Fouled Plugs - CA77

pwilke1 · Post by **pwilke1** » Mon Oct 08, 2012 2:12 pm

Roughly 5 months ago my 66 Honda dream began fouling spark plugs. Steps I've taken to correct the issue :

- Read every post on this forum I could about fouled plugs, running rich, running lean, ect
- Worked my way though Ed Moore's tune up guide a number of times.
- Ensured points were cleaned and gaped correctly.
- Ensured timing was on the mark
- Cleaned every jet, hole, ect in my carb with carb cleaner and compressed air over a dozen times
- Rebuilt the carb with a new carb kit
- Re jetted with smaller jets
- Reinstalled original jets and needle
- Gaped the valves
- Gaped the spark plugs
- Installed hotter running plugs NGK 8
- Checked my float height over a dozen times
- Installed a new float
- Adjusted my float beyond the recommended specs to lean it out
- Adjusted needle clip to lean it out
- Installed new air filter
- Tried running the bike with no air filter
- Adjusted air screw and throttle stop to every possible position.

Of course, once something was tried but didn't work I would always go back to the recommended settings. I took the bike out last weekend and actually had a decent ride (about 20 min). After checking the plugs, I saw they were still fouled but not on the ground electrode like they had before. See attached image Spark-Plug-Before-Adjustment. Thinking I was almost there, I adjusted the float height beyond the recommended specs to lean it out a bit more. After doing so, not only did the plugs foul, but I believe it made it run lean. See attached image Spark-Plug-After-Adjustment. If this did cause it to run lean, than why is it still fouling? In addition to this issue, I noticed it was spitting out what appeared to be exhaust out of the breather hose on the top of the engine. I've never seen this before so I assume it was a result of the bike running lean? The only other issue I've noticed, is the area around where the spark plug screws in seems to always be wet. See attached image. I can't really tell if this is gas or oil but I would assume it's gas.

I'm honestly at a loss. Any advice you may have as to potential solutions or explanations would be greatly appreciated.

G-Man · Post by **G-Man** » Mon Oct 08, 2012 2:20 pm

You may have symptoms of oil getting between the iron skull and the aluminum head casting. Have a look in Bill Silver's guide as this is a known problem on these bikes. It often shows up around the spark plugs...

Are you sure of the state of the rings / valve guides. The fouling you see may be oil as the centre electrode looks pretty white in your pics.

Just my two cents.....

G

pwilke1 · Post by **pwilke1** » Mon Oct 08, 2012 3:08 pm

I'm assuming this issue would be in Bill Silver's Engine guide? If so, great because I don't have the other one. I'm pretty comfortable with opening up and working on everything on the bike besides the engine. If it is oil getting between the iron skull and the aluminum head casting, would I need to drop the engine?

I not sure I know what to look for on the rings / valves. Is there anything specific I should or should not see?

G-Man · Post by **G-Man** » Mon Oct 08, 2012 4:03 pm

Yes - take a look at the engine guide.

No need to rush in to pull things apart. First question to ask. Does it smoke from the exhaust?

Smoke on the overrun signifies worn valve guides or seals. At other times it would be oil passing the rings.

Dou you get smoke from the breather.

If none of the above - it's not an oil problem.

If you do get to remove the head, an engine that burns oil will have thick black carbon deposits in the combustion chambers.

G

pwilke1 · Post by **pwilke1** » Mon Oct 08, 2012 5:20 pm

No smoke from the exhaust, only from the overrun which I only noticed yesterday. Both the exhaust from the over run and the white on the spark plug were never seen until I over corrected the float to lean the bike out.

By breathers, are you referring to the two connectors on the back side of the engine? If so, I only noticed smoke from them after the adjustments mentioned above.

I'm hesitant to remove the head as I'm not totally sure what I'm doing in there. Is there anything else I can try before I take that step?

Thanks for the help!

pknopp · Post by **pknopp** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 3:59 pm

What problems are you actually having? Is the bike stopping? Does it run OK while you are riding it?

If so and it was me, I would simply ride it.

pwilke1 · Post by **pwilke1** » Mon Oct 15, 2012 12:37 pm

The bike's running ok until the plugs foul. Once fouled, it won't idle and runs very poor. Any other suggestions I can try before I remove the heads?