Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader - February 2008 - (Page 39)

MONTHLY FEATURE STORIES cuts, if you buy a bike with high miles and or an unknown history, clean the sludge trap, if you don’t you’re gambling with a time bomb. Lastly, I know there are many respected restorers and engine builders out there that disagree with my views on oil viscosity. Since I’m a reasonable guy I welcome any comments. Who knows, maybe you’ll change my mind. BENCH RACING Happy Trails from Steve & Katy Via e-mail When a foreign substance, typically, carbon, unburned fuel or oil is allowed to coat a sparkplug’s center electrode and the surrounding porcelain insulator it provides a direct, low resistance path to the sparkplugs threaded body. This creates a direct short to ground so rather than firing the plug by jumping the gap between the center and side electrodes the coils energy bleeds off through the contaminants to ground and no spark is created. I am having an issue with a 550 and I’m at my wits end, and I hear you might be able to help. My number 3 cylinder doesn’t seem to be firing at all. The exhaust pipe runs cold and is only heated by the two pipes on either side. I have checked the carbs and they are in good shape. I have spark and I have gas. The plug has a little bit of carbon buildup and is wet with gas when I check it. I have replaced the coil with a friends and it still did the same thing. When I try to set the timing the timing light doesn’t light up at all for number 3. It works fine with the other 3 cylinders. I’m not sure what else I can do or what other information you need. Thanks for the help No name Via e-mail Something here doesn’t sound kosher. On the CB550 cylinders 2 & 3 fire simultaneously, so if #2 is firing then #3 should as well, unless the coil or the plug cap is bad. Furthermore if the timing light isn’t coming on then you’ve got no spark, or one to weak to do any good, and the fact that the plug is wet Q He’s got issues would seem to add credence to that. So on the top of it you’ve either got a bad plug, a bad plug cap or a bad coil. However it’s extremely unlikely that your friend’s coil had the same problem, so my first question would be have you tried a fresh plug or are you trying to test the coil using a fouled one? Secondly, did your buddy’s coil have a cap on it or did you use your old one? I’d first try installing a new plug, if that doesn’t work sub your 1-4 coil for the 2-3 and see if the problem switches cylinders. If it does you’ve got a bad coil or plug cap. Lastly if you find there is spark at #3 and it still won’t run then you’ll need to perform a compression check. No name - via e-mail A Q When good plugs go bad What happens to spark plugs when they foul? I know they get carbon or oily, but why don’t they work when I clean them? I have one cylinder that throws oil on the plug and I have to replace it every few hundred miles. A new plug = good as new. The problem is that the stuff gets really packed in the dim recesses of the plug body so short of sandblasting or soaking the plug in MEK or some such it’s almost impossible to get all the crap out of there. I’ve had some success cleaning fouled plugs by soaking them in lacquer thinner for a day or two but by and large it’s a lot easier to just buy a new plug, and fix whatever is causing it to foul. Send your questions, comments And poison pen letters to Mark Zimmerman at Zimmemr@aol.com A BENCH RACING QUESTION WALNECKS.COM I WALNECK’S CLASSIC CYCLE TRADER® I FEBRUARY 2008 39 http://WALNECKS.COM

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Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader - February 2008 Contents Message from Heidi Boe, General Manager American The Buzz w/Buzz Walneck 1954 Indian Brave 250 Biker Quiz Bench Racing w/Mark Zimmerman Fix It Fer Good - Tip of The Month Motorcylce Tips Events Listings & Advertisements Morries Place British Bonhams & Butterfields California Custom Culture Maria Barry - Biker of The Month 1972 Scott Flying Squirrel European 1984 Laverda RGS Corsa Japanese 1984 Honda 700 Nighthawk Competition Motorbikes & Scooters Memorabilia Parts, Accessories, Want Ads Antique Cycle Clubs How to Place a Word Ad How to Place a Photo Ad Area Code Directory How to Subscribe Let Us Help with Your Event

Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader - February 2008

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