First Time Plug Chop

[Goat]

Can I tell anything from this exercise, given the mistakes I made?
Picked too short of road so only got thru 4th.
Did not get it shut down as fast as I think I was suppose to when i pulled the clutch in.
It is harder to find a deserted 1/4 mile strip than I expected.

[KDXGarage]

This was a new plug?

[kdxsully]

Looks lean.

[Goat]

Yes. This was new plug.
I am thinking it really doesn’t tell me what I need to know. Or I could make false judgement.
The bike does not “seem” lean by the seat of pants + based on the fair bit of smoke & spooge it produces.
I think I should probably find a better road and try again.

[kdxsully]

Could be a bad crank seal too I think. Try again

[KDXGarage]

The band needs to be down toward the bottom.

I think the wide portion is the "did not get it shut down soon enough" portion.


viewtopic.php?t=12283

[Goat]

Thanks gents! I’ll try/try again.

[KDXGarage]

and this is a KDX50, correct? KDX80?? :-)

[Goat]

Hah! I do need one of those, though. My 50 is a mini trail and it just collects dust since the KLX140 came home.

[John_S]

You don’t need a longer road. I’ve done this multiple times and it works great.
Fully warmed up engine
New plug 1st through 4th wide open pull in the clutch but don’t kill the engine. Turn around and do 1st through 4th again this time pulling in the clutch and killing the engine. That few seconds of idling while turning around is not going to ruin your reading. You could even do 3 or 4 1st through 4th runs. Only doing wide open and clutch in idling to turn around. Main thing is no half throttle or compression braking. Cut the plug like you did and you’ll have a good main jet color band showing what you need to do next with jetting. Wet cardboard color 2mm band down low on the plug would be perfect.

[John_S]

Check out this thread. These were some plug chops I did. Never got into 5th or 6h gear. It was 2 different engines but shows the different looks of the plug with 3 different main jet sizes.

viewtopic.php?f=86&t=23507

[kdxsully]

Check out this thread. These were some plug chops I did. Never got into 5th or 6h gear. It was 2 different engines but shows the different looks of the plug with 3 different main jet sizes.

viewtopic.php?f=86&t=23507

Excellent post.

[SS109]

Check out this thread. These were some plug chops I did. Never got into 5th or 6h gear. It was 2 different engines but shows the different looks of the plug with 3 different main jet sizes.

viewtopic.php?f=86&t=23507

I didn't say it before but I will now. That is one of the most informative threads I've ever read on a forum. Kudos!

[Goat]

That is the post that got me itching to do some chopping. It sis a great one.
I really appreciate the info and possibility to run just to 4th gear.
I still have to find new road, since I met the neighbors there on my first try. And they asked if I could find a different route. Thanks very much.

[John_S]

Thank you guys!