Author Topic: 73 CB750K plug fouling / Exhaust restriction  (Read 359 times)

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Offline mrmach5

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73 CB750K plug fouling / Exhaust restriction
« on: September 17, 2023, 10:46:46 AM »
I'm battling some carbon plug fouling on #1 and 4 . 2 and 3 look great.
Good compression , stock air box, electronic ignition, timing spot on, 105 main jets, 35 pilots needle in the 3rd slot. Bike runs nice and idles good but after a short test drive I can tell those two plugs are fouling and will only get worse. Seems like its right around 2200 rpm where there is the slightest hic-up.
I've replaced the coil, firing 1 & 4 , new wires and plug caps as well. ND X22ES-U plugs. All four carb idle mixture screws are at 1 turn out.
Nothing I seem to try seems to have any effect. So crazy question , the exhaust is a brand new Italian made HM300 reproduction 4 into 4  set.
If there were too much restriction, causing excessive back pressure, could that contribute to the plug fouling? I could remove the baffles on those cylinders to see if it has any effect?

Offline calj737

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Re: 73 CB750K plug fouling / Exhaust restriction
« Reply #1 on: September 17, 2023, 11:14:54 AM »
I doubt the exhaust is your cause. I would tend towards an ignition problem. Normally I’d say condenser, but you list “electronic” ignition. Is it perhaps an old Dyna unit? There has been a spate of reports on them failing on one side only after the motor gets hot.

You could try swapping the leads around to setup up the current 1/4 cycle to fire the other side and see if the problem follows.
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Online scottly

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Re: 73 CB750K plug fouling / Exhaust restriction
« Reply #2 on: September 17, 2023, 12:38:01 PM »
Carbon fouling usually indicates a carburation problem: too much fuel/too little air.
Please post pics of your spark plugs.
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Offline Mark1976

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Re: 73 CB750K plug fouling / Exhaust restriction
« Reply #3 on: September 17, 2023, 01:51:55 PM »
Carbon fouling usually indicates a carburation problem: too much fuel/too little air.
Please post pics of your spark plugs.

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Offline calj737

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Re: 73 CB750K plug fouling / Exhaust restriction
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2023, 04:54:26 PM »
Carbon fouling usually indicates a carburation problem: too much fuel/too little air.
Please post pics of your spark plugs.
There is no doubt that is typical. However, since the malady is attached to a coil pair (1&4) while the other pair is “perfect” seems that carbs may wouldn’t be the issue. But too little info yet to make any diagnosis.
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis