cmetalbend
ArboristSite Operative
With all the mods we discuss on a daily basis, does anybody but me just check the plug after an adjustment. I mean it truly tells the story, IMO better than the sound (which I use to get close).opcorn:
You are right. I checked the plugs on 2 saws yesterday. Its a good indicator of being to lean, most people know when their saw is to rich. I make sure that I am not leaned out to much. Never blown one up yet in a lot of years of cutting, and I like to hear my saws scream.
Need to look beyond just the tip of the ground strap. Found too that oil and fuel will play with appearance, running alcohol heavy with castor oil turns reading plug on it's ear if comparing against a gas plug run at 40 or 50 to 1.
the plug was dark golden brown.....hummm.? what colour was the top of the piston and check on the colour of the combustion chamber that might give you a better idea what was happening just before lockup.
or just could be that the rings snapped and locked it up so it might not have been a carb adjustment fault??
Those things are neat, we used them When I was running alot of nitrous oxide in my car . Except we were looking for tiny particals of Aluminum, well I guess it really isn't that different.opcorn:Plug reading is not accurate unless you are very intimate with the engine and are experienced at seeing what changes have what effects on plug appearance. The ring on the insulator is what you are after and the only way to see it clearly is with an illuminated coddington magnifier.
I trust the exhaust note much more than a plug chop, but if you tune the saw by timed cuts, then do a plug chop and take note of what the plug looks like you will have a backup tuning method for that saw with that fuel and oil mix.
I am no small engine guy, that's for sure. Could you guys elaborate a little on exactly what you are checking or seeing when you examine the plug and what you mean by telling how you are tuned or running by looking at the plug?
MarkG
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