Spark Plug Photos... Opinions Please!
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 304
Likes: 1
From: Woodburn, OR. USA
Spark Plug Photos... Opinions Please!
Just pulled the plugs on my '06 SB tonight because I was curious what they were looking like at almost 10k miles.... the manual's B&W photos of the four different plug conditions suck, but from what I can tell from READING on the four different conditions, the color is telling me the engine is perhaps running too lean and on the hot side. There isn't any erosion on the electrodes and the insulators aren't cracked, plus the bike runs like a raped-ape and can snap my head back easily when I punch it.
Any other input on this? Am I correct in my "diagnosis"? What are the best options to correct this... i.e. buy a programmable SERT, PC, etc., or should I call this "EPA good" being an EFI TC-88 engine?
Thanks!
The hex-flats and threads half-way up are NOT blackened like you see in the photo... that's just the lighting effect in the room with the camera flash, but the electrode end and threads half-way down is an acurate image.
Any other input on this? Am I correct in my "diagnosis"? What are the best options to correct this... i.e. buy a programmable SERT, PC, etc., or should I call this "EPA good" being an EFI TC-88 engine?
Thanks!
The hex-flats and threads half-way up are NOT blackened like you see in the photo... that's just the lighting effect in the room with the camera flash, but the electrode end and threads half-way down is an acurate image.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 1
From: Dallas TX
Got this from here http://www.theultralightplace.com/sparkplugs.htm From whay i can tell from your pic your plug looks fine
A tan colored plug means that the engine is running normal and the air/fuel mixture is correct. This is the correct color a spark plug should be and it tells you everything is fine with the engine. You would install a new properly gapped plug. When installing a new plug, replace the old one with the same heat range. This plug shows normal wear in the center electrode. A new plug would have square edges that helps the plug fire better.
A tan colored plug means that the engine is running normal and the air/fuel mixture is correct. This is the correct color a spark plug should be and it tells you everything is fine with the engine. You would install a new properly gapped plug. When installing a new plug, replace the old one with the same heat range. This plug shows normal wear in the center electrode. A new plug would have square edges that helps the plug fire better.
Last edited by ratt196635; Aug 30, 2010 at 12:18 AM.
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 304
Likes: 1
From: Woodburn, OR. USA
Thanks for that link, I added that to my favorites for future reference... looks like my plugs are in "The Best" to "Best" range. At least my scoot is doing better than my Suburban ATM... needs new F/R U-joint and a brake job.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 5,323
Likes: 37
From: NJ
Looks good to me....I'd change them though....JMO!!
The center electrode looks rounded to me....
http://www.theultralightplace.com/sparkplugs.htm
The center electrode looks rounded to me....
http://www.theultralightplace.com/sparkplugs.htm
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,729
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From: Republic of Texas
A couple of people posted links to an ultralight page. The engines in ultralights are 2 stroke engines. Plugs will look different between a 2 stroke and 4 stroke engine. The best color you can have on a plug is a tanish cardboard color.
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