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Spark Plug Colors

  • Thread starter Thread starter arveejay
  • Start date Start date
A

arveejay

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OK, maybe I'm just thick but does anyone know where there is a place where you can look at a color chart of what a correct burning spark plug should look like? All 3 of my bikes have plugs which look gray to white and are very clean. Bikes run excellent but I just want to make sure they are right. My clymer manual has black and white pics which are a little blurry and I really can't find a proper match. The closest plug match looks white which I interpret as too rich. Thanks in advance.
 
Re: Spark Plug Colors

arveejay said:
OK, maybe I'm just thick but does anyone know where there is a place where you can look at a color chart of what a correct burning spark plug should look like? All 3 of my bikes have plugs which look gray to white and are very clean. Bikes run excellent but I just want to make sure they are right. My clymer manual has black and white pics which are a little blurry and I really can't find a proper match. The closest plug match looks white which I interpret as too rich. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
I think you will find what you want here.
http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/techinfo/spark_plugs/overviewp5.asp

specifically --here
http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/techinfo/spark_plugs/overviewp3.asp
there are better charts around but for normal tuning this should do
 
I know what you mean about the clymer pics of spark plugs
they aren't that clear and they look like they've been through a nuclear war!
I'd freak out if I pulled one of my plugs and they looked like the ones
in those pics :lol:

It sounds like you could be a hair on the lean side but if it's running ok
you may not want to make any adjustments.
Do an idle check, half throttle check, and a 3/4 to full plug check.
If they're all light gray to tan you're probably ok.
I haven't seen any charts that illustrate lean/slightly lean/perfect/slightly rich plug colors.
Sounds like a good idea for a page on this website though!

Peace
Mo
 
Thanks Slopoke, on page 3 my plugs look like the one in the middle, is that what they should look like. Mobetter, explain, do you mean I let it iddle for a while then check them, then sit with half throttle for a while then check them again, an lastly run it for a while at 3/4 to open for a while and check them again? Seems like before a 100 mile trip and after a while idling they looked black and carboned up but after the ride they look white to gray. Thanks again.
 
Warm it up the and ride it for a few minutes then let it idle for a couple of minutes, cut it off then check the plugs ( I say warm it up first because you don't want to check it when the choke has been on, which would be rich).

Put a piece of tape next to your throttle and with the engine off,
mark the position on the tape of 0 throttle and full throttle.
You can then visually eyeball the spot in the middle for the 1/2 throttle position and if you wish then mark the 1/4 and 3/4 positions.

Find a long straight road somewhere and run it for a minute or so
at the half throttle position, pull in the clutch, hit the kill switch immediately
then coast to a place where you can check the plugs.
Hint: make sure you take along something to check the gap because if
you accidently drop your plug and it lands on the electrode it will definitely change the gap. ( don't ask me how I know this :lol: )
You will probably have to do this in 3rd gear to keep from breaking
every speed limit known to man, on my bike gs1000L, half throttle is roughly 6500rpm depending on whether I'm going uphill, flat or downhill.

Finally, repeat above at the 3/4 to full throttle position, probably in 2nd
gear depending on your bike (again so you won't get a ticket),
Your bike may backfire when you hit the kill switch but don't let this freak you out. again check the plugs.

Doing these three readings will give you an indication of richness or leaness of your idle circut/jet needle,needle jet /main jet and then can adjust as needed.

I hope this helps.
Gods Peace
Mo
 
Man, You guys are the greatest. I just bookmarked a lot of info. I'll have my son show me how to save these charts pictures into somewhere permanant. Thanks again to all and thanks for the links.
 
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