I am getting get bad plug fouling in my 75 Super Glide. Both before and after rebuild. She runs/starts OK more or less despite the fouling, mostly thanks to the Daytona Twin Tech 1005 ignition (which I am very happy with).
She always fouled plugs before the rebuild, regardless of my riding habits. Post-rebuild (went from very worn 86" stroker crank and jugs to stock late-shovel 80" setup) she did not foul plugs so much. Then I moved houses (got a garage, finally!) and started a longer commute which involved higher speeds, i.e. using the HOV lanes. I thought high-speed runs would get her hot and help burn out fouling, but it seems like the opposite.
I have been told the fouling is typical in shovels, and it's because of the loose tolerances letting oil by, better to have too much than too little. I compensated in years past by using straight 70W in the summer months. It seems to seep by less. I am about to buy some more. I was using 20W-50 since the rebuild. (OK, I was being lazy and getting my oil two blocks away at Advance Auto, who carry 20W-50 and 10W-40 now in most stores.)
I've made good progress on reducing leaks on the ground, dealing with the usual leaks prone to shovels, and trying to do what I can. The breather hose puffs and chuffs, and drops oil, but that's not unusual, though I wish it didn't.
The issue of HP, leaks and fouling have all been on my mind for a while. I ride a Shovelhead after all...
After reading some of the ideas in KCgran's thread on Horsepower ideas, http://www.jockeyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=178234 I wonder, has anyone noticed less fouling after putting vacuum in the bottom end? More HP is nice, but I've got enough to get to work. But helping rid fouling, that would be nice. And it seems easier than trying to set up a water vapor rig, which I've also been led to believe will help.
See comment in this thread from servi53 http://www.jockeyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127657&highlight=vacuum&page=2
At this time, she eats over a quart of oil a month. I had already stopped up the chain oiler mind you, and use PJ1 on the chain. Nearly all this consumption is internal. I'd like to stop that.
If vacuum on the lower end will help with oil in the combustion chamber, I'm game to try it. However, it occurs to me that the leaks could be from the top end, in which case I doubt vacuum would help.
I'm interested in opinions. It'll be a while before I undertake this even if it promises to work, mostly because of summer work to do and other repairs around the house. (This never happened when I didn't have a garage...)
Alternatively, I could spring for a spark plug cleaner attachment for my air compressor, some extra sets of plugs, and just make replacement a monthly maintenance check. But that is treating the symptoms...
Thanks for your feedback in advance.
Alex
She always fouled plugs before the rebuild, regardless of my riding habits. Post-rebuild (went from very worn 86" stroker crank and jugs to stock late-shovel 80" setup) she did not foul plugs so much. Then I moved houses (got a garage, finally!) and started a longer commute which involved higher speeds, i.e. using the HOV lanes. I thought high-speed runs would get her hot and help burn out fouling, but it seems like the opposite.
I have been told the fouling is typical in shovels, and it's because of the loose tolerances letting oil by, better to have too much than too little. I compensated in years past by using straight 70W in the summer months. It seems to seep by less. I am about to buy some more. I was using 20W-50 since the rebuild. (OK, I was being lazy and getting my oil two blocks away at Advance Auto, who carry 20W-50 and 10W-40 now in most stores.)
I've made good progress on reducing leaks on the ground, dealing with the usual leaks prone to shovels, and trying to do what I can. The breather hose puffs and chuffs, and drops oil, but that's not unusual, though I wish it didn't.
The issue of HP, leaks and fouling have all been on my mind for a while. I ride a Shovelhead after all...
After reading some of the ideas in KCgran's thread on Horsepower ideas, http://www.jockeyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=178234 I wonder, has anyone noticed less fouling after putting vacuum in the bottom end? More HP is nice, but I've got enough to get to work. But helping rid fouling, that would be nice. And it seems easier than trying to set up a water vapor rig, which I've also been led to believe will help.
See comment in this thread from servi53 http://www.jockeyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127657&highlight=vacuum&page=2
At this time, she eats over a quart of oil a month. I had already stopped up the chain oiler mind you, and use PJ1 on the chain. Nearly all this consumption is internal. I'd like to stop that.
If vacuum on the lower end will help with oil in the combustion chamber, I'm game to try it. However, it occurs to me that the leaks could be from the top end, in which case I doubt vacuum would help.
I'm interested in opinions. It'll be a while before I undertake this even if it promises to work, mostly because of summer work to do and other repairs around the house. (This never happened when I didn't have a garage...)
Alternatively, I could spring for a spark plug cleaner attachment for my air compressor, some extra sets of plugs, and just make replacement a monthly maintenance check. But that is treating the symptoms...
Thanks for your feedback in advance.
Alex