Running lean and fowling plugs

devinzz1

devinzz1

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After riding about 2 hours today I shut my 97 vmax 700 off and about a min later I tried to restart but nossir. Haul and haul but not a gig. I pulled plugs and was shocked. They were snow white and powder covered with zero spark on all 3. I put in some spare used plugs and she was best kind so I brought her back home. Do you think a leaky exhaust and reed spacers would cause it to be this lean? If cleaning the carbs dont fix it do you think raising the needle will help? If not il go up a jet size.
 

theres so much more info we need here, like what jets do you have in now. whats the elevation , how lonk have you been running it with the jets you have now....etc. But fir the first Question...No, reed spacers and leaky exhaust ....I doubt it, got to be something else. like an air leak in the intakes or seal gone bad ,or not getting enough oil.. something like that is my guess
 
yammy said:
theres so much more info we need here, like what jets do you have in now. whats the elevation , how lonk have you been running it with the jets you have now....etc. But fir the first Question...No, reed spacers and leaky exhaust ....I doubt it, got to be something else. like an air leak in the intakes or seal gone bad ,or not getting enough oil.. something like that is my guess
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Stock jets, sea level, no air leaks. After cleaning the carb i may put a drop of oil in the gas. Im thinking oil or fuel pump. Maybe the fuel itself. Il get back to yas when I rips the carbs off (never cleaned em this year). Other than that i wouldnt of even know...she runs like a top (which is why I never bothered cleaning the carbs)
 
devinzz1 said:
.she runs like a top (which is why I never bothered cleaning the carbs)
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She RAN like a top, until that piece of crud in the bowl got shook loose and plugged a jet and burned down a cylinder. Carb cleaning is a preventative action for just that reason not a respond for poor performance.
 
My Vmax ran like a top too when I got out of storage for this year...still cleaned the carbs, gotta do it EVERY year.
 
Backwoods M Max said:
She RAN like a top, until that piece of crud in the bowl got shook loose and plugged a jet and burned down a cylinder. Carb cleaning is a preventative action for just that reason not a respond for poor performance.
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They should of been clean since i had them and engine out last season to replace steering column. I guess i got a batch of bad gas through her from the fall.
 

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I cleaned my carbs on my SX last march right before I stored it for the season, I only use 91 octane with NO ethanol, brought the sled out in september to go throught it, one of my carbs was plugged with green sludge. Cleaning carbs every season is just some good cheap insurance, if I've got the time I'll go throught them again mid winter.
 
Carbs were spotless. BUT I think my carb boots being cracked up is causing my issue. While i had her in the garage i did a compression test and she was at 140psi each cylinder. I forgot to mention that the stock exhaust has the 2" holesaw mod
 
Im replacing fuel lines and in tank filter while im at her. Anything else i should look out for?


Sent
 
devinzz1 said:
Stock jets, sea level, no air leaks. After cleaning the carb i may put a drop of oil in the gas. Im thinking oil or fuel pump. Maybe the fuel itself. Il get back to yas when I rips the carbs off (never cleaned em this year). Other than that i wouldnt of even know...she runs like a top (which is why I never bothered cleaning the carbs)
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sO IT WAS AN AIR LEAK after all ? glad you found it!
 
Just for reference could someone post a pic of the "ideal" plug coloring in this engine. Im getting a golden brown with a little bit of tan/white at the tip of electrode.
 
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