12k miles on my iridiums ... read my plug please... pics
07-01-2011 | 04:13 PM
#1
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 296
From: East Cleveland
12k miles on my iridiums ... read my plug please... pics
hey guys . ive ridden 12k miles since my last carb tune up, about 3 years . i got new plugs and was about to put them in , but was thinking of doing some carb adjustments if need be .
shes a 98 hawk with 32k on her, k&n air filter , wide open mig pipes with dynojet kit inside .
180 front main with a 185 rear , 5th clip from needle tip, 45 pilots . i dont remember what my mix screws are set at . ive done all the air box mods, tps , block off plates , etc.
anyways , just wanted to get some opinions .... the bike rides great . no 3k stumble, no surging , no nothing . only thing is if i put the choke on when its cold (60degrees), itll idle high for about 20 seconds (normal) and then itll want to stall out eventually(im assuming from too much gas ) . so i use the choke for about 15 seconds and then press it in almost closed, but i have to be by it or itll stall until its warm . sometimes i just hold the throttle at 3k rpm for about 10 seconds and that does it . usually though when your rich you can start the thing without the choke in any weather but below 65 degrees.. not mine . other than cold/warm start its fine though .
heres a link i use to read spark plugs ....
it almost looks like number 17 , but maybe a bit rich since i dont see as much tan color as i would like . looks like a rich grey dusty plug
. you be the judge .
Spark Plugs
the base ring seems a bit sooty but not carbon fouled . a light layer of soot is good for max torque . the ground strap has a bunch of carbon on it , and the one strap shows the heat range maybe a bit hot (color difference is closer to base ring) but its fine.
the center electrode looks about right , but i guess im baffled by all this carbon speckles everywhere.. kind of coats things . maybe just the iridium plug style ? i dunno .
well ,let me know what ya think .
shes a 98 hawk with 32k on her, k&n air filter , wide open mig pipes with dynojet kit inside .
180 front main with a 185 rear , 5th clip from needle tip, 45 pilots . i dont remember what my mix screws are set at . ive done all the air box mods, tps , block off plates , etc.
anyways , just wanted to get some opinions .... the bike rides great . no 3k stumble, no surging , no nothing . only thing is if i put the choke on when its cold (60degrees), itll idle high for about 20 seconds (normal) and then itll want to stall out eventually(im assuming from too much gas ) . so i use the choke for about 15 seconds and then press it in almost closed, but i have to be by it or itll stall until its warm . sometimes i just hold the throttle at 3k rpm for about 10 seconds and that does it . usually though when your rich you can start the thing without the choke in any weather but below 65 degrees.. not mine . other than cold/warm start its fine though .
heres a link i use to read spark plugs ....
it almost looks like number 17 , but maybe a bit rich since i dont see as much tan color as i would like . looks like a rich grey dusty plug
. you be the judge . Spark Plugs
the base ring seems a bit sooty but not carbon fouled . a light layer of soot is good for max torque . the ground strap has a bunch of carbon on it , and the one strap shows the heat range maybe a bit hot (color difference is closer to base ring) but its fine.
the center electrode looks about right , but i guess im baffled by all this carbon speckles everywhere.. kind of coats things . maybe just the iridium plug style ? i dunno .
well ,let me know what ya think .
Last edited by ClevelandSuperhawkRumble; 07-02-2011 at 12:56 PM.
07-01-2011 | 05:43 PM
#3
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Superstock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 296
From: East Cleveland
ya , i guessed that !
guess i need to put a new pair in and ride it for a 1000 miles and then check before i jet eh ? probably no point in reading into it as its so long gone .
guess i need to put a new pair in and ride it for a 1000 miles and then check before i jet eh ? probably no point in reading into it as its so long gone .
Last edited by ClevelandSuperhawkRumble; 07-01-2011 at 06:29 PM.
