white spark plugs? ????

tdiloren · March 02, 2011, 03:50:00 PM

I took the gs for a rip up the street today and noticed it was a bit sluggish at low rpms. So I pulled the plugs and they were white. Will adjusting the air/fuel mixture screws fix this? I'm only asking because it still has the brass plugs that cover the screws and it looks like the carbs would need to be removed to drill them out.
Thanks

Suzuki Stevo · March 02, 2011, 04:10:55 PM

Sounds lean

wera90ex · March 02, 2011, 04:15:49 PM

Easy there, How did it run when you put it away? Is it still cold where you are? Fresh gas? Was it warmed up all the way? It does sound like it might be a little lean but don't take a big swing at the jetting when it might be just cold air or old gas.
Anyway, Yes adjusting the screws may help but might be a temporary fix. It's also important to know if there are any mods to the intake sys or exhaust.
And yes you need to take them off to drill the plugs. Do some research first. youtube is your freind.

tdiloren · March 02, 2011, 06:40:24 PM

I bought the bike in January and this was the first time I actually rode it. It is bone stock with new oil and air filters and I filled the tank with 91 octane (the best we get here) on my way home from picking it up.
It has been stored in a heated garage since I've owned it and it was a 35* F when I rode it. I only warmed it up for about five minutes before I rode it three or four laps up and down the street. I live in Maine so this was the first time I've been on a bike since November and my excitement got the best of me

.
I was going to wait until it warms up a bit and run a fresh tank of gas through it before I started messing with anything engine related. So far I've checked the brakes, wheels, steering, front/rear end and put a torque wrench on everthing I could.
This bike is for my daughter and I'm waiting until I know it's in perfect running order and safe before I give it to her and it's killing me. Come on spring!!!!
Thanks for the info

Big Rich · March 02, 2011, 07:49:20 PM

Well, the 91 octane is not needed- there are no benefits to higher than recommended octane levels. And gasoline in general starts to break down after 20 days (or something like that).

You are brave though for taking a ride at those temps- I'll give you that. But I would wait for more "normal" temps before worrying about the mixture screws or other jetting.

gregvhen · March 02, 2011, 08:25:30 PM

im guessing clogged or partially clogged pilot jet. just my vote.

Ken in Regina · March 04, 2011, 09:26:10 PM

It's hard to tell what the problem might be until you can run in more normal conditions and provide a more detailed description of the symptoms and the test conditions. In the mean time, a couple of things....

1. Get some fuel stabilizer and toss it into the tank. I use Stabil. It's pretty common in parts stores. Read the label to find out the mix ratio. It doesn't require serious accuracy but don't do like one guy did and toss the whole bottle into the tank.

This will help keep your gas fresh while you aren't running it much. It will not affect how the bike runs.

2. Forget plug checks. First of all you didn't do it right. There is a very specific procedure and if you don't get it right you don't learn a thing. But more importantly, it only worked with leaded gas. So you'll still hear some olde phartes (I are one) who think it's informative. But it's not. It hasn't been useful since the switchover to unleaded gas.

...ken...

tdiloren · March 05, 2011, 06:02:50 AM

Ken could you give a quick and simple explanation for checking the plugs. I've alway looked at the plugs (mostly small engines) to get a basic idea if thing are running rich or lean.
The bike already had some stabil in it but less then a half tank of gas so I topped it off with super which is a habit from my RR. I really didn't even think about it. The fact that it runs on the cheap

gas is a nice bonus to this purchase.
Hopefully in a couple weeks the weather and roads will allow for a better test ride.
Thanks
Tim

Cusimano · March 05, 2011, 10:07:11 AM

Seafood, fuel cleaner weird name works great. Has a fuel stab. in it so you should use it before storage, but if you forget to use before storage you can put it in now, it also has water remover and helps refresh old gas, plus if your carbs are gummed up it'll help free them up. Overall its a great product to use.

gregvhen · March 05, 2011, 11:11:19 AM

Quote from: Cusimano on March 05, 2011, 10:07:11 AM
Seafood, fuel cleaner weird name works great. Has a fuel stab. in it so you should use it before storage, but if you forget to use before storage you can put it in now, it also has water remover and helps refresh old gas, plus if your carbs are gummed up it'll help free them up. Overall its a great product to use.

seafoam not seafood

Ken in Regina · March 05, 2011, 11:48:03 AM

Seafoam is not a great idea for storage. It's a fuel "conditioner", not a stabilizer. It has a cleaner in it that, if left for a long period in marginal fuel lines or where there are marginal gaskets, it can eat through them and cause leaks. It's primarily for use in marine service because it can hold the water in suspension. If you plan to run the tank through fairly quickly it's not a bad way to clean out minor gunk in the fuel system and jets. But something like Stabil that is specifically for fuel stabilization and nothing else is a better idea for bikes that are being stored or are only being used infrequently with fairly long periods between rides.

Some folks are finding that with the alcohol (ethanol) that is mandated in fuel in some countries these days, the fuel is breaking down and gunking the jets up in as little as three or four weeks of the bike not being used. A pure stabilizer like Stabil stops that from happening. You can run it in your bike all season without any problems. I've been using it in my lawnmowers and snowblowers year-round for the past twenty years or more with no problems.

I tend to ride my bikes until I am forced to put them away for winter. So I start putting Stabil into my bikes with every fillup when it gets late in the season, just in case there is a snowstorm the next day. That way the stabilizer is through the entire fuel system whenever I have to park them for the winter. Then I just have to top up the tanks from the gas can in the shed that I use for my lawnmower and snowblower, which always has fuel stabilizer in it, take out the batteries, throw a tarp over them and winter storage prep is done.

...ken...

Cusimano · March 05, 2011, 02:12:16 PM

Quote from: gregvhen on March 05, 2011, 11:11:19 AM

seafoam not seafood

Using cell phone and it likes to correct me even if I'm right.

Cusimano · March 05, 2011, 02:23:46 PM

Quote from: Ken in Regina on March 05, 2011, 11:48:03 AM
Seafoam is not a great idea for storage. It's a fuel "conditioner", not a stabilizer. It has a cleaner in it that, if left for a long period in marginal fuel lines or where there are marginal gaskets, it can eat through them and cause leaks. It's primarily for use in marine service because it can hold the water in suspension. ...ken...

Sorry bud but your wrong. It is a stabilizer it keeps gas fresh up to 2 years so for winter storage is ideal. Also it started out for boats hence the name but now can be used and is good for gas,desiel,fuel injection,carbs. good for top engine cleaning if you know what your doing otherwise you run the chance of hydro locking, and is good to add to your oil (in your car or truck) before an oil change for an engine purge. just go to your local automotive store and read it its much more then a fuel additive for boats now.

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white spark plugs? ????