Plug read
Plug read
Pulled plugs to determine condition. By the look of the exterior steel, these are the plugs installed back in 2003. Lead plug is not worn and the gap is ok, but it is Snow White. Follow plug similar condition but Carbon Black. This is my first V-Twin so I'm unsure of what is normal and what ain't. Snow white usually means the plug/cylinder is running Hot, while carbon black would mean plug/cylinder is running Rich. Engine has 8200mi on it. Air cleaner is SE1 and I recently cleaned it. I have no maintenance records on this bike. PO said he'd replaced the oil filter and oil sometime before I bought the thing, but I changed filter/all lubes anyway. I'm replacing the plugs of course, but what problems might these plug conditions indicate? Thanks
Pulled plugs to determine condition. By the look of the exterior steel, these are the plugs installed back in 2003. Lead plug is not worn and the gap is ok, but it is Snow White. Follow plug similar condition but Carbon Black. This is my first V-Twin so I'm unsure of what is normal and what ain't. Snow white usually means the plug/cylinder is running Hot, while carbon black would mean plug/cylinder is running Rich. Engine has 8200mi on it. Air cleaner is SE1 and I recently cleaned it. I have no maintenance records on this bike. PO said he'd replaced the oil filter and oil sometime before I bought the thing, but I changed filter/all lubes anyway. I'm replacing the plugs of course, but what problems might these plug conditions indicate? Thanks
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 2
From: Deltona, FL
Honestly, if those are the original plug, I wouldn't waste my time trying to read them. Put in some fresh plugs then go for a 20 or 30 minute ride. Come back and read the new plugs.
Chances are you're running just a little on the lean side. It's possible a stage 1 AC was put on and the carb was never tuned. But again, I'd want to read new plugs, you could be chasing ghosts by reading 9 year old plugs.
Chances are you're running just a little on the lean side. It's possible a stage 1 AC was put on and the carb was never tuned. But again, I'd want to read new plugs, you could be chasing ghosts by reading 9 year old plugs.
"Might want to give your A/F mixture screw a bit of turn out to richen it up a tad. Are you having lean issues? Engine surges, or coughs through the air cleaner?"
************************************************** ********
Cough: yes but......I believe that had 2 causes; local HD parts kid told me the air-cleaner was an oiler type and I had the battery out for sometime adding some electrical stuff. First time I started after those procedures were finished it coughed/backfired/etc. Did not like oil mixture. Re-washed filter and engine happy again.
Toward carb problem: have CV turner kit in the mail which should arrive today/tomorrow.
Thanks
************************************************** ********
Cough: yes but......I believe that had 2 causes; local HD parts kid told me the air-cleaner was an oiler type and I had the battery out for sometime adding some electrical stuff. First time I started after those procedures were finished it coughed/backfired/etc. Did not like oil mixture. Re-washed filter and engine happy again.
Toward carb problem: have CV turner kit in the mail which should arrive today/tomorrow.
Thanks
Honestly, if those are the original plug, I wouldn't waste my time trying to read them. Put in some fresh plugs then go for a 20 or 30 minute ride. Come back and read the new plugs.
Chances are you're running just a little on the lean side. It's possible a stage 1 AC was put on and the carb was never tuned. But again, I'd want to read new plugs, you could be chasing ghosts by reading 9 year old plugs.
Chances are you're running just a little on the lean side. It's possible a stage 1 AC was put on and the carb was never tuned. But again, I'd want to read new plugs, you could be chasing ghosts by reading 9 year old plugs.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 157
From: Banning, CA
CV Tuners
"Might want to give your A/F mixture screw a bit of turn out to richen it up a tad. Are you having lean issues? Engine surges, or coughs through the air cleaner?"
************************************************** ********
Cough: yes but......I believe that had 2 causes; local HD parts kid told me the air-cleaner was an oiler type and I had the battery out for sometime adding some electrical stuff. First time I started after those procedures were finished it coughed/backfired/etc. Did not like oil mixture. Re-washed filter and engine happy again.
Toward carb problem: have CV turner kit in the mail which should arrive today/tomorrow.
Thanks
************************************************** ********
Cough: yes but......I believe that had 2 causes; local HD parts kid told me the air-cleaner was an oiler type and I had the battery out for sometime adding some electrical stuff. First time I started after those procedures were finished it coughed/backfired/etc. Did not like oil mixture. Re-washed filter and engine happy again.
Toward carb problem: have CV turner kit in the mail which should arrive today/tomorrow.
Thanks
A better choice is a 1988 Sportster needle #N65C - part # 27094-88 and remove the
idle screw cap and set it 2 1/2 - 3 turns out to start. IMHO.
New plugs and SE wires are cheap. Once a plug starts to carbon foul it's gone. White
is normal with no lead gas these days - especially with alcohol added in.
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