Reading plugs....Who is correct?

[lt1bird]

I see many articles about plug reading..... Some folks say do not read the white insulator at the top as it means nothing at all...

The main jet plug chop is done at the base of the insulator... they say the top flat part on the ring should be colored.....Light color change fully around the flat part on the lip... others say you look only at the flat lip for the color.....

 

Now, Whos correct?

 

my plugs show the flat lip as being only a 1/4 way around has changed color...indicating lean... the whole white insulator is very dark brown all the way down... Rich or lean?

[lt1bird]

No body reads plugs anymore? Guess your all using widbeands? LOL

[black sunshine]

I think a plug chop procedure is stickied, but you need to sacrifice a new set of plugs for a wide open run to get correct readings. If you run the plugs more than that, you will not be able to read the plugs for main jet sizing. You are cutting the threads off, right? Hope this helps you!

[lt1bird]

There is no refrence to the flat part on the plug in the sticky.... alot of other folks say this location is a good indicator for the idle/slow speed jetting.... Ill get my maginfying glass out and do some plug chops.... I cant see cutting plugs up...that would take some serious effort..... a milling machine would make it easy

[black sunshine]

There is no refrence to the flat part on the plug in the sticky.... alot of other folks say this location is a good indicator for the idle/slow speed jetting.... Ill get my maginfying glass out and do some plug chops.... I cant see cutting plugs up...that would take some serious effort..... a milling machine would make it easy

 

Yeah, a new top-end is way less effort, lol. Grinder with a cut-off wheel and a vise. Hacksaw and a vise. Ive done it with a hacksaw and a pair of vise-grips, now THAT took some effort. $3.80 worth of plugs to take the "mystery" out of jetting your mains? Come-on, man!

Edited May 8, 2009 by black sunshine

[Snopczynski]

I see many articles about plug reading..... Some folks say do not read the white insulator at the top as it means nothing at all...

The main jet plug chop is done at the base of the insulator... they say the top flat part on the ring should be colored.....Light color change fully around the flat part on the lip... others say you look only at the flat lip for the color.....

 

Now, Whos correct?

 

my plugs show the flat lip as being only a 1/4 way around has changed color...indicating lean... the whole white insulator is very dark brown all the way down... Rich or lean?

 

What octane fuel do you run?

[R. Rollins]

 

 

Hell yea;

Put those plugs in a vise and get a 4 1/2 inch hand grinder with a thin metal cutting disc on it and get after it.

 

It takes about two minuites each plug.

 

 

 

 

:biggrin:

[grizzly700]

ive only cut one set but i just used a die grinder/cut off wheel and took me like 30 secs. now i just look down inside and i can see enough that i dont feel like cutting them.

 

[lt1bird]

I know, im just having fun with ya all..... I will use my cutoff wheel and do it once I find a place long enough to do WOT...I cant get to WOT in 6th.....Exactly how long at WOT is relly required?? 10 seconds? 5 seconds?

[black sunshine]

I'd say an honest 5 seconds

 

[sheefreak]

What do you mean by the flat part of the plug? Are you talking the base ring at the bottom of the threads? Alky jetting is usually read this way.

[robert0762]

This is where it talks about reading only the flat surface for jetting. Its got me confused to cause my insulator will be black and I can tell the bike is rich but i dont get good color on the ring???????????banshee jetting faq

Edited May 8, 2009 by robert0762

[AKheathen]

because there are so many variences in oils and fuel additives, the plug chop, and the ground electrode are the only really reliable indicators to tell that you are dead on, save for checking for metal flecs. the rest of the range is pretty much feel, and symptoms of how it runs

[Snopczynski]

What octane fuel do you run?

Hello?

[sheefreak]

It sounds to me like the reading of the base ring is explained backwards. When jetting alky, the more the base ring is colored and the more the coloring travels down the threads of the spark plugs, the leaner you are. A rich condition will not even discolor the base, it will look rich. But, I have never read my gas plugs this way, so I can't say for sure.