Consensus on correct plug color?

[edgo]

I just rebuilt my carbs and the bike is running really well. After searching through here I find info on plug color that has the correct ceramic color to be from white, to the traditional brown. What is the consensus these days? I chopped the throttle at 55 mph in both 4th and 5th gears and get the same results: the ceramic is white on the last 1/8th or so inch of the tip (with some black specks or faint black coloring) and the rest is black. The base ring is sooty too but not built up. At 30 mph in 3rd gear the plugs start to look a little brownish but not much.

I have a drilled airbox, Jardine 4 to 2 exhaust, 145 mains, and the pilot is one richer from stock. The float heights are at 24mm.

How am I doing? Should I raise the floats a little to try and get brown cermamic plugs?

Ed

[T748]

I don't believe in reading the ceramic for color, with the exception of "detonation specs" . With unleaded gas it stays clean compared to the old days. I use this as a guide- http://cochise.uia.net/pkelley2/sparkplugreading.html
One thing of note with ceramic coloring. If you use carb cleaners, it can "stain" the ceramic red ,redish tan or grey.-Tom.

[edgo]

Nice guide Tom. I'm rich by the looks of it. I kind of expected it to be that way since I'm up three main jet sizes. For now I'll just leave it like this and see how it goes. Reading all this stuff makes me paranoid about burning up my motor. I don't hear any knocking so I don't think there is any detonation. Would knocking in one of these motors sound like "marbles" the way a car does it?

Thanks,
Ed

[81xsproject]

ok, that looks pretty good. Now, does anyone know of a good way to clean/prepare plugs for testing without a sandblaster?

[pggg]

wirebrush

[xs650mike]

Britbike Jim has a sandblaster but always goes out with pockets full of brand new plugs when he does plug runs, claims they're easier to read. Afterwards he cleans 'em up and uses 'em in his bikes whenever he needs to change plugs. I kind of think that's overkill myself but he says plugs are cheap.

[mixelpix]

here's another good site for motorcycle repair:

http://www.dansmc.com/mc_repaircourse.htm

http://www.dansmc.com/sparkplugs1.htm

from the article:
"To get a true plug color reading you must run the engine,on a level road, at the throttle setting that you want to test, for about a mile, then kill the ignition, pull the clutch in and coast to a stop. Then pull the plug and look at it. This could be a real thrill on most of the newer street bikes. As the engine ages and more oil gets past the rings a hotter plug may be in order. If you ride at low speeds all the time a hotter plug will keep the plugs from fouling. If high speeds are your thing, a cooler plug may be just the ticket. Don't be afraid to pull that plug out and give 'er a read! "

more pictures:

http://www.dansmc.com/spark_plugs/spark_plugs_catalog.html

but I wouldn't say they're worth a thousand words each...

[edgo]

Mine look like 22,23,24 but I'm not sure how it could be lean with 145 mains and a correct float height.

Ed

[LoserShoes]

if you have a compressor, J C Whitney has a plug cleaner for about $20.

Steve

[81xsproject]

I have heard over and over that w/ today's unleaded fuel, it is hard to get good color on the plugs. What about running a lead additive for test?