High altitude issues.

[3Phase]

Without reading the paper, I'll make a WAG that it's easier to ionize air at low pressure because there are fewer molecules to ionize so less energy is required for flashover from point A to point B. I could be totally full of Malarky too but it seems right.

Anyway, aside from making sure you don't have weak or cracked coils, keep the plug wires in good shape and use dielectric grease.

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[trbig]

http://papers.sae.org/670147/

Because you can run one size cooler spark plug doesn't mean it doesn't get spark.

OK, I don't think it's a rich issue because the plugs don't show a rich condition.

#3 showed rich as heck.. Don't know where you're going with this? Instead of the simplest answers, we're going after scientific research papers over sparks at whatever altitude.

[BA80]

fewer molecules to ionize

What will carry more electrickery, a small wire or a large wire?

[BA80]

#3 showed rich as heck.. Don't know where you're going with this? Instead of the simplest answers, we're going after scientific research papers over sparks at whatever altitude.

#3 is always a little darker because of valve stem seals leaking. It's color was normal as it ever is. as a matter of fact, that is exactly how they look whenever I pull them here at 722ft.

That paper was just something I came across in a search. I'm trying to figure out a problem and I have some people I'm having a conversation with that are attempting to help. If the conversation irritates, or somehow offends you, you are welcome not to participate.

Since I've gotten back the bike has seemed sluggish even unloaded, I attribute that to the stuck breaker plate. You win that one. But, the timing would have to be WAYYYYY off to cause the misfire I was getting. But when I changed the coils the engine woke right up.

Of course, it would need to be tested at 8000+ to be certain and I'm not planning on a trip to the continental divide in the very near future.

[motoman]

Motoman was doing this goofy pilot setting method last summer and was way rich at the rally and gave me carbon monoxide poisoning when following him up Pikes Peak. We started backing down the adjustment to lean it up a bit and were on the right track before he left for home.

True, but one can only compensate so much with idle mixtures due to faulting fuel levels, which WAS the case upon further inspection.....twice as LOW as they were supposed to be. Heck, just open them throttle plates more to suck those low levels......yea, right. Fortunately the VF Honda coils were 'hot' enough to fire sooty-black plugs the whole 1300mi. trip, even tho over-fueling made a feeble attempt otherwise. The 31.5mpg overall sucked(litterally) with it normally being in the 38-42mpg range, same hiway riding.

[BA80]

Here is 3 and 4 today after swapping the coils and a hard 5 mile run....

[Bonz]

Those plugs look consistent in color, guess that is an improvement?

Fires don't burn nearly as well at altitude, less oxygen to use in combustion. Of course they DO burn, but just like a bike is down on power and your lungs yearn for more O2, a fire could always do better with more O2 as well.

Take a gas cooking stove (Coleman Peak 1 for example, a classic backpacking stove) and at 10,000 feet it will take much longer to boil a quart of water than at lower elevation even though water boils at a much lower temperature at hgh elevation. Less O2, less BTU'S out of the stove.

[motoman]

Here is 3 and 4 today after swapping the coils and a hard 5 mile run....

Tis ALL about the elektrickery.....in this case looked to be BOTH prim. and sec. ignition.......as is normally the case as I originally suspected.

Ahhh.....come on over the Divide Greg, weathers great and the water cold.

[3Phase]

What will carry more electrickery, a small wire or a large wire?

A large wire will carry more current but either one can take as much voltage as you can apply. Voltage without current is static electricity.

Flashover doesn't need to use wires, it's like lightning and travels through the air and along surfaces as it goes from A to B along the path of least resistance, hopefully one that doesn't have you in it.

Air pressure doesn't do anything to electrons. You can't squish them and they don't expand so the only way flashover could happen at a lower voltage at higher altitude is if it takes more energy to travel through thick air than thin air.

A flashover that was able to start at a lower voltage because the air pressure was lower probably wouldn't release as much heat because it didn't spend extra energy heating up more air molecules while it was flashing from A to B.


I need a beer.

Oh, and the plugs look great now!
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[motoman]

Motoman was doing this goofy pilot setting method last summer and was way rich at the rally and gave me carbon monoxide poisoning when following him up Pikes Peak. We started backing down the adjustment to lean it up a bit and were on the right track before he left for home.

Goofy?........I'll have you know that was some campground high-tec stuff goin on there......heck, Scott even did valve shim swaps before I rolled out of the bag one morning. That area was total high tec...in the dirt even.

[BA80]

Brant, why are you referring to yourself in the third person? How could you follow yourself?

Having an out of body experience?

[motoman]

Brant, why are you referring to yourself in the third person? How could you follow yourself?

Having an out of body experience?

Must be, as I don't remember how to copy and post a previous post correctly anymore........and really could care less how to.

BTW, the only close outa' body experience I've had was narely missin' a T-bone and hittin' the pavement @50+mph, then 130ft. thru the air...........no helmet, no gear.......and Guardian Angel that apparently had kept up with the STeed.