Moto RenzoJetting database

Dell'Orto jetting Moto Guzzi Le Mans 3

The factory jetting of the Moto Guzzi Le Mans 3 (1982) with the Dell'Orto PHM 40 is: main jet 170, pilot jet 60, throttle slide 601, jet needle K 4 (clip position 2 from top), atomiser 265 AB. 5 factory variants are documented in total – all model years and market versions are listed below.

Moto Guzzi Le Mans 3
Photo: mgaylard.co.uk, CC BY 2.0

Moto Guzzi Le Mans 3

Factory record 1981850 ccDellorto PHF 36 BS/BDno dot on the carburettor
Moto Speziale factory table · cross-checked
Main jet132from ½ to full throttle
Idle jet60idle up to ¼
NeedleK 5part throttle ¼ to ¾
Needle clip2notch counted from top
Needle jet265 ABpart throttle ¼ to ¾
Throttle slide2 sources503 · 11570.603 = slide 60/3transition ⅛ to ¼
Pump jet33
Starter jet70
Float1 – gr. 10
Float valve300
Pump delivery—

Figures apply to standard condition with the original air filter and exhaust. The year comes from the factory document and is not a production range: if your bike is a different year of the same version, these figures are your starting point.

Source and checks
  • Moto Speziale table, page 1, data row 30; sales designation: “LM 3 ohne Punkt im Dell`orto”
  • Cross-checked: Dell'Orto application catalogue, gedruckte Original-Ausgabe Dez. 1990, p. 42-43 (Betreiber-Fotos, archiviert: data/raw/dellorto_kataloge/katalog-1990-fotos/IMG_6403.jpg + _arbeit/-Crops)
  • Throttle slide: Moto Speziale factory table “503”, second source “11570.603 = slide 60/3”. We show both and don't decide ourselves.
  • Sources & method
Dell'Orto PHF 36 (example picture)
Dellorto PHF 36Dell'Orto range with accelerator pump; jet needles of the K series.

Complete carburettor

PHF 36 DD1€264.95PHF 36 DS1€264.95

Current Dell'Orto version. It may differ from your original (PHF 36 BS/BD); set the jetting to the figures above afterwards.

Parts catalogue soon
Moto Guzzi Le Mans 3
Photo: mgaylard.co.uk, CC BY 2.0

Moto Guzzi Le Mans 3

Factory record 1981850 ccDellorto PHF 36 BS/BDred dot on the carburettor
Moto Speziale factory table · cross-checked
Main jet115from ½ to full throttle
Idle jet50idle up to ¼
NeedleK 18part throttle ¼ to ¾
Needle clip3notch counted from top
Needle jet265 ABpart throttle ¼ to ¾
Throttle slide2 sources503 · 60/3transition ⅛ to ¼
Pump jet33
Starter jet70
Float1 – gr. 10
Float valve300
Pump delivery—

Figures apply to standard condition with the original air filter and exhaust. The year comes from the factory document and is not a production range: if your bike is a different year of the same version, these figures are your starting point.

Source and checks
  • Moto Speziale table, page 1, data row 31; sales designation: “LM 3 roter Punkt im Dell`orto”
  • Cross-checked: workshop manual 850 Le Mans III (F), ch. 15 Alimentation, p. 184 (850LM3_AtelierF.pdf, PDF-p. 12)
  • Throttle slide: Moto Speziale factory table “503”, workshop manual “60/3”. We show both and don't decide ourselves.
  • Sources & method
Dell'Orto PHF 36 (example picture)
Dellorto PHF 36Dell'Orto range with accelerator pump; jet needles of the K series.

Complete carburettor

PHF 36 DD1€264.95PHF 36 DS1€264.95

Current Dell'Orto version. It may differ from your original (PHF 36 BS/BD); set the jetting to the figures above afterwards.

Parts catalogue soon
Moto Guzzi Le Mans 3
Photo: mgaylard.co.uk, CC BY 2.0

Moto Guzzi Le Mans 3

Factory record 1981850 ccDellorto PHF 36 BS/BDgreen dot on the carburettor
Moto Speziale factory table
Main jet115from ½ to full throttle
Idle jet50idle up to ¼
NeedleK 18part throttle ¼ to ¾
Needle clip3notch counted from top
Needle jet268 ABpart throttle ¼ to ¾
Throttle slide503transition ⅛ to ¼
Pump jet33
Starter jet70
Float1 – gr. 10
Float valve300
Pump delivery—

Figures apply to standard condition with the original air filter and exhaust. The year comes from the factory document and is not a production range: if your bike is a different year of the same version, these figures are your starting point.

Source and checks
  • Moto Speziale table, page 1, data row 32; sales designation: “LM 3 grüner Punkt im Dell`orto”
  • Sources & method
Dell'Orto PHF 36 (example picture)
Dellorto PHF 36Dell'Orto range with accelerator pump; jet needles of the K series.

