Spark plug diagnosis (with pictures)

Question

i really don't think my spark plug looks normal... can someone tell me why it appears this way and what i can do to fix it? (i.e. move the seat up/down on the needle or what)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v94/Rain81/100_1559.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v94/Rain81/100_1560.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v94/Rain81/100_1561.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v94/Rain81/100_1562.jpg

Answer 1

too lean.... and not gapped right.... to start....plugs getting to hot.... also check for the right torque settings when installing  

Answer 2

Everybody here is right about your bike running too lean. Had a problem with that once myself. Cheap and easy fix is to cover up a small portion of your intake. Just a fraction covered up will limit the air coming in and that should improve your mixture. Another reason may be that since you moved to carb float lower in the bowl you reduced the amount of fuel availible to the engine. Try putting it back to where it was and then playing with the mixture.

Answer 3

It is very difficult to tell with those pictures.  Check out these instead.

http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/engine/p...

Good Luck...

Answer 4

Adjust the needle back to it's original position.

The reason the engine will not run is the carburetor's pilot jet is clogged.

The pilot jet is used for the idle circuit and it's opening is as small as a pin - easily clogged with bad gas, rust, or dirt.

Remove the carb, remove the float bowl, remove the pilot jet (the main jet is in the center, the pilot jet is to the side of it).

Hold the jet up to the light - you should be able to see through it.

Clean it with carb cleaner until you can.

Answer 5

Looks white which would indicate the bike is lean, have you tried turning the air/fuel s***w out to richen the mix up? Thats where you should start, put a new plug in it..turn your air/fuel s***w out 1/4 turn and ride the bike for a while, pull the plug out and look at it..if it is still white, clean it..put it back in, and go another 1/4 turn out.

Have you changed anything on that bike? You didn't modify the airbox, or put a high flow filter in it did you? You didn't pull the baffles out of the muffler or modify the exhaust?

Adjust the air fuel..keep going out a 1/4 turn at a time until you pull the plug and it is a golden brownish color, if you pull it out and its black, you went too far.

That plug is pretty white.. depending on what mods you have made, air, exhaust etc..you may need to go up on your jet,  but try the mixture s***w first. You don't want to continue to run lean on your bike. If you haven't made any mods, there will be no need to mess the the  jetting, you should be able to get the mix right with the s***w.

Also, if you haven't made any mods, before you adjust the air/fuel...check the air tube that runs from the filter box to the carb, make sure it isn't loose, cracked, broken, or leaking..that will make a bike go WAY lean.

Good luck!!

EDIT: when you richen the mix it may mess with the idle, it may rise a little, then you adjust the idle s***w down.

And yes, definately fix the airbox.. if it is leaking any at all then trying to adjust the carb is a waste of time. Once you get it fixed, you are going to have to just play with it until you get a good tune on the carb. You want to continue to richen the mix to the peak. You want a clean crisp rev, and a steady deceleration... if you rev it and hangs, then slowly drops you are too rich on the air/fuel.

Turn it out a 1/4 turn, if that makes the idle rise...first, make sure you are adjusting the air/fuel, and not the idle s***w...if you are sure you are adjusting the air fuel...take it out 1/4 turn, if the idle rises then adjust the idle s***w back down. Like I said, you are going to have to tinker with it until you get the right combination.

Good luck!!!

Answer 6

Before adjusting the carb.

1. check the timing

2. gap the plug and make sure its the right one.

3. check the valve clearance.

4. set the float level

5 look for any vaccume leaks.

6. now you can mess with the carb.