Spark plugs

jimbo · 09-21-2009, 02:59 PM

Just wondering what you guys think about the way the plug looks...All four are very similiar to this one. Are they burning ok? I added the caddmann on both sides,debaffled and TFI (settings are 3-6-1-9) Plugs have about 3000 miles on them. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

macmac · 09-21-2009, 05:15 PM

Looks lean still. Can't tell about the gap, looks larger than it might be, but i really can't tell. The electrodes are still square so you have miles to go yet.

I see no signs of anti seize on the threads, get it done..

The carbon layer looks about normal.

The only thing bugging me is the white on white ceramic which should be a deep tan.

jimbo · 09-21-2009, 05:27 PM

Thanks Mac I am thinking the same thing, no tan color on ceramic. Still a bit lean? Any remedies for lean?

macmac · 09-21-2009, 07:01 PM

I dunno.... How responsive was it to the TFI? I wish the onfo sheet was better from TFIm and said to set 1 pot at a time..

Like set pot 4 to 9:00, then work pot 1 alone to best idle and refine that by passing best idle, to overly rich, then go back to overly lean a miss, and then back to best idle and then set best idle a smidgen rich.

Then work out pot 2 in test rides.. passing book spec on the way, and working back to best go for the wall Buddy!

The snap shot in time has a meaning, but I have no clue as to when that was and the conditions it was taken in.

Did you get so high an idle that you were forced to turn the stock black idle speed knob OUT for less idle speed during the tfi set up?

That plug makes me wonder if the tfi is working... I did 3 TFI installs and all of them forced that knob out in the final stages of setting things up.

When was that snap shot in time taken? Was it after at idela while or a fast run?

dabull · 09-21-2009, 08:57 PM

use this too:

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/maint...sparkplugs.htm

AlabamaNomadRider · 09-22-2009, 12:37 AM

Derry, thanks for the link. The picture of the plug looks like the ceramic should have some color to it. Looks too white to have 3,000 miles.

What plug are others running in their Nomad?

**ringadingh** · 09-22-2009, 07:17 AM

My plugs have always looked a little on the lean side also, but if you smell the exhaust when I fire up the bike its definately not lean. It cleans up after a few minutes of running, but the plugs have always been a little lean looking.

dougster · 09-22-2009, 01:00 PM

Maybe a hotter plug than necessary got installed?

macmac · 09-22-2009, 01:35 PM

Newer bike ain't it? I can't tell what year we'er talking about... Carbon might be cooking off that ceramic.. That is what a hotter plug would do in the first place, but a newer stock plug might too. It's got only 3,000 miles, not 30,000.

jimbo · 09-25-2009, 10:15 AM

Thanks for your input guys. sorry for delay, i was on the road for a couple of days. Truck Driver and gotta pay the bills...Hey Mac as far as the plugs i am using oem #(DPR6EA9) Gapped at .035 (oh yeah and i did put some anti-seize on when i reinstalled them) BTW my bike is an 07. I definately feel like the TFI is working because of a couple of reasons.... I have so little PINGING and it seems more responsive when i get on the throttle. I think its running a bit cooler but we have had a cooler summer here so that may be why. Also i lost about 3mpg on average. And YES i did have to back my black knob idle back because it was idling too high after initial set-up and installation. I am questioning the plugs because I also think they look a bit lean. I just dont want to do any damage from running too lean. I will continue to work on settings and will keep a close eye on the plugs.

**Kawhead** · 09-25-2009, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaBull

use this too:

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/maint...sparkplugs.htm

Thanks Bull, I been looking for that!

dabull · 09-25-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kawhead

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaBull

use this too:

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/maint...sparkplugs.htm

Thanks Bull, I been looking for that!

no prob bro

dogdoc · 09-25-2009, 05:25 PM

plug looks too white and clean, mine was tan with some soot after 8,000 miles running lean.

kawbuc · 09-26-2009, 03:38 AM

Pulled mine out to see, mine have a tan shade. Running stock except for the V&H exhaust.

**Cajunrider** · 09-26-2009, 08:37 AM

My plugs insulators are just a tiny bit darker than yours are Jim. The first time I pulled them after installing and setting the TFI they were just as white as yours are. I increased my #1 pot from 3 to 3:30 and they darkened up a little to more of a light tan. No carbon anywhere on them and the inside of my pipes are a dark gray shade. It runs good where I have it set with minimal ping so I'll leave well enough alone.

