FNG with Q's - Harley Forum

thebreez · #1 08-23-2008, 05:36 PM

Hi Guys, I put up a pic of my first Harley, a 94 FXRP I got 2 mos ago and was advised that the blueing on the pipes was excesive, so I took off the heat shield on the rear and pulled the plugs...here are the pics, what do yall think?
the plug on the left is the front

Thanks for any help
Mike

frisco-rigid · #2 08-23-2008, 06:11 PM

Hey

Pipe bluing is often caused by retarded timing and excessive exhaust gas temp..
However by the looks of these plugs there is simply no telling what else has gone bad..

It appears the plugs in the top photo are diff than the bottom photo, maybe just the light huh..

The plug with all the black goo is getting oil fouled..
The other plug in the top photo looks just tooo rich with some oil fouling..

The bottom photo shows the same black oil fouled plug but the other plug doesn't look all that bad, a bit rich with a pinch of oil..
They just look diff to me.. Anyway..
The oil fouling is from bad/worn valve-guide seals and/or rings..
How many miles..??

What heat range are you running, a slightly hotter heat range can help burn off some of that oil fouling just as a temporary fix..

In the photo it looks like the gaps are enormous. are they or is it just the perspective.. They should prob be about .040"..

Un-fortunately it appears that your first HD needs some care..
After you get it fixed be sure all settings like Jetting and timing are correct..
Good luck bud..

thebreez · #3 08-23-2008, 07:25 PM

32000 miles, frisco. thanks for your help.
first pic in the sun, 2nd with flash in shade...
the plugs that just came out, pictured, are champion RA6HC, that had .035 gap
new plugs are HD brand 6R12PP with .040 gap....
I'm bummed now that I saw that oil, but the bike runs very well, and fast,
hell, what do I know this is the first Harley I've ever been on....had a 62 Triumph 37 years ago...
The guy I bought it from told me the top end work was done "well over ten thousand miles ago".
One other thing is it has a oil cooler and oil temp guage on oil tank filler, and I have yet to see the temp go over 150, even in south florida trafic this summer. Seems like thats not hot enuf to burn off condensation...

47knuck · #4 08-23-2008, 10:34 PM

As usual FR looks to be on his game.

I'd recommend running a fresh new set of plugs for 20 miles and pull them to see what they look like.

If either new plug gets oily like the old ones I'd recommend freshening up the top end.

Good luck and keep us posted.

thebreez · #5 08-23-2008, 10:50 PM

Thanks 47, thats what I had in mind.
Took the wife out for a ride and dinner, just got back. In the early am I will ride some more and then pull them to see.

frisco-rigid · #6 08-24-2008, 03:26 AM

Hi Bud

If I'm not mistaken those Champ's are a very cool heat range so there should be a slight improvement with the new plugs..
Runs well---No surprise---a little oil burning is not always evident in the performance..

As long as you're going to run in the morn do this test..

Ride the Highway and keep a constant speed of about 75 for about 30 minutes-- if you can---without getting a ticket..
Keep the RPM's constant..

When ready---at that constant speed--- Pull-in clutch (dis-engage) and Switch-Off in one motion..
Coast, do not re-engage or down-shift or anything,,, just Coast to a safe stop..
Now put on gloves and pull out your Plug wrench and pull both plugs..
Tell us what you see..
Is there burned oil like before,,,, and what are the color of the plugs porcelain and electrodes..??

What you are getting is a snap-shot of the A/F mixture at the RPM..
Usually you can get a readable color in about 10 minutes at Hi-way speed but new plugs take longer..
BTW--- what carb are you running.?

About the cooler,, don't worry about that, be happy with that temp especially with burning oil cuz oil burns hotter..
When living in the Bay Area my oil never got to full temp in the winter and living here in the Phoenix Valley
I run two oil coolers and it hardly gets to full OP temp even in Summer.. There's much bigger things to worry on..

Have a ball..

fxst04 · #7 08-24-2008, 08:40 AM

The first thing that I would do is run a compression test on both cyclinders. If the numbers are close, next test, cyclinder leak test (looking for broken rings or bad valve guide) and if all is good then it might be just bad valve guide seals.

thebreez · #8 08-24-2008, 01:39 PM

I road about 25 miles around town, stoplights to 55, pulled the plugs and they look the same with the rear having more of a oily film on one side of
electrode and clean on the other, guess the oil is coming from one valve.
Oh well, the bike runs good, I don't see smoke, and I got it for $4k and I put 450 in forwards , a new rear tire and all the fluids.
This morning my buddy said "don't put any money in it cus you'll be gettin one of these soon" and pointed to his 06 Electra....
Unfortunately my wife, a stay at home mom, has to go and take care of her mother every day, so that makes me mr.mom. No problem with a good 15 yr old, but I could not go on the ride to lake O this morning.
There will be more Sundays.
Peace and ride safe
Mike

above is front cyl.
below is rear