Charcoaly Type Substance on a Single Spark Plug

This is a semi-continuation of http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=12598.html but I wanted to start a new topic since I think its a completely different problem.

Well to recap, I changed all my spark plugs with brand new autolites from autozone and my Maxim 750 would not push past 45 mph and even getting there was a strain. I didnt know I had to set sparkys so I set them all to the specs you guys said and holy crap, Ive never seen my bike with this much power before, I was zoooooooming. Also, my cycle does not start without the choke which according to Rick is a good thing. (sometimes)

I took off all my spark plugs again this morning and they all looked fine except for one, after a couple hours of riding, the spark plug looked as if the tip was dipped in oil and burnt to a crisp.

Rick was mentioning something about me not having a good mixture, Im not quite sure what that means, I searched for it on the forum but couldnt find it.

Any idea what is going on with that single chamber?

 

You're running too rich. Search out Idle adjustment and you will see plenty of pictures of exactly where the screws are. turn them in to lean out to richen. You should only turn them a couple of degrees at a time. The screw is right next to the choke (enrichment) valve on top of the carb. It may have a cap on it.

Also search on plug chop or plug read and you will get an idea of what the plug should look like. Post a pic like you see in those entries and the experts will tell you what adjustments you need to make.

 

Are you sure it was oil...?
If so your looking at issues!

If it is just a dark(ie rich) condition just turn the mixture screw IN a few degrees.
After that, run more plug chops. I assume you know the procedure.

A good idea is to pull plugs and snap some pic/post some pics.
We can diagnose better that way

 

Well, it looked like it was really thick smoke that condensed onto the tip. It was caked on there pretty good. It wasnt liquidy or anything, just looked charcoaly.

I just poured in some fuel injector cleaner so hopefully that will help a bit. I used half a can of carb cleaner last night, I don't know how well that stuff works but its worth a shot.

The bikes been sitting for a 6 months according to the PO, so I'm sure its been longer.

 

If it's #3 plug, could be the petcock diaphram leaking.
Just a thought.

 

I got 1 pic and a video of what my sparky looks like:


http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v674/ ... GE_040.jpg

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v674/ ... EO_004.flv

I apologize for the blurriness, it was taken on my camera phone and it has some minor scratches on the lens.

To update, my bike is now running like it was when I first got it, constant misfiring. Its gotta be because of the crud that's building up. If you look at my bike from behind, its the spark plug on the far far right that is the culprit.

If you need me to take better pictures/videos let me know, I have a professional camera at home.

 

That's #4 cylinder. Usually the petcock vacuum line is attached to #3 but can be attached to any cylinder. Can you tell us if the vacuum line is attached to #4?

What hound is talking about is the vacuum opens the petcock. It is not uncommon for the petcock to leak and additional gas to flow through the vacuum line which of course richens the mixture.

May not be it but worth looking at. Picture is too blurry to tell much from....

 

well i would say its rich, but that photo was tooooo blurry
you need macro to take a good shot.

ps it might be misfiring due to a rich condition*edit