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Author Topic: Exhaust off, lots of soot. What does it mean?  (Read 1541 times)

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Offline stereosilence

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Exhaust off, lots of soot. What does it mean?
« on: March 10, 2012, 09:56:27 AM »
I got the pipes off to put in studs (one bolt broke off in there  >:() and there is a lot of soot inside the exhaust ports. What does this mean and what can I do about it?
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Offline Gonzowerke

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Re: Exhaust off, lots of soot. What does it mean?
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2012, 01:03:55 PM »
What does it mean? The answers to that question are legion! Could mean you are slightly rich, or it could mean you are spot on and that is just miles and miles of accumulation from normal combustion by-products. Unless you have an extreme build-up, like 1/8" or more, I would not worry about it. Plugs are what you want to look at to gauge mixture. Are they black and fluffy too? If you are experiencing operation problems, then yeah, do a compression check and the like, but you probably don't need to. It is my experience with both the F and the K that this is normal. Put that stud in and just ride!
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Offline TwoTired

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Re: Exhaust off, lots of soot. What does it mean?
« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2012, 01:59:16 PM »
The soot deposits come from more fuel in the mix than oxygen to burn it.

Is the bike still in stock configuration?  Or, have there been "improvements" made.
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Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
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Offline stereosilence

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Re: Exhaust off, lots of soot. What does it mean?
« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2012, 09:05:00 PM »
Oh, it has had the hell improved out of it. So many improvements I'm surprised it can't fly by now.

The spark plugs were replaced shortly before I got it. I was just wondering if it was normal and if there was anything short of taking the engine apart to clean it.
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Offline phil71

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Re: Exhaust off, lots of soot. What does it mean?
« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2012, 11:08:34 PM »
i think what everyone is trying to say is, if it's running well, leave it alone.
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