New Bike Owner Needing Help to Identify Possible Issue

[Johnmillz]

Hello Everyone,

I about a ‘82 GS450t in the summer. Just now getting around to cleaning exhaust headers during the winter months. I took the headers off and looked inside what I am assuming is the top of the cylinder (again just getting into motorcycles). One cylinder is dark black and one looks white and chalky. What could this possibly mean? Perhaps air fuel mixture is incorrect?

Really appreciate it!

[Rob S.]

Congratulations, Grasshopper - you have reached the first plateau!

Dark is typically rich, light is lean. Rich is cooler than lean.

Welcome to the site.

[uk gs nut]

Could the dark cylinder be the one with vacuum fuel tap pipe ?. Leaking tap diaphragm, replace the tap or rebuild.

[Big T]

3rd possibility - black cylinder has leaky valve stem seals

Scape some of the black gunk off and see what it's like

[pdqford]

One cylinder is dark black

If the black is wet or moist, most likely from oil.
If the black is dry or fluffy*, most likely from fuel.

(*=technical term)