Topic: Spark plugs are as black as night. Why?

[DavePhipps]

Silly question here. I've got the carbs apart and am in the process of checking everything.
Does the emulsion tube come out through the carb body or through the float bowl area?
With my FZR they come up through the carb body, but I don't want to make a bad assumption on the CB500.

[TwoTired]

They come out the same hole where the main jet is.

[DavePhipps]

Thanks TT. I'm removing them now. OK maybe coffee first then remove tubes.
3 out of 5 holes clogged on the first one.

[K3Owner]

Best of luck, Dave! You have the biggest of headaches in that someone else put pods on it and may not have had it right. I would tune the carbs from the start, mains first. Sorry for your headache and I hope the weekend wrenching comes out well!
Marc
Georgia
CB550 K3
Standard airbox 

[DavePhipps]

OK it was ptretty dang messy in the emulsion tube area.  All are clean now and air passages to the emulsion tubes are verified open.
The needles are set second groove from the bottom. Should I lean them out a bit or leave them at this setting?

[TwoTired]

Best do one change at a time.  Isn't stock position 4th groove from top for the needle clips?

Anyway with the pods and pipe change, those carbs will need to go through a rejet procedure.

Test rack WOT run at throttle setting, plug chop, read plugs, make adjustment, repeat until correct plug deposits.  Then you can do the same thing for 1/2 throttle  to find the correct needle setting.
Then adjust the pilot screw for proper throttle response.
Saves a lot of time and work using a dyno.  But, then there is the money it costs.  (Which will probably make the "deal" you got on the modded bike purchase not look so good.)

I guess there is still the random change and try technique. 

Or, return the bike to original configuration and use the carb setting that Honda specified.  Done, and go ride!

Cheers,

[DavePhipps]

I should be getting the complete stock airbox in Febuary.
I'm hoping this will be running smother then.
BTW those little screws are stuck on 3 of the slides and had to verify position on those three by using a magnifying glass and flashlight.