Author Topic: black plugs, exhaust?  (Read 1307 times)

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Offline XxDarkEuphoriaxX

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black plugs, exhaust?
« on: August 30, 2009, 07:32:14 AM »
Hi, my 1972 CB350F is running rich, everything is stock BESIDES a 4-1 MAC exhaust WITH the baffle in place....

My question is, could the exhaust itself be enough to cause the bike to run rich?

All of the carb internals are original and stock.
1972 CB350F

Offline ekpent

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Re: black plugs, exhaust?
« Reply #1 on: August 30, 2009, 07:37:48 AM »
And clean clean clean ??? Also make sure your air filter is clean and unobstructed.

Offline Gordon

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Re: black plugs, exhaust?
« Reply #2 on: August 30, 2009, 08:43:53 AM »
Hi, my 1972 CB350F is running rich, everything is stock BESIDES a 4-1 MAC exhaust WITH the baffle in place....

My question is, could the exhaust itself be enough to cause the bike to run rich?

All of the carb internals are original and stock.

If anything, switching to a 4-1 exhaust will cause the bike to run leaner.  Is your air filter old and/or dirty?

Offline mlinder

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Re: black plugs, exhaust?
« Reply #3 on: August 30, 2009, 10:28:28 AM »
Why do you think it's running rich? Remember, these are air cooled carbed bikes. The idle circuit needs to be rich. If you don't run the bike above idle or very little throttle for any real length of time, the plugs will soot up.
I know you just got the bike back from your new mechanic, but have you actually run the bike at freeway speeds? How much have you let it run at idle? How far vakced out are your air screws?
« Last Edit: August 30, 2009, 10:30:30 AM by mlinder »
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Offline XxDarkEuphoriaxX

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Re: black plugs, exhaust?
« Reply #4 on: August 30, 2009, 11:03:16 AM »
I havent got to ride it down the road yet, BUT I have a pretty sizeable yard and have ran it in 3'd gear around the yard...

when I give decent amount of gas in 3d gear it seems to cut out like its not getting enough

I just got the title in the mail and got my learners permit squared away, monday I am going to get insurance and tues probably the liscense plate, then I am gonna try to go up and down the road quite a bit and high speeds, won't know how fast or at how many RPM's because I dont think the speedo or tach work.

The air filter is brand new, however the battery is new also BUT i think I messed it up and it doesnt seem to hold a charge very well... not enough to electric start the bike, and the neutral light flickers while the bike is running, and when it dies while idleing (which it does from time to time) the light becomes dimmer than when the bike was idling..

Are the air screws the little flat-head screw driver screws on the sides of the carbs? Im not 100% sure if they are right or not  but would ASSume that they are right?
1972 CB350F

Offline Johnny5

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Re: black plugs, exhaust?
« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2009, 11:07:29 AM »
If your battery/charging system isnt functioning right, it wont run well at all.
www.kerosenecycles.com
1971 CB350
1973 CB350F
2006 Harley Springer Classic

Offline bucky katt

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Re: black plugs, exhaust?
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2009, 01:09:41 PM »
you need to run the bike at road speeds (over 2000 rpms) for the battery to charge take it for a 30 minute long ride and it should be ok. if it's a lead acid non-sealed battery be sure to check the specific gravity of the electrolite as well
Of all God's creatures there is only one that cannot be made the slave of the lash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat.
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Offline mlinder

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Re: black plugs, exhaust?
« Reply #7 on: August 30, 2009, 01:44:38 PM »
Why do you think you messed up the battery?
The 350f wont charge battery much below 3500 rpm.
Why don't your speedo and tach work? The 350 is a dangerous machine not to have a tach on if you are a new rider. It spins up easily well past redline. Good way to grenade your engine. Look into fixing that.
Yes, the air screws are the flathead screws on the sides of each carb body, on the airbox side. Do you know how to adjust these?

Listen, I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but you are a new rider, and a new at wrenching, and new at understanding old bikes. There have been a lot of questions asked by you that fall under very routine maintenance. You were taken for a ride by the first mechanic you took your bike to. And since you really don't understand even the basic workings of a carburetted 4 stroke internal combustion engine, suggesting that you try this or that, without having to spell out an entire chapters worth of theory, experience, data, cross referencing, and cause-and-effect logic trees is not only difficult, but possibly harmful.

You really, REALLY, need to find someone in your area that you can both ride with, and learn to work on with, an old bike. Find ANYONE, a group of people that have a 'bike night', with people that are experienced, at least somewhat, with old bikes. DOesn't have to be old SOHC4 Hondas. Just has to be old-tech knowledge.

I wish you were nearby, because you could bring that sucker over to bike night 2 or 3 times a week, and we could teach you basic maintenance and basic theory in  couple of weeks, so  that you understand why you are doing something, and the steps to hunting down via experience, theory, and process of elimination, the problems you are having.

Do your best to find a group of people who love old bikes that get together in your area, bro, it'll do you a world of good.
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