Help Reading Plugs

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Lucien Harpress
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Help Reading Plugs

#1

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Hey, all.

I was wondering if I could get a second (third, fourth, etc.) opinion on what I'm looking at with these plugs. They're out of my KZ, and were pulled right after about a half hour of.... "spirited" riding. I've got an idea of what I'm looking at, but more eyes couldn't hurt.

What's going on here?

Image

Image

(If you right-click on each picture and select "View Image", you can get a rather much larger version of each.)
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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desertrefugee
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Re: Help Reading Plugs

#2

Post by desertrefugee »

Looks pretty good to me. Ride that thing like you stole it and quit worrying about it.
- Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to ride in the rain.
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: Help Reading Plugs

#3

Post by Lucien Harpress »

I would love to.

IF it weren't still randomly dropping cylinders, and this wasn't the second time I'd chipped an insulator on cylinder 3.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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desertrefugee
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SUPER BIKER!!!!
Posts: 3947
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Re: Help Reading Plugs

#4

Post by desertrefugee »

Went back and zoomed in on the top left plug. Looks like some insulator damage there. Don't know if that happened before the plug went in, but it worse case it may be pre-ignition. Run 87 octane. And ride it like you stole it.
- Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to ride in the rain.
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robin1731
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Re: Help Reading Plugs

#5

Post by robin1731 »

For best plug readings you need to look down inside where the insulator is. Takes a magnifying glass and extra light. For the most part those do look good. But yeah, the broken porcelain may be from detonation. You could see that better by looking down inside the plug too.

What octane are you running?

.
1976 Goldwing Super Sport
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
Randakk approved Carb Rebuilder
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: Help Reading Plugs

#6

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Currently running standard 87 octane, same as the rest of my bikes. The only difference I can figure with cylinder 3 specifically is that it does have slightly higher compression than the other cylinders (low 120s vs, 115-117 for the rest), but the "usable compression range" in the manual is 119-171.

But I'm doing that thing where I'm chasing problems in circles again without much to show for it.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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robin1731
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Re: Help Reading Plugs

#7

Post by robin1731 »

Try running some 93, or whatever your premium is, and see what it does.

.
1976 Goldwing Super Sport
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
Randakk approved Carb Rebuilder
User avatar
Lucien Harpress
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Honored Life Member
Posts: 4077
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Michigan

Re: Help Reading Plugs

#8

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Ran about an hour's worth of 93 octane, and while it seemed to help the top end a bit (as far as I could tell on the ol' butt dyno), it didn't change anything about the bottom end- pops out the exhaust throughout pretty much the entire rev range (although it MIGHT'VE cleared up a bit near redline? Can't be sure), and lots when it came to deceleration (the bike has air cutoff valves, but it didn't sound like it).

Except the problem DID switch sides. Because this bike is haunted. Or messing with me. Or both.

In any case, the original question has been answered. If (when) I've got any further issues, I'll put it in an appropriate thread. Thanks.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
Tom61
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Re: Help Reading Plugs

#9

Post by Tom61 »

Is it me or are they the wrong plugs aren't they meant to be D8EA or equivalent.
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pidjones
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Re: Help Reading Plugs

#10

Post by pidjones »

Tom61 wrote:Is it me or are they the wrong plugs aren't they meant to be D8EA or equivalent.
They are out of his KZ1300.
"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
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