1978 KZ1000-A2 "Barn find"

The black on the base ring is normal, you want some dark color there. The earth strap is where you look for heat range. 1 & 2 are either a little rich or you need to step up the heat range of the plug. 3# is dangerously lean. see the black spots on the porcelain, and #4 is lean also. What plugs are you using and what conditions were you riding last before you checked the plugs. Your bike should have Fuel pilot screws on the bottom of the carb between the bowl and the head. Add at least a 1/2 turn out (counter clockwise)to #'s 3 & 4. you can turn in the pilots 1/4 turn for #'s 1 & 2.

Before you do anything have you adjusted the idle pilots for best idle or just set to 1 1/4 out as a factory starting point?

Please don't thrash on it till you resolve the lean condition on 2 & 3

Mikaw wrote: The black on the base ring is normal, you want some dark color there. The earth strap is where you look for heat range. 1 & 2 are either a little rich or you need to step up the heat range of the plug. 3# is dangerously lean. see the black spots on the porcelain, and #4 is lean also. What plugs are you using and what conditions were you riding last before you checked the plugs. Your bike should have Fuel pilot screws on the bottom of the carb between the bowl and the head. Add at least a 1/2 turn out (counter clockwise)to #'s 3 & 4. you can turn in the pilots 1/4 turn for #'s 1 & 2.

Before you do anything have you adjusted the idle pilots for best idle or just set to 1 1/4 out as a factory starting point?

Please don't thrash on it till you resolve the lean condition on 2 & 3

I’m using NGK BR8ES. Literally just drove it down and back the road in front of the shop. Less than 1km. Just set to 1 1/2 turns to get a starting point. I actually find it really difficult to adjust while the bike is running, as they are difficult to get at and the engine gets too hot to get a hand in there. Given how difficult it is to get in there, it seems that it would be easier to me to make adjustments 1/4 to 1/2 turn at a time until the plugs show it’s in the ball park, then I can make the minor adjustments while it’s running. You are referring to fuel pilot screws and idle pilots as if there are separate adjustments? These carbs only have the one pilot screw.

Correct your cabs only have one Idle fuel pilot screws for adjustment per carb. Welcome to the world of adjusting carbs. I have so many burns on my hands I actually hurt so bad I swapped out to a different set with Air pilots. I hear the fuel pilots are slightly better carbs for tuning but I would seriously start to twitch just over the thought of having to put my hands into the devils mouth AGAIN to try to adjust the pilots.

Can you get B8ES plugs. You don't need the R (resistor) and if you have the stock plug caps they are resistor caps and resistor with resistor is not a good combination. Only one resistor item if you want any. They are not necessary.

EDIT, How does it idle? Did you vacuum sync the carbs ?

Your can turn the pilots when cold to get in the "ball Park' but your idle might suffer. Sometimes best idle is achieved with a very slight twist of the pilot. If you adjust to good idle first I think it will show if you Pilot jet is correct.

Can't find B8ES anywhere. I'm not even sure NGK makes them anymore?!?!

Seems to idle pretty well. Haven't vacuum synced yet. It's somewhere within ebay's bizarre Global Shipping Program. Was hoping it would be here by now.

Kaylinator wrote: Can't find B8ES anywhere. I'm not even sure NGK makes them anymore?!?! The y still make them. I can buy a set and ship them to you. I'm going to get a few sets myself I just checked my stock and I have 6 sets of B7ES and I'm low on the 8's not a big deal to pick you up a set or two.... there like $2.30 USD each

Seems to idle pretty well. Haven't vacuum synced yet. It's somewhere within ebay's bizarre Global Shipping Program. Was hoping it would be here by now.

www.amazon.com/NGK-B8ES-Standard-Spark-P...id=1598059217&sr=8-3

Maybe not available in Canada?

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configurationThank you for your generous offer Mikaw, but I managed to track some down online. Amazon wanted $55 +$24 shipping for 4! Found a 10 pack on eBay for $40 with free shipping. They’re coming straight from China so may take a while to get here. Hopefully they’re the real deal.

Be careful, a lot of bike and car spare parts made or sold in China are cheap and dangerous clones of the original brands!!!

www.ngkntk.com/de/presse-medien/social-m...elschung-oder-nicht/

Kaylinator wrote: Thank you for your generous offer Mikaw, but I managed to track some down online. Amazon wanted $55 +$24 shipping for 4! Found a 10 pack on eBay for $40 with free shipping. They’re coming straight from China so may take a while to get here. Hopefully they’re the real deal.
/quote]

Scirocco is right, those are fakes. NGK are not produced in china. Caveat Emptor.

Kaylinator, my local Lordco has them (NGK--B8ES) in stock (I'm near Invermere). They have 12 on hand for around $5 each. I can pick some up and mail them to you if you want. They would probably get to you in a week or so. PM me if you're interested.

I’m not a NGK fraud detective but those you posted don’t seem to be correct... I’d say regardless of the item count which might change the package design, I’d have to believe the individual packaging would be consistent. I don’t find any Chinese writing on the individual boxes. And the plug rendering on the package is different

Kaylinator wrote: Just sitting around the house while the old lady cleans around me and just realized it's my bike's birthday month. Happy 43rd birthday!

Really need to name this bike. Just can't decide if it's a boy or girl...

Random, unexplained, cantankerous behavior for no apparent reason. Sometimes demanding attention when they were fine yesterday. Other times they're a delight. We enjoy looking at them; they're called nekkid bikes for a reason. They also benefit from routine servicing, and we like doing so. Helps make 'em purr.

They're all wimmin'.

Trust me...

slmjim


As to the question of counterfeit NGK's, NGK has a page dedicated to ID-ing counterfeits.
www.ngkntk.com/press-media/social-news/e...s-how-to-avoid-them/

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE