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How to read plugs

Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 10:14 am
by atomicareprise
bakaracer wrote:thats not where you read a plug for 2 strokes. that read is for 4 strokes. you need to use a new plug after the engine is warmed up and do a wot hold for 3-4sec then shut the engine off with the throttle wide open and come to a stop as quick as possible so that you dont foul the plug read. you then are looking at the base of the porcelain for a smoke ring. should be a dark grayish brown ring. the top of the plug will be white or off white. if no ring then up the main.

omg..i'm a total nuthead for doing the plug reading that way...

can you elaborate on this on how to do a plug reading 4 two strokes...

i would really appreciate it...and add some pics as well...tnx buddy..

Re: How to read plugs

Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 12:20 pm
by mousewheels
There are several postings on reading plugs. Link here shows where to read the plug Understanding Rich/Lean

An external link to a Gordon Jennings article is a click away

"A lot of amateur tuners, some of whom are fairly successful, will look at some plug freshly removed from a two-stroke engine and offer advice based on the color of the oil deposited on the insulator nose. In fact, if the plug is hot enough there won't be any color, and if there is that still has nothing much to do with air/fuel mixture. If you think about it you'll realize that the only color you can get from an air/fuel mixture is the color of soot. When the mixture trapped in an engine's combustion chamber has more fuel than can be burned with the available air, then combustion will be incomplete and the excess fuel will remain as soot, which is not brown or tan or magenta or any color other than black. And if your engine's mixture is too rich, the sooty evidence will be present on the spark plug's insulator, in a very particular area."

Re: How to read plugs

Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 6:59 pm
by bakaracer
atomicareprise wrote:
bakaracer wrote:thats not where you read a plug for 2 strokes. that read is for 4 strokes. you need to use a new plug after the engine is warmed up and do a wot hold for 3-4sec then shut the engine off with the throttle wide open and come to a stop as quick as possible so that you dont foul the plug read. you then are looking at the base of the porcelain for a smoke ring. should be a dark grayish brown ring. the top of the plug will be white or off white. if no ring then up the main.

omg..i'm a total nuthead for doing the plug reading that way...

can you elaborate on this on how to do a plug reading 4 two strokes...

i would really appreciate it...and add some pics as well...tnx buddy..
i just did in that quote you copied. plain, simple and to the point on how to do it correctly.

Re: How to read plugs

Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 4:10 am
by tru72
pull the plug, put in vice, hacksaw off threads.. only then you will see how its burning, or have a good eye to look for the signs!
Image

Re: How to read plugs

Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 4:31 am
by Bear45-70
Or better yet, save the plug and use one of these.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/140755408539?ss ... _823wt_931


Manufacturer Custom Chrome
OEM Part Number 28773

http://customchromecatalog.com/2012/full.asp?page=266

Re: How to read plugs

Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 5:46 am
by paulpauly7
interesting

Re: How to read plugs

Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 1:21 pm
by tru72
Bear - thats what i was trying to look for to post but failed!
thanks!

Re: How to read plugs

Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 2:01 pm
by Bear45-70
I've been using one like this for over 35 years.

This seller has them intermittently and they always sell fairly fast. But find either a Custom Chrome or Cruztools dealer and it will be cheaper.

Re: How to read plugs

Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 3:02 pm
by mousewheels
Plug chop photos from the 'net - rich to lean
Plug_Chop_Compare.JPG
Plug_Chop_Compare.JPG (94.65 KiB) Viewed 7626 times
Magnifier is good for other uses - Found on the 'net... :smile:
PlugExam_Joke.jpg
PlugExam_Joke.jpg (106.76 KiB) Viewed 7641 times

Re: How to read plugs

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 1:31 am
by bakaracer
thradk4 wrote:read the part i dont know if this is for 4-strokes or 2-strokes, they said other stuff, ilke the top ring of the threads, should have a layer on it. takled about the insulator meeting metal. dont know wht they where talking about. what motor.
read the burning of the tip. see where the tip changes color. the tip that goes over the metal in the middle, the little thing that the spark jumps to, its welded to the top ring of the threads. if its burning near the tip, too hot of a plug, near the base, where its welded, too cold of a plug, if i read that right. like mine was near base, using a 6 plug, went to 8. its burning the stuff off before it can leave any deposits, getting it hot, and itll turn into a glow plug. this is where i seen it http://www.wallaceracing.com/plug-reading-lm.html
it says it right at the top of your link . its a plug read for cars.

Re: How to read plugs

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 5:10 pm
by bakaracer
thradk4 wrote:didnt read it. still havnet seen how to tell heat burn. they do mention the middle ring. if yu can read a good jetting. then how can you tell other problems, is the rest of it ok?
that website is for cars on the plug read. it will have nothing to do with 2 stroke plug reads.so dont pay attention to that website.

Re: How to read plugs

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 6:51 pm
by evilone
:confused:

Re: How to read plugs

Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 5:06 pm
by bakaracer
thradk4 wrote:where are detonation signs then, showing on a plug chop. if you can plug chop. i was just saing what i seen. is it on the strap for heat range? and too hot a plug can detonate. so if you know, then tell.
If the motor didn't seize ,you won't see signsof detonation on the plug. Splatter on the plug is metal melting . You have 4 heat ranges to choose from depending on what mods are done. If your using a bbk then you should be using a 7 or 8 for street. A 9 is more for racing where rpms never dip below 7k. If the plug is still white then up the jets. If its to the point where the bike 4 strokes and the plug is still white then you have a leak. A gray plug also means a leak too most times exhaust or head or anything after the reed cage.

Re: How to read plugs

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:08 am
by eliteguy50
Is there another thread that goes with this? I don't follow where these quotes are coming from.

Re: How to read plugs

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 10:08 am
by evilone
eliteguy50 wrote:Is there another thread that goes with this? I don't follow where these quotes are coming from.
Looks like noiseguy caught on. Thradk4 is trains420 who was banned. His posts were deleted.