09-21-2009, 05:15 PM	#2
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Spark plugs Looks lean still. Can't tell about the gap, looks larger than it might be, but i really can't tell. The electrodes are still square so you have miles to go yet. I see no signs of anti seize on the threads, get it done.. The carbon layer looks about normal. The only thing bugging me is the white on white ceramic which should be a deep tan. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

09-21-2009, 05:27 PM	#3
jimbo Jr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Poconos Posts: 40	Spark plugs Thanks Mac I am thinking the same thing, no tan color on ceramic. Still a bit lean? Any remedies for lean?
	0

09-21-2009, 07:01 PM	#4
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Spark plugs I dunno.... How responsive was it to the TFI? I wish the onfo sheet was better from TFIm and said to set 1 pot at a time.. Like set pot 4 to 9:00, then work pot 1 alone to best idle and refine that by passing best idle, to overly rich, then go back to overly lean a miss, and then back to best idle and then set best idle a smidgen rich. Then work out pot 2 in test rides.. passing book spec on the way, and working back to best go for the wall Buddy! The snap shot in time has a meaning, but I have no clue as to when that was and the conditions it was taken in. Did you get so high an idle that you were forced to turn the stock black idle speed knob OUT for less idle speed during the tfi set up? That plug makes me wonder if the tfi is working... I did 3 TFI installs and all of them forced that knob out in the final stages of setting things up. When was that snap shot in time taken? Was it after at idela while or a fast run? __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

09-21-2009, 08:57 PM	#5
dabull Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,409	Spark plugs use this too: http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/maint...sparkplugs.htm Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

09-22-2009, 12:37 AM	#6
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Spark plugs Derry, thanks for the link. The picture of the plug looks like the ceramic should have some color to it. Looks too white to have 3,000 miles. What plug are others running in their Nomad? __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
	0

09-21-2009, 02:59 PM	#1
jimbo Jr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Poconos Posts: 40	Spark plugs Just wondering what you guys think about the way the plug looks...All four are very similiar to this one. Are they burning ok? I added the caddmann on both sides,debaffled and TFI (settings are 3-6-1-9) Plugs have about 3000 miles on them. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

09-22-2009, 07:17 AM	#7
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Spark plugs My plugs have always looked a little on the lean side also, but if you smell the exhaust when I fire up the bike its definately not lean. It cleans up after a few minutes of running, but the plugs have always been a little lean looking. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

09-22-2009, 01:00 PM	#8
dougster Advanced Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Crete, Nebraska Posts: 679	Spark plugs Maybe a hotter plug than necessary got installed? __________________ Doug Witzke - "Dougster" 2003 Nomad 1500 VBA# 740
	0

09-22-2009, 01:35 PM	#9
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Spark plugs Newer bike ain't it? I can't tell what year we'er talking about... Carbon might be cooking off that ceramic.. That is what a hotter plug would do in the first place, but a newer stock plug might too. It's got only 3,000 miles, not 30,000. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

09-25-2009, 10:15 AM	#10
jimbo Jr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Poconos Posts: 40	Spark plugs Thanks for your input guys. sorry for delay, i was on the road for a couple of days. Truck Driver and gotta pay the bills...Hey Mac as far as the plugs i am using oem #(DPR6EA9) Gapped at .035 (oh yeah and i did put some anti-seize on when i reinstalled them) BTW my bike is an 07. I definately feel like the TFI is working because of a couple of reasons.... I have so little PINGING and it seems more responsive when i get on the throttle. I think its running a bit cooler but we have had a cooler summer here so that may be why. Also i lost about 3mpg on average. And YES i did have to back my black knob idle back because it was idling too high after initial set-up and installation. I am questioning the plugs because I also think they look a bit lean. I just dont want to do any damage from running too lean. I will continue to work on settings and will keep a close eye on the plugs.
	0

09-25-2009, 05:25 PM	#13
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Spark plugs plug looks too white and clean, mine was tan with some soot after 8,000 miles running lean.
	0

09-26-2009, 03:38 AM	#14
kawbuc Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: LAKELAND FLORIDA Posts: 164	Spark plugs Pulled mine out to see, mine have a tan shade. Running stock except for the V&H exhaust.
	0

09-26-2009, 08:37 AM	#15
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	Spark plugs My plugs insulators are just a tiny bit darker than yours are Jim. The first time I pulled them after installing and setting the TFI they were just as white as yours are. I increased my #1 pot from 3 to 3:30 and they darkened up a little to more of a light tan. No carbon anywhere on them and the inside of my pipes are a dark gray shade. It runs good where I have it set with minimal ping so I'll leave well enough alone. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482
	0

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