[MooseKnuckleds]

Getting my '05 500 ready for spring riding: new tires, new brake shoe, left and right rear wheel bearings, etc.
Pulled the plug and it's black. I've been reading through a lot of the carb tuning posts and videos (really great) so I want to get it adjusted, based on the plug should i just go ahead and order a few main jets from jetsrus.com? I bought the bike used a couple years ago and it has 8,500km on it, not sure what jet is currently in it, so I might buy a stock and +3. It's running the factory Honda snorkel, otherwise stock. I ride at 1000ft +/- 200

 

[oldskool83]

turn air fuel in until the seated position and see if it dies when ideling. If it does not your too fat at pilot jet. I've seen airfuel screw that were screwed out too far and later they just fall out making everything stupid rich.

 

[spock]

Stock jetting should be fine, if changing the adjustment screw doesn't help you may have a leaking float valve (aka needle & seat). The other possibility is the rings are worn out & carb fiddling won't help then.

 

[Eric the red]

Does it use oil? The plug looks oil fouled not like one that running rich.

If you want to check the plugs color you need to put a new plug in it then run it wide open down the rd, stop and look at the plug.
Looking at the plug out of a high mileage motor doesnt tell you much, if it's running rich, you dont know if it's rich at idle or wide open.

 

[MooseKnuckleds]

turn air fuel in until the seated position and see if it dies when ideling. If it does not your too fat at pilot jet. I've seen airfuel screw that were screwed out too far and later they just fall out making everything stupid rich.

Stock setting should be screw in until lightly seated and the 2 turns out?

Does it use oil? The plug looks oil fouled not like one that running rich.

If you want to check the plugs color you need to put a new plug in it then run it wide open down the rd, stop and look at the plug.
Looking at the plug out of a high mileage motor doesnt tell you much, if it's running rich, you dont know if it's rich at idle or wide open.

Does burn oil, I have 500km (310mi) into this oil interval and oil level is still at the fill line of the dip stick.
Yea I'm going to get a basic Champion plug to troubleshoot.