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simple dumb question on plugs

N

nigelc

Joined Sep 2001
5 Posts | 0+
fe400e 2001: The bike was rebuilt 15 hours ago. It is difficult to start until i clean the plug, then it runs ok, some smoke but not loads. The plug is black and wet, and if I look into the cylinder then it is wet and black also. The dumb question is how do I tell if its petrol/carbon (it has run rich for ages..), or if it is oil? thanks
nigel
 
oil is thicker and like a fat thick coat whereas the petrol is light and thin. it also doesn't always penetrate to the bottom area of the plug.

have you taken it for a good thrashing yet? it should only take 30 minutes to burn the oil off from the rebuild. after that you have a sealing problem at the rings. or you broke them during the rebuild. or the oil rings are on wrong?

you could also if it's fuel have a weak spark and your stator may be about to go west? mine take ages to go. starting it was a *******!

try a new plug BTW coz whatever is happening is too much for your present plug.

hell i don't know!

regards

Taffy
 
Thanks for the reply.

I just started it with a new plug, ran it for about 30 seconds. The plug is black all over ,including half way down the threads (how does that happen?). Hopefully not the stator - thats why it was rebuilt in the first place :). Looking at the plug, it seems to be black all the way down the middle which you say would point to it being the fuel? On the other hand, it is staying wet which i would have thought was oil, but i must admit i havent really got a clue. If its fuel, any ideas how it can run so rich? I am hopefully going out on saturday with it, and could take friday off work to have a poke around with it if there is anything i could try without any spares. I have tools etc, maybe a carb strip?

nigel
 
hey bud when ya give the bike a gut full, what colour is the exhaust smoke?

white = oil
black = fuel.

other than that........stuffs me.
 
Why don`t you smell of the plug right after you take it out. If it smells of gas then thats your problem. It is easy to forget but how long was the bike down for the rebuild? Might need to give the carb a good cleaning out as well. Check your plug cap and plug wire as well they might need replacing.
Hope this helps
 
what about your ignition timing?

it could be firing too late?

get a strobe on it and check it at full advance. that's the simplest way to do it.

regards

Taffy
 
What was the engine running like before the rebuild?, has this just occurred since the rebuild.

Sparks.
 

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