Complete carburettor

PHF 36 DD1€264.95PHF 36 DS1€264.95

Current Dell'Orto version. It may differ from your original (PHF 36 BS/BD); set the jetting to the figures above afterwards.

Parts catalogue soon
Moto Guzzi Le Mans 3
Photo: mgaylard.co.uk, CC BY 2.0

Moto Guzzi Le Mans 3

Factory record 1981850 ccDellorto PHF 36 DS/DDUSA
Moto Speziale factory table
Main jet120from ½ to full throttle
Idle jet50idle up to ¼
NeedleK 27part throttle ¼ to ¾
Needle clip2notch counted from top
Needle jet262 AB1part throttle ¼ to ¾
Throttle slide503transition ⅛ to ¼
Pump jet33
Starter jet75
Float1 – gr. 10
Float valve300
Pump delivery—

Figures apply to standard condition with the original air filter and exhaust. The year comes from the factory document and is not a production range: if your bike is a different year of the same version, these figures are your starting point.

Source and checks
  • Moto Speziale table, page 1, data row 33; sales designation: “LM 3 – USA”
  • Sources & method
Dell'Orto PHF 36 (example picture)
Dellorto PHF 36Dell'Orto range with accelerator pump; jet needles of the K series.

Complete carburettor

PHF 36 DD1€264.95PHF 36 DS1€264.95

Current Dell'Orto version. It may differ from your original (PHF 36 DS/DD); set the jetting to the figures above afterwards.

Parts catalogue soon
Moto Guzzi Le Mans 3
Photo: mgaylard.co.uk, CC BY 2.0

Moto Guzzi Le Mans 3

Factory record 1982850 ccDellorto PHM 40 DS/DDPHM 40
Moto Speziale factory table
Main jet170from ½ to full throttle
Idle jet60idle up to ¼
NeedleK 4part throttle ¼ to ¾
Needle clip2notch counted from top
Needle jet265 ABpart throttle ¼ to ¾
Throttle slide601transition ⅛ to ¼
Pump jet—
Starter jet—
Float1 – gr. 10
Float valve300
Pump delivery—

Figures apply to standard condition with the original air filter and exhaust. The year comes from the factory document and is not a production range: if your bike is a different year of the same version, these figures are your starting point.

Source and checks
  • Moto Speziale table, page 1, data row 40; sales designation: “LM 3”
  • Sources & method
Dell'Orto PHM 40 (example picture)
Dellorto PHM 40Large Dell'Orto range with accelerator pump; jet needles of the K series.

Complete carburettor

PHM 40 AD1€279.90PHM 40 AS1€279.90PHM 40 ND1€259.95PHM 40 NS1 (04841)€258.95PHM 40 SD1€334.95

Current Dell'Orto version. It may differ from your original (PHM 40 DS/DD); set the jetting to the figures above afterwards.

Parts catalogue soon
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 (accelerator pump)
Responsiblepump jet/pump function, then needle position
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 coloured dot on the Le Mans 3 carburettor mean?

The Le Mans 3 left the factory with three different jetting versions, identified by a coloured dot on the carburettor: no dot, red dot and green dot. The versions differ in needle, clip position, atomiser, main jet and pilot jet. So identify your own carburettor before buying jets — all three versions are in the table on the Le Mans 3 page.

Discussion: thisoldtractor.com

The spark plugs are black and sooty — what should I do?

Sooty black plugs show a mixture that is too rich. Which circuit is responsible depends on where the bike runs rich: at idle and steady speed it is more likely the pilot jet and mixture screw, in the mid range the needle position and atomiser, at full throttle the main jet. Also check for a sticking choke, the float level, a leaking float needle valve and an oil-soaked air filter. Change one step at a time and check the plug colour after every change.

Discussion: guzzisti.de

Air filter or exhaust modified — what jetting do I need now?

There is no blanket figure, and nobody can name one honestly without testing. More open intakes and exhaust systems lean out the mixture, so the setup has to go richer, usually starting with the main jet and often at the needle/atomiser too. Real-world reports show: the factory value is your anchor, and from there you test in steps (plug colour and how it rides, better still a lambda reading). Concrete community examples with full context are on the carburettor pages under “Real-world setups”.

Discussion: groups.google.com

In what order do I tune a Dell'Orto?

The proven order: full throttle first (main jet), then part throttle (needle position, atomiser if needed), and idle last (pilot jet and mixture screw) — and above all: only one change per step, tested on a warmed-up engine. The reason: the circuits overlap, and a wrong main jet falsifies any part-throttle judgement. The detailed procedure is in the guide “Tuning a Dell'Orto step by step” (German).

Discussion: caferacer-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