Wet Spark Plug

[harriskat]

So after taking the pop out the other week and it firing on 3 I decided this weekend to whip the offending cylinder out and see what was going on. Well plug 3 was wet and smelt of oil. Cleaned it up put it back in, and she fired up fine on all 4. hazaa.

That was until 4 hours later a friend came around and I had to move it, back on 3. took plug out and it was in the same state again.

I will put my hands up. I can strip the bike and rebuild it. I can make things from scratch out of metal. I even have a go at spraying. But I aint too good when it comes to engines.

Could it be the valve clearances?

Could it be a worn oil ring or piston ring??

Or could it be the head gasket on its way out????

Its winter now so I can give it a little more attention and get it right before taking her out proper again.

All help appreciated

[callyboy]

You might wanna try a new plug and see what that does. I try and do the simple cheap stuff first

Is it smoking ?

What about a carb balance?

Pete

[harriskat]

My friend said about balancing the carbs too. Its not gonna hurt to do the valve clearances and balance the carbs I suppose

[callyboy]

I would do the plug first.

Pete

[harriskat]

The plugs in it have only done about 800 mile

[callyboy]

The plugs in it have only done about 800 mile

swap that one round with one of the others - cant hurt and if the problem moves to the new cylinder than you've sussed the problem has been known for a new plug to be duff.

cheers

Pete

[fossie]

I'd have Togo with callyboy on this one.
But clean all the plugs b put them back and take it out for a spin. For a good 20 miles or so. But don't let it tick over when you get back. Them check the plugs. They should all be reddy brown. If they have a white deposit on the plug not the electrode you've oil getting in .

The plugs will only show the last few strokes of the engine that's why you don't let it tick over.

In all honesty just 1 cyl allowing enough oil in to cause an ignition failure is not usual.
Over fuelling however on this cyl would look black oily and wet.

[harriskat]

There is no doubt in my mind that it isnt fuelling right. Its never been set up as long as I have had it. And dont believe it was done before . I was going to see about taking her to quill exhausts over xmas and gettig her set up proper. But dont want to do that until this is sorted.

Hopefully its nothing major

[johnr]

But as has been said, clear up the cheap and simple stuff first. Clean the plug a.d swap it to a different cylinder first. If the problem moves with the plug, then its a duff plug. However, if the problem stays, you might have a duff ht cap. Try swapping the leads to the other cylinder fed by the same coil. I've had similar faults in the past that were cured by simply unscrewing the ht cap from the lead, cutting off half an inch of ht lead, then screwing the cap back on to the new clean ht lead end.