My 78 Clubbie is getting fouled plugs. I have done a search and when this topic has previously come up it has been suggested that the mixture is too rich. So yesterday evening I turned the mixture crew up a couple of flats.

When I got to work this morning, first thing I did was lift the little pin on the side of the carby and the engine slowed down almost to stalling, which I understand to meant that the mixture is too lean.

I then took out the plugs one by one and found, No1 half of the head of the plug was soot covered, the rest pale pink, No2 all covered in soot, No3 mostly covered in soot but the tip was pink and No4 mostly clean and pinkish.

I am planning on changing the plugs, leads and points on payday as they look like they have been on a while, but any thoughts on the mixture?

Cheers

Rick

a couple of flats is extreme, one flat at a time drive i to work and back, then drop it another flat the next day. keep a close eye on the plugs (pull them out an have a look, and clean any soot off them) and the exaust, should be a nice light grey colour rather than black, if it is white, too lean. Replace the plugs with NGK BP5ES plugs rather than 6ES especially if running unleaded.

Cheers

Aaron

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Aaron

Would the change of plugs be likely to fix the sooting, could the plugs be the cause. As I said, the lifting pin test is suggesting that it is too lean, whereas the fouled plugs suggests too rich. It's the conflicting signs that are throwing me.

Cheers

Rick

The plugs probably got all the soot on them from before - when you were running it too rich.. I'd say either wait till you get the new plugs or give these ones a clean (soak them in a bit of fuel) and get the mixture right. Then if everything seems to be running fine, leave it and check the plugs again after a few days, see what they are telling you then.

If it was set up right with correct needle and mixture then yes it will. I am thinking that for the $15 it'll cost you for the new plugs, there is a good chance that it will be a winner. Worked for me and has recently worked for brad(13sec) on his wifes car. give it a go!

Cheers

Aaron

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OK, I changed the plugs this lunchtime for the NGK BP5ES. Also changed the leads as well.

Took ti for a good run this afternoon, not too much sitting in traffic. Got back, popped out plug No2 (as this was the one that was getting the sootiest) and it was "black as yer hat", assuming you are wearing a very black hat that is

Could it be a needle problem, say causing too rich running when moving, but lean at idle? As I have said before the lifting pin test suggests I am running too lean?

Still much confused

Rick

it's not oil on the plug is it?

I don't think it's oil, it's not shiny but matt black, like soot.

Quote: When I got to work this morning, first thing I did was lift the little pin on the side of the carby and the engine slowed down almost to stalling, which I understand to meant that the mixture is too lean. Unquote

If it was leaned out the plugs should be getting hot and you should see white or greyish hard baked deposits????

Sooty to me means an ignition electrical...unless you have reddish unburnt fuel deposits as well...branf new plugs can be dud...not to mention a bunch of other things lik the connectors on the leads, the distributor cap and timing, condensor, points....and last of all the coil (not often that they fail).

So....I recommend keep looking for things wrong with spark...

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