I need a bandaid...

[Spyder]

My #1 plug keeps fouling out with oil. Had this problem last spring, but it went away after fist oil change. Not so much this year. So, I need to do a top end rebuild. I won't be doing this until the season is over. I need 2 things. First, I need a bandaid. (I know, I know) I'm looking for a plug fouler cap. Do they make them for metric motorcycles? I have done a few searches but only come up with car parts. I'm not exactly sure of the thread size of my plugs in the first place. ('80 16valve 1100) I'm almost certain that it's a really bad valve guide seal. I will be doing them, and a ring job this winter. Just want to limp it through the season. She runs too good (until the plug gap fouls shut) to tear it apart while it's so nice out. Plus I won't have the money to do the top end until late November...

The second thing I need is a metric adapter (set?) for my compression tester. This I'm sure I can find without too much trouble. Just something I thought of while writing this up.

[jeffgs]

Re

Well my question is have you made any attempt to locate the leak. I am going to be honest it sounds like the bottom and not a guide. I would pull all the plugs and do a compression check and if that one is low do a wet compression check.

At times carbon is the culprit. Yes you could have wasted rings but you also could have the rings locked do to carbon. This could have been from the bike sitting for any length of time, running poor oil, or from the crankcases gasses not being evacuated. If that is the case you can use a top engine clean. I used G.M. top engine clean in my really low mile Escort for this reason and have restored some compression. Use a borescope or mirror and poor the cleaner in the cylnder until it covers the top of the piston. Start with a hot motor. Let it soak for 2 to 3 hours, no more. Turn engine over with key spark plugs out until the cleaner has evacuated the cylinders. It is going to be hard to start and stink and smell but it may buy you time.

[Nessism]

Some D7EA heat range plugs are worth a try.

[Spyder]

Thanks, I will try just about anything at this point. Just need a couple more months out of her.

[chuck hahn]

IF the rings got stuck..for whatever reason.. try this. Bring that cylinder to TDC on the compression stroke. Mix a 50/50 mix of Acetone and any old ATF. Squirt some in the cylinder and let it soak a day or two. It will eat any carbon deposits that may be jamming things up.

EDIT...IMPORTANT!!!!!! Its gonna smoke like a chimney upon start up after the soak so do it outside.

[Spyder]

I might give that a try on a rainy weekend. It's the only cylinder that does it. Kind of tells me it might not be the valve seal. Just thinking the odds of only one or 2 out of 16 going bad are pretty slim. I will give the acetone a shot.

How ow much of that do you think will leak down to the crank case, if any.

[rustybronco]

As was suggested, screw in a one heat range hotter plug but in just that one cylinder.

[Rob S.]

My Z1 used to foul the plugs after a few miles. I installed these plugs that had thin, wire-like electrodes. Problem gone.

I was told there was less surface for oil to accumulate.

[chuck hahn]

Youre only gonna use a few ounces squirting it in. Its not gonna hurt the oil in the crankcase. The idea is to get it wet so it dissolves any carbon. Dont need it an inch deep or anything like that.

[1948man]

My Z1 used to foul the plugs after a few miles. I installed these plugs that had thin, wire-like electrodes. Problem gone.

I was told there was less surface for oil to accumulate.

Iridium??????

[Rob S.]

Iridium??????

I don't recall. I was told they were designed to fire in oil.

Used a lot of oil, and blew smoke out the exhaust, but ran very strong till the next rebuild.

[Spyder]

Youre only gonna use a few ounces squirting it in. Its not gonna hurt the oil in the crankcase. The idea is to get it wet so it dissolves any carbon. Dont need it an inch deep or anything like that.

Gotcha, likely give it a shot Wednesday night after work. Supposed to rain Thursday so it can sit in there for a day or two. I have some old plugs, I can toss one of them in there for the smoke show. Lol

[Spyder]

I don't recall. I was told they were designed to fire in oil.

Used a lot of oil, and blew smoke out the exhaust, but ran very strong till the next rebuild.

And that brings me to another good point. It doesn't smoke accept when I first start it, and of course when that plug gets loaded up. Once in a while at a stop sign, it will sputter a bit but I give it a twist and puff of blue smoke and it runs great again. I find it a bit embarrassing.