Finally got to checking the PMS setting on the bike today. I figured I might as well put plugs in as long as I had the tank off. Pulled the plugs and they were all black around the ring at the bottom of the threads. The number 1 plug had a streak of black up the electode, the rest were brown. The PMS was a hair over 2 turns out. I set it at between 1 3/4 and 1 7/8 turns. I figured I was gonna do something after I went to the trouble of tearing it apart. The inside of both pipes are black also. Everything is stock except for the pipes and a K&N air filter. 2 turns on the PMS doesn't sound to rich. Any ideas / suggestions?

Thanks<br><br>Post edited by: Musky, at: 2006/07/02 18:18

You're going in the right direction.

Try looking at these .... http://www.dansmc.com/Spark_Plugs/Spark_Plugs_catalog.html
http://www.eric-gorr.com/techarticles/sparkplugs.html

However, these are rough guides and there's much more to reading plugs than these pics would have you believe. You need to be able to read the porcelain, ground strap and centre electrode to really understand how the engine is running. And no, I'm not that expert Just know some basics.

How black are your pipes? Real heavy deposits or light? Don't forget when you use the choke you'll get some carbon depositing in the pipe ends.

Doc

Hey Doc

I'll have to get the plugs and check them against the guide. I have keys to the warehouse where I work now so I did it there where I could sit in front of a fan. I'm a wuss. I'm not even close to being an expert on plugs but it seems like you can ask 5 &quot;experts&quot; and get 5 opinions. So I don't know how much weight I should give it other than it can indicate &quot;something&quot; isn't right. The pipes are balck but when I run my finger inside (and yeah, I forgot to let them cool down before I checked the first one ) my finger gets a little back but I don't sweep out black dust. I'm wondering if I am shifting up too soon. From what I've read these engines like revs. I also might be leaving the choke on too long even though I think I'm shutting it down as soon as I can. I'll have to experiment with that.

You can try turning in the PMS about 1/4 turn and driving it for a while to see if it runs OK.

You're bound to get a little carbon transfered to your finger. If it transfers a lot then your're most likely running rich in most of the circuits.

Doc

Thanks Doc

So I'm guessing that if I go too far with the PMS it will let me know right away. Run like crap or not at all?

OK. I went and got the plugs. Here's a pic. Going from left to right.

1 - Porcelin is pure black.
2 - Black inside, white toward tip
3 - Pure white
4 - Black on one side, white on the other.

Now I'm confused. How do you read plugs when they are all different. And how can they be all different? HELP!!

http://home.mn.rr.com/muskybait/DSC00026.JPG

Musky,

You may want to check your spark at the plugs. Some people have reported getting mixed results on the plugs because of a hot spark on one wire and next to nothing on the other in the same cylinder.

Good luck.

Hi Musky
I'm a Yamaha Tech at a local shop. The way we are told to read a sparkplug.
Is that the metal arm that the centre electrode sparks too, is the idle circut. The tip of the electrode is the midrange and the inner porclien is your high speed circut. These all should be choclate brown. Like choclate milk. On a roadstar if you are doing short runs around town the plugs will be black. You have to take your bike for a good steady run for 80 miles or more to get a better reading. If the bike is set correct it will heat up the exhaust enough to clean off the plugs and exhaust system. With your exhaust and K&amp;N filter you should not be leaning out your fuel screw.

Thanks pday
Ill check that out tomorrow. With the bike still under warrenty I'd take it in but the shop where I got it only hires wrenches if they can't figure out where to put the key.

Hey gitterdone

There are alot of time where I do short runs so I can understand the black from you description. But why are they all different. The full spectrum from pure white to pure black. Shouldn't at least the plugs from the same cylider be colored the same. I really appreciate the help.

Thanks