golfingirl
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the chart, Rocky.
Mine were quite black. Dry fouling for sure. They weren't wet although the one on the left smelled very gassy.
Not starting.... grrrr
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Thanks for the chart, Rocky.
Mine were quite black. Dry fouling for sure. They weren't wet although the one on the left smelled very gassy.
I am glad it is running now. City driving is hard on spark plugs. Keep your revs above 3000 rpm and it should help.
If you pulled the plugs before you got it running right, what you saw and smelled would be normal as it reflects the bad running rich condition.
Now that the bike is running normally again, and if you looked at the new plugs, I'm sure they would look much better.
golfingirl
Well-Known Member
So, what you're saying is, my spark plugs became fouled becasue of the floats being stuck. Therefore, now they would look nice and healthy.
If a float was stuck and feeding excessive amounts of fuel to the engine it would have the symptoms you mentioned - strangling the engine. The spark plugs would reflect this condition with black soot and the smell of gas from all that raw gas.
Once the air/fuel mixture was back to normal the plugs fire normally, the combustion would be normal and the plugs should have that light tan/grey clean burning look.
You were about due for new plugs anyway, and if the bike is running fine, all is good.
Laura, the most accurate way to do a plug check is to get the engine good and warm Take the bike out on the highway, get it up to highway speed (60 mph plus), pull in the clutch, and hit the kill switch. Coast off to the side of the road and pull the plugs. Pulling the plugs after idling the bike to a stop can change the reading of the plugs. It is really no big deal. If the engine is running properly, there shouldn't be much difference between pulling the plugs after idling and method I described.
What Carl has described is the classic "plug chop" method of reading plugs. How the plugs look immediately after running hard will tell you a lot about how the engine is burning at high speed. Just remember, if you decide to do this, the engine will be really hot!!!
Unless you have reason to believe that the engine isn't running right, but it seems to run right, accelerate well, idle, etc., I would just ride it.
These bikes are cranky to start when cold and that's normal. It's warm where you are so that may not be as much of a problem for you as it is for me and our cooler nights.
I took my T100 out of the warm dry basement on Monday and it started almost instantly, but it's been out in the unheated garage at near 0C nights so I know it will be a bear to start - if this lousy rain ever stops
CRY
Unless you have reason to believe that the engine isn't running right, but it seems to run right, accelerate well, idle, etc., I would just ride it.
These bikes are cranky to start when cold and that's normal. It's warm where you are so that may not be as much of a problem for you as it is for me and our cooler nights.
I took my T100 out of the warm dry basement on Monday and it started almost instantly, but it's been out in the unheated garage at near 0C nights so I know it will be a bear to start - if this lousy rain ever stops
CRY
Rocky is correct. These Bonnevilles are definitely cold natured. In cold weather (low 50's and below), It takes at least ten miles before my T100 runs properly.
Mine too until it warms up. I have to leave the choke on, or partially on, or it will stall at every light.
But once she's hot, she's hot - and such a joy to ride!!!!
+1 I have to do the same. She runs great once warm.
golfingirl
Well-Known Member
Very cool how much the spark plugs can tell you how the engine is running. Glad I replaced them... like you said, Rocky, since I was about due.
Running like a champ. I was able to drive it to work three days this week so far. Very fun!
In view of that, I would just ride it and have fun.
I recommend keeping a diary of things you do to the bike (and the mileage at the time) and not rely on memory - such as spark plug changes, oil, filters, tires, etc. It's much easier down the road months and years later when you start to wonder about the next service for those items.
R.Hawks
Member
Bike Log- Stardate 2013. LOL
golfingirl
Well-Known Member
Yes. I will start one. I really appreciated the fact that the previous did just that, including receipts etc. So far, I have just keptreceipts for service, tire changes but I need to do that for the things I do to my bike myself. I'm not too worried about gas mielage and I know I wouldn't take the time to track that. I just do a quick gas mileage calculation in my head for my own knowledge.
Anyone know about a good iPhone or more ideally, iPad app for such things? I would like the option to easily print the maintenance records out.
Cheers.
When I fill up with gas I advance the odometer to zero and when it gets up to around 230 km's or less (140-150 miles for you) I start looking for gas. If I'm in a remote area I'll fill up sooner - just in case.
After a ride I fill up close to home so there will be little air space in the tank for condensation to form while the bike is parked. I do that with all my bikes as it may be quite a few days in between uses. Some could be a week or more.
As for the ipad and app stuff, I'll let others with more "technical" knowledge handle that
After a ride I fill up close to home so there will be little air space in the tank for condensation to form while the bike is parked. I do that with all my bikes as it may be quite a few days in between uses. Some could be a week or more.
As for the ipad and app stuff, I'll let others with more "technical" knowledge handle that
I keep the details of oil changes on written on the garage wall in permanent marker, While the door frame in the shed has interesting reading of cams in particular engines, the oil capacity of some bikes forks and other odd information written down for future reference. Its an old shed so it adds character.
Likewise, I keep my bikes and cages full. Condensation is bound to happen here in the humid South. During hurricane season, I especially keep all tanks full as well as the fuel cans full.
That's why I tossed in that little tidbit about having a full tank. It's more humid down south than here, but we get temperature swings which causes condensation. I keep my car full too for the same reason.
