for exactly that — if the engine hesitates, its pump jet is often blocked, the diaphragm is damaged, or the idle-to-needle transition is too lean. On carburettors without a pump (e.g. VHB, PHBH) only a clean transition setup helps. Check the mundane causes too: float level, fuel supply, worn slides.

Discussion: 2-ventiler.de

Do both carburettors need the same jetting?

Yes. Both cylinders need the same set of jets, and the factory figures always apply per carburettor. After every job the pair belongs synchronised (same slide lift, same mixture screw setting), otherwise one cylinder runs richer than the other and the plug colour becomes unreadable. Unequal jetting is almost always a sign of a previous owner tinkering.

Discussion: 2-ventiler.de