Mark_h
10-02-13, 12:31 PM
I fear I may have caught stem-cellitus from parking a bit close to Fallout the other weekend.
Taken first steps to track down my strange sounding engine and discovered the front plug was a bit blacker than the rear. Not dripping in crud but less brick coloured than the rear one with just a touch of wetness up the thread. Not getting through much oil and not had anyone complaining of plumes of smoke when I'm being followed.
Given the plug's not been out for quite a while it may have been like that for ages so cleaned it up and stuck it back in to see if it gets black again. If it does then I need to investigate further.
Had all good intentions of checking valve clearances today, even found my feeler gauges but realised you have to drain the coolant to get easy access to the front cam cover and the rain was getting to me under the carport so I parked that idea and reballanced the TB's instead. They were slightly out but not massively.
Front header clamp was slightly loose but no sooting around it so doubt that could be generating weird noises.
Both TBs still fixed to engine and airbox so does not sound like it's that either.
Also refitted the airbox cover to see if it cuts the induction noise a bit to help me listen better next time I'm out and also to see if it helps my MPG. I'm sure all that induction noise I usually make must take some fuel. Not sure if the JHS airbox removal thing is actually giving emotional BHP through more noise or actually gives more power or just eats fuel but thought I'd stick the big black bucket on and see what happens.
Guess if It check after the next ride and it's wet or black again I may need to get it to a geneticist for a transplant.
Taken first steps to track down my strange sounding engine and discovered the front plug was a bit blacker than the rear. Not dripping in crud but less brick coloured than the rear one with just a touch of wetness up the thread. Not getting through much oil and not had anyone complaining of plumes of smoke when I'm being followed.
Given the plug's not been out for quite a while it may have been like that for ages so cleaned it up and stuck it back in to see if it gets black again. If it does then I need to investigate further.
Had all good intentions of checking valve clearances today, even found my feeler gauges but realised you have to drain the coolant to get easy access to the front cam cover and the rain was getting to me under the carport so I parked that idea and reballanced the TB's instead. They were slightly out but not massively.
Front header clamp was slightly loose but no sooting around it so doubt that could be generating weird noises.
Both TBs still fixed to engine and airbox so does not sound like it's that either.
Also refitted the airbox cover to see if it cuts the induction noise a bit to help me listen better next time I'm out and also to see if it helps my MPG. I'm sure all that induction noise I usually make must take some fuel. Not sure if the JHS airbox removal thing is actually giving emotional BHP through more noise or actually gives more power or just eats fuel but thought I'd stick the big black bucket on and see what happens.
Guess if It check after the next ride and it's wet or black again I may need to get it to a geneticist for a transplant.