• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Is this a good spark plug colour ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter gert du prez
  • Start date Start date
G

gert du prez

Guest
Long long time ago, I came across an interesting website regarding motorcycle education. www.dansmc.com. I think most of you will recognize this site. Written in a humorous way, you will spend lots of hours reading and smiling, ?nd most of all learning a lot of very interesting information regarding our passion.

In one of the topics, ?reading spark plug? is dealt with. My spark plug is ressembling a lot like number 22/23 in that list. Unfortunately, the information is not decisive whether or not this is a good condition for my beloved spark plugs?

Can you please comment if OK or not ?

Modifications to the bike ? yes, I was forced to go to a 4-1 as the original headers were rusted. Stock airbox, K&N replacement filter, no changes to the carbs (so OEM jets and settings).

Feel free to make suggestions to new carb settings for the GS1100GL. I will do anything to make this bike run in an optimal way...
 
For what it's worth:

the bike runs great
synched 2 months ago
idles OK at 1,200 rpm
pulls strong in all areas
 
Take your fuel screws out about a half turn and change the main jets a couple of sizes larger.

Daniel
 
changing jets like in
'buy a stage 1 dynojet kit'

or stage 3 ?
or just some loose jets ?
 
The plug color indicates it's running a bit on the lean side, which you'd expect with those modifications. It's probably running hotter than it needs to - and that's not good for the bike.
Also, though I don't have the same bike, I'm pretty sure the instructions with that pipe and air filter recommend making the changes 7981GS posted.
 
and by any chance, you guys know by heart what main jet I would have currently ?
have not opened the carbs yet, but I was just ordering some stuff at Z1 so this can easily be added...

what do I need to buy as main jet ?
no other pilot yet ?
and no 'raising the needle' as I often read on the forum ?

thanks for the assistance so far,

Gert
 
How about some real pictures of your plugs? (nice big ones)
 
Hi,

went out for some pictures, and now I'm sure, photography tips and tricks is probably another forum...

sharpest picture that I could take...sorry for the quality...
I can re-assure you, this looks like picture n?22 as mentioned above...

In reality the spark plug tip looks a bit more brown than shown in the picture.
The 'shaft' under the tip is plain white...

If you can tell me how to make sharper pictures, then I'm interested in that too. But do the jetting first please,
more interested in the GS than in the Sony...
 
Last edited:
from what I can see, I'd raise the needles one half step. what colour do you see way down deep where the center insulator meets the outer shell? brown/ black/ none?

how many miles are on those plugs?
 
can answer the colour question tomorrow (it's late here in Belgium)

The spark plugs are new. 500 km (350 miles or so)...changed these
when I went from the OEM 4-2 to the 4-1...
 
Gert, the only reason I suggested raising the needles is because you said there was no colour on the center (insulator). if there is a light tan or gray colour, by the way it runs, personally I'd leave it alone.
 
does raising the needle always goes hand in hand with a larger main jet ?
or are there reasons why you would only do one of the two changes ?
 
Main jetting, part throttle and idle are three different circuits. they should be checked and adjusted as such. I would not group them as having to wholesale change them all when adjusting one.
 
I have a colortune,
can I use that through all the rpm's to check if the 'bunsen blue flame'
is constantly there ?
or do I need real circumstances (like road friction and winds blowing) to make sure all settings are done correctly ?
 
What you need is a load on the engine. One member here mentioned that he tuned his needles by finding a hill, riding up the hill in one gear, then stopping at the top and reading the plugs.
Tuning the mains should be a bit easier, just find some open country and do a WOT run and read the plugs immediately.
 
Plug chops are required

Needle height for midrange

Main jet for midrange to WOT
 
restrict the air intake to make it richer ?

restrict the air intake to make it richer ?

Hi,

as a 'general' solution to the apparent lean condition, can I restrict the air
intake a bit so that I do not have to open up the carbs ?
I would take some duct tape and block the rubber air inlets a bit...

how's that for a (stolen) idea ?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top