Rate my spark plugs

[DarrenSV650S]

What do you think, running too rich?

Yup, since it's dry/powedery, I'd suspect air intake is reduced somehow. Is your air filter in need of changing/cleaning?

Wouldn't be supprised if you were having a bit of black smoke out of the exhaust too.

[yorkie_chris]

Yeah dry carbon fouled. Check temp sensor as it could have the pointy equivalent of a stuck choke!

[Bibio]

or possibly starting bike up and just letting it tick over to much without actually taking it for a run...

[DarrenSV650S]

The air filter looked fine, just a couple of flys in there. Haven't noticed any smoke out the exhaust but you do get a wee flame when it backfires sometimes (it has a stubby on it).
Check the temp sensor for what? (where is it)

[DarrenSV650S]

Originally Posted by Bibio

or possibly starting bike up and just letting it tick over to much without actually taking it for a run...

I never do that usually. But I just did it today to allow the fuel stabiliser to get through the system. I let it get to about 70C

[Bibio]

Originally Posted by DarrenSV650S

I never do that usually. But I just did it today to allow the fuel stabiliser to get through the system.

what u been putting in your tank???

check the plugs again after a run.. if they are still the same then sommits up

Dry powedery carbon is a sign of over fueling due to impared air intake (more often than not), so that's prime candidate.

As YC says though, check that it's not constantly "cold idling" - on the K7/K8 this is easy, not so previous to that. Easiest way I can think of is to fire it up with the air filter removed, and watch for the butterflies rotating when it's warmed enough.

Or you could use the temp sensor (look for the wires leading to the rad (top right corner IIRC)). Check it's working properly by testing resistance. But I'd just watch for the butterflies opening a little more & the revs dropping. That'll tell you the "choke" aint stuck.

[DarrenSV650S]

Originally Posted by Bibio

what u been putting in your tank???

check the plugs again after a run.. if they are still the same then sommits up

Its briggs and stratton's fuel fit. I've just put new plugs in but I won't be going for a run this year. That's the bike away for the winter

Originally Posted by Baph

Dry powedery carbon is a sign of over fueling due to impared air intake (more often than not), so that's prime candidate.

As YC says though, check that it's not constantly "cold idling" - on the K7/K8 this is easy, not so previous to that. Easiest way I can think of is to fire it up with the air filter removed, and watch for the butterflies rotating when it's warmed enough.

Or you could use the temp sensor (look for the wires leading to the rad (top right corner IIRC)). Check it's working properly by testing resistance. But I'd just watch for the butterflies opening a little more & the revs dropping. That'll tell you the "choke" aint stuck.

It's a K3. Could it not be the can that is messing up the fueling then?
I'll have a look for the butterflys moving. Any idea what temperature they should start moving at?


Filter:

The butterflies should open a little (I think it's the secondary butterflies but not sure) at around 20-30C... roughly when the "cold idle" stops.

If you don't notice anything major, or you're not sure if you blinked & missed it, resistance test on the temp sensor. That'll go either from infinate to practically zero, or the other way around.

As for the can, typically if they're going to affect fueling/spark, then its the same symptoms as overheating (chalky white, not powdery black) - caused by restricting airflow out of the exhaust.