spitting sound on cold starts...

I gotta small bet with a friend about the cause of a spitting sound of a cold started carb (old airscrew Mikuni's) on his KZ1000. He starts his cold engine and one of the 4 carbs makes the spit sound until it's idling. I tell him one thing, he says I'm crazy. I said I'll prove it by responses, kinda like a survey lol. I asked him that plug color compared to the other 3 (all new plugs) and he says lighter than the others and a creamish color. Well I said it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why that is lol but he won't budge. Maybe I shld just let him score a piston for a hard lesson learned. Thanks to all participants. .......................Mike

Vroom-vroom!

That cylinder is running LEAN!!!!!

Many possible causes, depends on which carbs, too - float level is too low, idle mixture is lean, fast idle (choke) circuit is lean / plugged, slow jet, etc...

Leaky carb holders.
Steve

swest wrote: Leaky carb holders.
Steve

Yep, that too...,although that usually causes other running issues as well - erratic / high idle speed, surging, "popping" out the exhaust...stuff like that.

I they have small cracks at the head, it can run well and spit like that.
Steve