what makes sparkplugs get wet?

[madsin]

I really don't know much of anything about mechanics so everybody bear with me.I have been trying to get my 79 XS1100 special going again after I flooded it all the way to the crankcase.NOw the engine is bogging down and spark plugs seem to get wet,what makes these things happen?

[MAXIMAN]

If you flooded it down to the crank...then you better not crank on it.

Morethan likely you've got a float bowl hung or somesuch. Gasoline has run into the cylinders...past the rings into the crank. This is VERY dangerous. Gasoline can remove all residual oil fromt the cylinder walls and cause scoring...even engine seizure.

Is gasoline dripping out of your airbox? If so you've probably got a problem with a carb float or float valve.

[madsin]

It was coming out of the airbox,but then I drained out all the oil and replaced it with new,also removed and replaced the oil filter and housing.Since then I have started it (with choke 2 clicks out)and let it run a few minutes each time.It hasn't started to run gas out of the airbox again,but it doesn't seem to be running like it should,especially when I push the choke all the way in.I get some smoke (whitish color) out of the tail pipes and the engine starts bogging down.I pulled the plugs today and they were a little wet,not completely soaked, but still.

[Jerry]

A little theory. Internal combusion engines operate best with a mix of roughly 14 parts air to about 1 part fuel. (Parts can be anything you want, ounces, quartes, gallons, as long as the ratio stays the same.)

When your engine starts running rich, say 14:2 or 14:3, there is not enough oxegen to completely burn the fuel. The 'leftover' fuel shows up as moisture on your plugs, or in less severe cases, very black and sooty plugs.

In the case of our old bikes, the extra fuel can be coming from a couple sources: to high a fuel level in the carburator float bowls, inlet needle valves that don't completely close, causing fuel to leak down the throats of the carbs, and in the case of at least one well-known rebuld kit, the wrong pilot jet for this application which flows way to much fuel.

There are plenty of past threads on carb maintenence/repair/rebuilding. At the top right of your screen there is a Search function; click on it and enter "carb problems" and read some of the past discussions.

All roads eventually lead to a removal, thorough cleaning, and reassembly/calibration of your carbs. The exact procedure varies a bit between model years, but the basics are the same. Again, details will be in the results of your Search.

[madsin]

thanks for all the help,just wanted to say how glad I am that all you folks are out there and willing to help---cheers---Austin