Rich smelling exhaust

[Matt V]

As I continue to work down the list of things to do to my bike I have now come to the "possibly running rich" problem.  Exhaust smells like there's unburned gas.  The bike runs well, the spark plugs are too new to make any judgement based on their condition.  

Anyone have tips on easy things to do first with respect to this potential problem?

Matt

[Kerry]

In my experience, the plugs don't have to be of any particular age to show a rich condition.  It's enough to:

* run the engine for a short time in the suspected "rich" throttle position (idle? wide-open?)

* hit the kill switch

* and pull a plug[/list:u]If it looks like the

Carbon fouling condition shown on the Haynes spark plug chart, then your suspicion of its running rich is verified!

Oh, and if the plugs are wet ... that's a pretty good indicator, too.

[Matt V]

OK, so if I replaced the plugs 50 miles ago and I smell rich exhaust at idle, then if I let it idle for 10 or 15 minutes I should see signs of carbon fouling if in fact I am running rich?  The plugs have a tan coating at this time, I figured they were just too new to show.  Sounds like I'm good.

So assuming the plugs show that my mixture is good, what else could cause the smell of gas in the exhaust?   Should I worry about this?

Matt

[Kerry]

As long as the bike is running well (no specific complaints) and your miles-per-gallon numbers are 50+ ... I'd say rest easy.

[Matt V]

OK, a followup here...  I have noticed that in a middle gear, say 40 mph at 4000+ rpm,  if I roll on the throttle moderately I get fair acceleration.  BUT if I bring on the acceleration more aggresively the bike hesitates or stumbles as it is accelerates causing a slight jerking front to back.  Any relation to being possibly rich?  Something else entirely?    

Matt