what should my exhaust valves look like?

I took my Kerker exhaust the other day and wanted to take a picture of what I was looking at.  Looking at these pictures, do you see anything that appears off?  

Cylinder 1 exhaust valve looks different than the other 3.  Since the exhaust is off I'd like to know if I should also take the head off and replace valves.  Or possibly run a can of seafoam in the tank.

 

Might be running lean on that cylinder or that valve is not seating fully.
What do your plugs look like, Check compression and valve clearances.
There is also at least one valve seal passing oil.

All plugs look awful, black and sooty.  I have to change every 200 miles.  I'm getting ready to pull the carbs, ensure float height and drop the pilots down 1 size so this would be the opposite of lean for how the plugs look.  I already have your air corrector jets in, and the funny thing is that the bike runs great all through RPM range.  

I checked valve clearances last year and replaced a few.  Will have to recheck compression.  Why do you say at least 1 valve seal is leaking oil?

wrote:

All plugs look awful, black and sooty.  
 Why do you say at least 1 valve seal is leaking oil?

Valve stem is 2nd pic is wet at the guide which will be oil from the leaking stem seal.
Don't touch your pilots they won't be your problem if they are stock size.
Your black soofy plugs are likely to be oil fouled due to worn inlet guide seals or possibly rings but i'd go for stem seals considering the exhaust one is leaking and the inlet ones are subject to oil being drawn down them and into the cylinders on the inlet stroke.

I had the same problem and it was the valve guide seals.
steve

Looks too rich.

What kind of gas mileage are you getting?  Pod air filters with big fat jets?

 

Thanks for the insight, I will start looking at the fsm and see what doing new valve guide seals entails. 

Nessism, don't know about the gas mileage, I don't keep track.  Yes on the pod filters but I'm at stock jetting except 2 sizes larger on the mains.  I'm not looking for a debate on pods vs airbox.

It's apart! Bite the bullet! Get a professional valve job. The smog head had nitrated vales, the blackish looking ones. These are low 12,000 miles. Ground valves with a lot of meat on them. Plus they had iron valve guides for long life. It's all crazy money the past couple of years! Years ago, I gave stuff away!

wrote:

Thanks for the insight, I will start looking at the fsm and see what doing new valve guide seals entails. 

Nessism, don't know about the gas mileage, I don't keep track.  Yes on the pod filters but I'm at stock jetting except 2 sizes larger on the mains.  I'm not looking for a debate on pods vs airbox.




I didn’t see Ed start a debate on pods versus stock air box. What I read was someone looking for advise with a potential problem and when he didn’t like the response he got somewhat put out.  Plain and simple, Ed asked a question , he didn’t request or initiate a debate. 
Rick H. 



 

Thanks Rick, you are not wrong.  Somedays are better or worse and unfortunately yesterday wasn't my finest.  I took it a certain way based on the countless posts I have seen on pods vs stock airbox.  

I am here, as most are, to gain as much knowledge as possible.  Nessism, sorry to clap back at you based on 1 question.  

wrote:

It's apart! Bite the bullet! Get a professional valve job. The smog head had nitrated vales, the blackish looking ones. These are low 12,000 miles. Ground valves with a lot of meat on them. Plus they had iron valve guides for long life. It's all crazy money the past couple of years! Years ago, I gave stuff away!

Mmmm... purdy!

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE

They all look nice and shiny sitting on the bench before you run them.
 

Run them for awhile and they all start to look like this!!!!!!!
 
If your exhaust valves and ports have that nice light tan color to them. It tells you your jetting is pretty close!!!!