Fouled Spark Plugs

[maivin]

Bike has 3,600 miles. Dealer serviced at 600 mi. After a 25 mile ride (gas purchased during ride) parked bike and 2 days later ignition cranking strong but would not turnover (bike was in open and there was some heavy rain). Left bike on charger and in garage for 2 days and still would not turnover. Towed to dealer whoi reports that spark plugs fouled and could not find cause for this to happen.
1) Has anyone else experienced this problem?
2) Any ideas as to cause? (there was no sign of rough running prior to the problem)
3) Is this field serviceable?

 

[coastie]

There are many posts discussing this issue. I have not experienced it myself, but many say wide open throttle and crank. It usually fires right up. I do not believe a true cause has been discovered. Do a search and you can read all about it.

 

[bloodline]

If you key it on and then off without starting it or even key it on and start it for a few seconds and then shut it off, this will happen. A said above, hold it wide open and crank away. It will fire.

Mine has done it several times while I was messing with the gps or other switched accessories.

Don't hesitate and give it half throttle. Go wide open and then hit the ignition. The worse you flooded it, the longer it will take to start. It may stumble a few times before it finally comes to life.

 

[MikeBear]

Bike has 3,600 miles. Dealer serviced at 600 mi. After a 25 mile ride (gas purchased during ride) parked bike and 2 days later ignition cranking strong but would not turnover (bike was in open and there was some heavy rain). Left bike on charger and in garage for 2 days and still would not turnover. Towed to dealer whoi reports that spark plugs fouled and could not find cause for this to happen.
1) Has anyone else experienced this problem?
2) Any ideas as to cause? (there was no sign of rough running prior to the problem)
3) Is this field serviceable?

What do you mean? What happened with spark plugs? We're they wet? Black?

 

[stevepsd]

If you key it on and then off without starting it or even key it on and start it for a few seconds and then shut it off, this will happen. A said above, hold it wide open and crank away. It will fire.

I wonder what the variables are in this that causes the hard/no start problem.

I have done the above numerious times (key on/key off without starting), start for just a few seconds and shut down several times within 5 minutes (usually when doing electrical work and need to quickly check someting) and I have never had this issue. Not once.

The engine, intake & exhaust are completely stock and unaltered on my bike. Even the CO settings are unaltered. Is that true for those that have had this issue?

 

[bloodline]

Well, it has only happened to me when the engine is cold. No mods on my bike. I suspect the culprit is a big squirt of fuel into the cold engine with the anticipation of an engine start coming soon when it is keyed on. This is the FI version of a "choke".

 

[coastie]

I also have not had issue with shutting down a cold bike and having it fire right back up, or using the kill switch. After reading all the other post I don't believe its a major issue (well if its happening to you and you want to ride. Id be pretty frustrated and consider it a major issue.) and hopefully they come out with a recall ECU flash that takes care of the problem.

 

[528Hz]

I did not have this issue, but mine misfires a few times a week

 

[Dallara]

~


First off, I've never had the problem described. Not once, and I've washed the bike, ridden a bunch in the rain, had it parked out in the rain on more than one occasion, etc. I did inadvertently leave an electrical device (my GPS) plugged in and turned on for a couple of days once running the battery dead-flat, but it charged right up and has functioned perfectly since.

But just as a side note...

I just now (this past Friday) - after 16,750+ miles on the odo - decided to change out the *original* spark plugs and put in some fresh ones. Just to be clear, these are the plugs that were delivered in the motorcycle, as I did *NOT* put in fresh ones at the 600-mile check, nor at any time since.

And the plugs with over 16,000 miles on 'em? They looked nearly *perfect*!

Dry, gap perfectly within spec, no abnormal discoloration, no odd erosion or pitting... Nothing. I could have easily put 'em back in and been fully confident that they would readily do another 16,000 miles or more. That's one of the great things about today's coil-on-plug ignitions - long, healthy plug life.

The only reason I mention it is because I really wonder about a dealer saying the plugs were "fouled". It is really rare these days to see a fouled plug on a modern fuel-injected four-stroke, and especially on a production street bike. Did you get to actually see the plugs the dealer pulled out? If so, how did they look?

Dallara



~

 

[Tremor38]

Re: Re: Fouled Spark Plugs

The only reason I mention it is because I really wonder about a dealer saying the plugs were "fouled". It is really rare these days to see a fouled plug on a modern fuel-injected four-stroke, and especially on a production street bike. Did you get to actually see the plugs the dealer pulled out? If so, how did they look?

Dallara

＋1. I wonder what he meant by 'fouled'. Seems highly unlikely, and if they truly were fouled (as in oil on the electrodes) at 3600 miles, then, 'Houston, we have a problem'


~


Sent from my F-05D using Tapatalk 2

 

[maivin]

It was raining during the ride (did not go through any large puddles). Parked the bike in the driveway and I left the bike for 2 days during which time it rained heavily. When I went to start the bike it cranked but did not turn over. Cranked for 3-4 seconds and repeated this 2 more times. Rolled bike into garage attached battery tender and tried again after one day. Repeated next day but with turning throttle 1/4, still no results. next day when tow truck arrived we let it crank for 8-10 seconds.

The dealer states that the plugs were fouled with gas. Once he replaced the plugs he states it fired right up. This is the second bike that I have had this dealer service over the last 5-6 years.

 

[MikeBear]

It was raining during the ride (did not go through any large puddles). Parked the bike in the driveway and I left the bike for 2 days during which time it rained heavily. When I went to start the bike it cranked but did not turn over. Cranked for 3-4 seconds and repeated this 2 more times. Rolled bike into garage attached battery tender and tried again after one day. Repeated next day but with turning throttle 1/4, still no results. next day when tow truck arrived we let it crank for 8-10 seconds.

The dealer states that the plugs were fouled with gas. Once he replaced the plugs he states it fired right up. This is the second bike that I have had this dealer service over the last 5-6 years.

Don't mean to point fingers, but why did he need to replace plugs? I smell something fouled

 

[Tremor38]

Also, despite any beliefs or practices you might have used to this point, forum members report successfully starting using WOT (WFO) throttle, so why do you only use 1/4 turn? It's not about what works on other bikes or what might be written somewhere, it's about what actually works, in practice, on this machine.

Sent from my F-05D using Tapatalk 2

 

[Koinz]

I wonder if a hotter heat range plug would take care of this problem.

 

[bloodline]

No. Don't do that.