I have a 1983 Honda 185s that runs good for a couple days and then requires a new spark plug.
The fouled plug is black and sooty - I know it's running rich - just not sure how to correct the problem.

With a new plug - it fires on the first pull and runs great - no smoke, no miss etc. Once the plug fouls
cleaning it does no good - wire brush method.

any ideas ?

 

Is your air filter clean? Also how long has it been doing this? Did it just start? Does that thing still have points?

 

The air filter is clean - the choke is not on - both are verified.

The engine does not have points - there is a pick-up coil ( hall effect sensor )

I don't ride it but every once in a while - I use it to pull a wagon that I haul firewood in. I've been through
about 4 - 5 spark plugs now. I was wondering about dropping the needle a notch ( deeper into the carb )

The trouble is that I don't ride it enough to even get it very warm - just from the barn to the woodshed - around to the house and back to the barn - 300 yards maybe.

 

That might help but im still not sure why it started doing it all of a sudden. It may be burning a little oil and justloping around is fouling the plug. Maybe try lowering the needle and turning the air screw out a 1/4 turn or so too. You may need to just rev it up a little more, dont go into as high of a gear and see if it does any better.

 

Here is my 2 cents worth......... I suggest you throw a new plug in it...change the oil.....And go take if for a couple hour ride to warm it up good and possilbe seat the rings in a touch better. "run the cobwebs out of it" persay [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] then see if we can figure out what is going on. It could be as simple as the valve guide seals are bad, and you never run it long enough to burn the cylinder clean.

 

Thanks for responding.

I don't believe that it's burning oil - there is no smoke and the spark plug is black and sooty - not oily
at all. I was looking for a hotter plug but they tell me that the NGK 6es is the hottest plug available.

Thought about a non-fouler tip but have not been able to find one. I'm sure that it's carb related.

I'll drop the needle over the weekend and see what happens.

 

what size jets are in it?

 

Sounds responable to me Thrash and crash. I ride like an old man - cause I am ! ( 48 this year )

This 185 works great for what I use it for and I have less than $200.00 in it. I know that not allowing it to get warm and then sitting until next time is not good for it - but it is what it is.

Thanks for the tips !

 

I have no idea - what ever Honda put in them I guess.

I've cleaned the carb but nothing else

 

This is not an uncommon problem with the 185/200's. The slide needle and seat are worn and should be replaced. But you can raise the clip on the needle one notch, which lowers the needle and that should get you running again. Good Luck