T140E plug colour opinions

Fast Eddie

Fast Eddie

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I put some leaded non ethonol petrol in the Trusty Triumph in order to check out the plug colour the old skool way.

I didn’t do a main jet plugs chop, this is simply showing what it looked like after a decent ‘spirited’ ride.

Look nice to me, what thinketh the collective ??

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Fast Eddie said:
I put some leaded non ethonol petrol in the Trusty Triumph in order to check out the plug colour the old skool way.

I didn’t do a main jet plugs chop, this is simply showing what it looked like after a decent ‘spirited’ ride.

Look nice to me, what thinketh the collective ??

View attachment 124016View attachment 124017
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In pre-lead free petrol days, when leaded 4 or 5 star petrol was the only stuff to use, I'd consider the 'right' colour on the insulator to be a pale brown, like milky coffee. That was with normal plugs (N3s or B8ES, not specials like those in the photos - don't know how much difference these make, colour-wise). These days, using super unleaded, my plugs (BR8 EIX) look just like yours. If my plugs had looked like yours in the 1980s I'd have thought the mixture too weak.
 
Tigernut said:
In pre-lead free petrol days, when leaded 4 or 5 star petrol was the only stuff to use, I'd consider the 'right' colour on the insulator to be a pale brown, like milky coffee. That was with normal plugs (N3s or B8ES, not specials like those in the photos - don't know how much difference these make, colour-wise). These days, using super unleaded, my plugs (BR8 EIX) look just like yours. If my plugs had looked like yours in the 1980s I'd have thought the mixture too weak.
Click to expand...
Interesting.

I know I have the slide cutaway perfect at #3.5, I know this coz I tried #3s.

These plugs were removed after a ‘normal’ ride, not a WOT plug chop, so, knowing the main jet wasn’t really in play much, and the slides are correct, we are really looking at the needle / needle jet area.

There is nothing about this bike to suggest anything other than a ‘standard 4 stroke’ 106 needle jet would be insufficient, and it has ‘standard’ needles (not the EPA lean needles). So all that’s left to consider is raising the needles a notch.

I might just give that a try…
 
Fast Eddie said:
Interesting.

I know I have the slide cutaway perfect at #3.5, I know this coz I tried #3s.

These plugs were removed after a ‘normal’ ride, not a WOT plug chop, so, knowing the main jet wasn’t really in play much, and the slides are correct, we are really looking at the needle / needle jet area.

There is nothing about this bike to suggest anything other than a ‘standard 4 stroke’ 106 needle jet would be insufficient, and it has ‘standard’ needles (not the EPA lean needles). So all that’s left to consider is raising the needles a notch.

I might just give that a try…
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Nigel, what drivability issue are you trying to cure by raising the needles?
Does it carburet cleanly when transitioning through the throttle openings?
Or is there a stumble?
Are just searching for more power?
 
concours said:
Nigel, what drivability issue are you trying to cure by raising the needles?
Does it carburet cleanly when transitioning through the throttle openings?
Or is there a stumble?
Are just searching for more power?
Click to expand...
The bike seems to fuel very well indeed. A slight ‘just off idle’ stumble has been cured by reverting to #3.5 slides.

I’m just responding to the feedback that it might look a little weak, and experimenting by raising the needles is a 5 minute job.

Am I searching for more power? What kind of lame question is that ?? I expected better from you…
 
Fast Eddie said:
The bike seems to fuel very well indeed. A slight ‘just off idle’ stumble has been cured by reverting to #3.5 slides.

I’m just responding to the feedback that it might look a little weak, and experimenting by raising the needles is a 5 minute job.

Am I searching for more power? What kind of lame question is that ?? I expected better from you…
Click to expand...
If some is good, more is better....


Over fueling works on Harley's...
Long stroke
 
concours said:
If some is good, more is better....


Over fueling works on Harley's...
Long stroke
Click to expand...
Yeah, I’m not looking to over fuel here. I think it’s right as it is personally, and I doubt that enriching the needle will help any… but there’s nowt wrong with doing a quick experiment…
 
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