07-01-2011 | 08:04 PM
#4
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MotoGP
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,138
From: Austin, Tx
Way too rich! If you're using anything other than regular gas with those plugs you're going to have huge performance problems. The insides of your cylinders prob have the same glaze. The reason the electrodes of the plug is so worn is that's the only place true combustion is taking place.
07-02-2011 | 09:43 AM
#5
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Superstock
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: East Cleveland
regardless, i guess ill give her another couple tankfulls on the new plugs, see how theyre looking and go from there.
if its def rich , i can back things down one circuit at a time . maybe start with the air mix screws seeing how theyll foul up plugs the quickest from all the idling/stop go city driving .
well see. looking at these plugs again , man i should have changed these a while ago .
03-28-2012 | 07:23 PM
#10
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From: Farnorcal
Funny how many people dont read and dont know how to read plugs.
For that many miles on those plugs and with all kinds of riding they arent the worse Ive seen. I agree that it doesnt look like you wind it out alot. Plus is looks like the gas in your area isnt the best. That being said you really should do a plug chop. You can use the cheaper plugs too. They actually run good with them but dont last as long, but you can experiment with gap a bit too.
Your bike should really run good once you get it really dialed in as it sounds like you got a good hawk there compared to some here.
For that many miles on those plugs and with all kinds of riding they arent the worse Ive seen. I agree that it doesnt look like you wind it out alot. Plus is looks like the gas in your area isnt the best. That being said you really should do a plug chop. You can use the cheaper plugs too. They actually run good with them but dont last as long, but you can experiment with gap a bit too.
Your bike should really run good once you get it really dialed in as it sounds like you got a good hawk there compared to some here.
03-28-2012 | 09:59 PM
#11
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From: East Cleveland
hey guys . so the post has been revisited .
well, i didnt do much to her as she runs great . i think i was 2 1/4 turns out on the fuel mix screws when i pulled the carbs apart last year . clean as a whistle though. you can eat out of the float bowl.
i always put 89 in her, she runs fine . again , the only complaint was that she runs better when cold (sign of it being rich) . i remember leaning out the needles one time and there was some hesitation mid-throttle, so thats not it . the main jet has some play , but not enough to severely impact the low and mid circuit.
my only guess is the fuel mix screws as i think ive tried a smaller pilot (i looked at my old..old posts) and it ran worse. who knows. ..
now that i think about it , those plugs had a long life on them , and no one - i mean no one - can read plugs that old and worn .
your right , the only way to really know is do a plug chop. until then , we can assume till were blue in the face .
once i get an update ill let you know .
. well, i didnt do much to her as she runs great . i think i was 2 1/4 turns out on the fuel mix screws when i pulled the carbs apart last year . clean as a whistle though. you can eat out of the float bowl.
i always put 89 in her, she runs fine . again , the only complaint was that she runs better when cold (sign of it being rich) . i remember leaning out the needles one time and there was some hesitation mid-throttle, so thats not it . the main jet has some play , but not enough to severely impact the low and mid circuit.
my only guess is the fuel mix screws as i think ive tried a smaller pilot (i looked at my old..old posts) and it ran worse. who knows. ..
now that i think about it , those plugs had a long life on them , and no one - i mean no one - can read plugs that old and worn .
your right , the only way to really know is do a plug chop. until then , we can assume till were blue in the face .
once i get an update ill let you know .
03-31-2012 | 07:52 PM
#13
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Squid
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 48
From: Poulsbo, WA
Ditto on your mix being fat. The jet sizes you detail should work out well with the K&N and free breathing pipes. I might lower your main jet needles down one notch and go in on your mix screws a quarter turn - for now. Run it for 200 - 300 miles and then check the plugs again. I would not recommend changing plugs every 12K miles either. Every 2K - 3K miles is worth the $20 or so for a pair of Iridium plugs.
03-31-2012 | 10:35 PM
#14
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Posts: 160
From: Farnorcal
The whole point of new plugs and oil for that matter, is that you dont need to change that often.....
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