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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Let's play "Read that Spark Plug"
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Message started by magistermatt on 09/08/05 at 05:57:20

Title: Let's play "Read that Spark Plug"
Post by magistermatt on 09/08/05 at 05:57:20

After changing my exhaust and playing around with my mixture screw a bit I'd like to get some "professional" opinions on my spark plug. Those little black and white pictures of plugs in the Clymer manual don't really help me too much. Anyway feedback would be appreciated!

http://www.bikepics.com/pics/pics/suzuki-savage-98-bikepics-425092.jpg

As a side thought, maybe for a new post in the "Technical Corner" we can start collecting some images of used plugs and then write a little summary of the bikes condition and potential ways to remedy it underneath the image. This could a very useful resource for all us noobs at least.

Title: Re: Let's play "Read that Spark Plug"
Post by realdeal on 09/08/05 at 06:17:42

the coloring in that photo is kinda washed out. I can't tell if it's white (too lean), or a greyish-tan (the way it should be).

Are you having any problems with your bike?

Title: Re: Let's play "Read that Spark Plug"
Post by torque on 09/08/05 at 06:23:51

the picture is a litte fuzzy but it looks pretty normal,it has some carbon deposit,but its not covered in it.

Title: Re: Let's play "Read that Spark Plug"
Post by Ed_L. on 09/08/05 at 06:34:05

Looks a little lean to me. Both electrodes are too light colored and look like they got hot.

Title: Re: Let's play "Read that Spark Plug"
Post by Savage_Rob on 09/08/05 at 06:55:47

Some helpful links...

Link 1 (Motocross.com) (http://www.motocross.com/motoprof/moto/mcycle/plug2/plug2.htm)

Link 2 (Nightrider.com) (http://www.nightrider.com/biketech/spkplghnbook.htm)

Link 3 (Dan's M/C Repair Course) (http://www.dansmc.com/Spark_Plugs/Spark_Plugs_catalog.html)

Title: Re: Let's play "Read that Spark Plug"
Post by magistermatt on 09/08/05 at 07:54:37

The pic did come through a little light. The coloring on the plug is definately grayish but I'm not too sure if I noticed any tan in there.

I'm not really having any problems other than the burps, farts and pops. I recently changed to a sporster muffler from a jardine and since then I've really been trying to nail down the best setting on the fuel/air mixture screw.

Last night I ran some errands and did 15 minutes or so on the highway (5th gear, 65 mph give or take). After a while I began to noticed a louder poofing sound. Once I got off the highway the bike kept making this sound more frequently. I looked over to the exhaust and there were literally flames shooting out of the pipe 3 or 4 inches. This was with the screw 1-1/2 turns out. I screwed it in to 1 turn but didn't end up taking the highway home, I felt like taking it easy and crusing my way home.

Title: Re: Let's play "Read that Spark Plug"
Post by Mambo on 09/08/05 at 09:29:46

coffe-cream colored and dry -> good
dark and wet -> choke over used or lubricating problem
dark and dry -> too much gas
white and dry -> too much air
melted -> to much "pre ignition" (avance à l'allumage)

notice you should have the same color at your exhaust's exit

Title: Re: Let's play "Read that Spark Plug"
Post by mikedasavage on 09/08/05 at 10:03:03

savage rob i agree maybee we should move this to technical corner i think the info here would be great to lookup for on a easy reference rahter than digging for it through the last 100 posts when it moves on.

Title: Re: Let's play "Read that Spark Plug"
Post by Dynobob on 09/08/05 at 11:55:40

It looks lean. It should be a brown/coffee colored, not white. You say you tweaked the mixture screw. Have you changed out the white spacer and main jet ? Here's a good pic...

http://www.motorcyclecarbs.com/jetting/plugreadings.htm

Title: Re: Let's play "Read that Spark Plug"
Post by gazab44 on 09/09/05 at 01:17:39

I have some photos on my pc of plugs...just sent them to Paladin to put in tech corner

Title: Re: Let's play "Read that Spark Plug"
Post by Paladin on 09/09/05 at 05:52:53

Click to bring up full size pix in separate window:

http://savage.andruschak.net/FTP/SPARK.jpg (http://savage.andruschak.net/FTP/SPARK.jpg)

Title: Re: Let's play "Read that Spark Plug"
Post by Savage_Rob on 09/09/05 at 07:09:09

mikedasavage wrote:

I think selected portions of this thread may make a good guide in the technical corner but not the entire thread. Gazab44 started a thread there (Reading Spark Plugs (http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=tech;action=display;num=1126253987)), into which links and pictures may be placed. I've added to it the information from Gazab44 that Paladin posted above as well as the links from DynoBob and myself (above).