Guess

[donebysunday]

what I'm dealing with. WIN A PRIZE !
I've got my Horse SF running really great for about 30 min., then it smells hot and starts sputtering on take off from a stop but once moving runs fine again until taking off from another stop. Have not ridden far from home since I discovered this so as soon as I notice it I head for home. Tried a few times just to make sure it was really happening.
Thanks ! Don'e

[mack]

What do the plugs

look like? Are they looking like they are running lean, hot, any bridge debris?

[donebysunday]

Fouled

they are all dark but 3 is carbon more. Bad pic I know but the sun is just right. Checked the fuel level in all carbs and 3 is 2mm higher than the rest.
Thanks ! Don'e

[MPittma100]

Plug Reading

they are all dark but 3 is carbon more. Bad pic I know but the sun is just right. Checked the fuel level in all carbs and 3 is 2mm higher than the rest.
Thanks ! Don'e

The darker plug in your picture is number 2 cylinder as I see it. Point is - that darker (sooty black) plug indicates an over rich condition or poor ignition in that cylinder. If that plug was in the cylinder with the higher float level, test ride again after float adjustment and recheck plugs.

None of the other plugs indicate a too lean condition which would tend to cause excessive heat. A better picture would help.

Some things to check would be your spark caps where they go into the plug wires for good connection and verify that the pick up coil wires are in tact.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Done,

IF it's running rich, then it should be running a little cooler than if running lean!? If the bike is getting HOT after running a while (30 minutes) and I'm assuming you mean actually RIDING it, yet the carbs are tuned rich, then there's something else making it hot. Either the oil isn't circulating like it should....or perhaps the actual TIMING is not advancing enough so it's running "retarded" , which from my car tuning days will cause an engine to run hotter!?

T.C.

[trbig]

Running really rich, you'll have some unburned fuel burning in your exhaust and getting it really hot. Nearly as hot as a lean condition. Initially, the bike likes a rich condition.. much like having the choke (Enrichener) on.

I'm guessing floats not seating well. At low RPM, it's flooding. During higher rpm, there's enough air flow to burn the extra fuel decently, but it's still going to get your pipes pretty hot, and any oil on those is going to get burned. If you had an infrared gun, I'm betting the motor isn't overheating, but your pipes are.

[ViperRon]

What is the compression on that number 2 cylinder???

[olinrj]

Good to see you've got the SF running Don'e! Unfortunately, my diagnostic skills are not that advanced so I cannot put forward an opinion on the stumble.

[BA80]

Looks like and sounds like carb issues. Are you running Mikuni Jets? Pilots and mains?

I started out with an issue like that and found it was after market jets causing it,

[donebysunday]

jets

I know I left this hanging for some time, virile bronchitis, cramps in my lower front chest, (bottom of the ribs) got me depressed.
New meds and better !
In the last week adjusted floats to min. changed out 42.5 pilots for a spare set of 42.5 I had, needed adjustment again of course.
Originally #3 in the plug photo only wanted 3/4 turns out (plugs are bassackwards in photo) the rest about 1 3/4.
So now it does not stutter after 1/2 hour or more of riding, goes like a dragster, ( maybe been off to long ?) will do a plug check, these are left to right.





Some other probs came up I think from sitting so long, I may address those in another thread, kind of interesting.
Thanks you guys and girls ! };-)

[mack]

lookiing

at just the tips really can't tell us much nowdays since fuel has changed. What I can see is that the bridges look pretty good so the timing seems fine. If it was my bike I'd richen the idle a bit and do a chop test to check the pilot and main jetting. The pilot is mid point down the outside wall of the electrode and the main should show a distinct darker ring at the very bottom.

[donebysunday]

The fuel I'm using is from 20-40 mi. from here, no ethanol, with some MMO added. Will do some more testing.

The rest of the bikes, I'll not be able to get to them. If anyone is interested PM me !
Thanks, Don

.

at just the tips really can't tell us much now days since fuel has changed. What I can see is that the bridges look pretty good so the timing seems fine. If it was my bike I'd richen the idle a bit and do a chop test to check the pilot and main jetting. The pilot is mid point down the outside wall of the electrode and the main should show a distinct darker ring at the very bottom.