Please advise on plug chops and exhaust leaks (pics inside)

[Crestfallen]

Hi All

I have 2 major problems which i really need advice on.

Firstly, which part of the spark plug do you look at when doing a "plug chop" in order to tell whether the engine is running rich or lean?
Here is a picture of my plug which was taken using a Nokia 7650.


https://www.aoqt56.dsl.pipex.com/plug.jpg



Is it the bottom of the metal barrel which has the thread on it or is it the inner plastic part which contains the little pin? I am clueless

Secondly - A while ago i noticed a small drop of oil on the floor below my RS125, right beneath where the expansion chamber sticks out under the fairing. I immediately took the side fairing off and noticed that there was oil all along the exhaust which appears to be coming from where the exhaust attached to the engine. It appears to be following the seam of the engine downwards and also along the shoulder of the exhaust and the forward motion of the bike must be pushing the oil backwards along the top of the expansion chamber.
I took the bike to the shop and they basically said that the exhaust is held onto the engine by 2 springs ( which i knew) and these allow the metal to expand and therefore you never get a perfect seal and due to the nature of 2 strokes not burning all the petrol and oil, some will leak through.
Is this right?

Here are 2 pics of the oil, again taken with the 7650 which isnt too good in the camera department.

https://www.aoqt56.dsl.pipex.com/eek.jpg
https://www.aoqt56.dsl.pipex.com/crap.jpg



Thanks to all who can help

[Scotty]

If thats your spark plug as it stands then your bike is i not too sure because of the bike but is carbon deposits on the plug...?
is it like dry, black, soot-like deposits? might be running a little rich, not to sure on this.
And can't say ive had any oil coming out from the exaust but the mechanic seems to have a valid reason for it.
The other guys should probably know more than me.
____________________
Regards
Scott

[Scotty]

cool Phone by the way...!
____________________
Regards
Scott

[Crestfallen]

The plug had a few hard crusty bits which must have been the carbon bits? I cleaned them off with a metal brush.

Yeah, the 7650 is a nice phone, if a little expensive for what it is but i read about it on the net and and had to have it.

[Doddmaster]

I think the oil thing is normal - my scoot does it and so does my neighbour's RS125

[TJ NSR]

im going one better than you and getting the phone which plays films and mp3s and has a touch screen and camera!!!! its on order should av it soon!!


ashame that u can cant send pics cross network on the 7650! nice fone though, and the porn sites are good too""


tj

[Scotty]

To be honest i think your plug will be fine.
Its not like there expensive to replace if you want another one.
And if you cleaned it then should work fine
____________________
Regards
Scott

[Crestfallen]

The plug seems to be working ok. I just wanted to know if my engine was running either lean or rich so i don't seize unexpectedly and fall off. I really want to learn how to look after my bike properly but this oil leak thing is worrying me al lthe time now.

[Ropehead]

The plug looks sweet (coffe brown)

[MarsBar]

[Scotty]

lol!
Coffee not Coffe.
Whats wrong to lazy to hit that last E key??
lol
____________________
Regards
Scott

[Ropehead]

PISS off it was late

[MarsBar]

[Scotty]

you know we only kidding
____________________
Regards
Scott

[Kickstart]

Hi

Possibly slightly rich, but I would not try leaning it off. When doing a plug chop you hold the bike up a hill at high revs / full throttle, then whip the clutch in and hit the kill switch at the same time. Take the plug straight out. If you let the bike slow down normally you will land up with nothing useful from the plug chop.

By the way, you shouldnt use a wire brush on a spark plug, as it is likely to leave traces of metal on the insulator which can cause it to short out. Must admit I still do it occasionally though

The RS uses expensive spark plugs so take care of them

The oil leak isnt unusual. However Rotax specify a soft sealant for the exhaust onto the engine, but I have never found any

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Hunter]

Yeah.. if the plug chop was done correctly then you should be looking for a center electrode ceramic thats lighter coloured (like a mocha brown). If darker.. its too rich. Check/calibrate your oil pump as well...