Looking for pics

[IngrahamS]

I'm looking for some pics of what the cylinders and pistons should look like under normal operating conditions. Was running real lean on my bike so I pulled some plugs and stuck a scope down to check things out. I am a diesel mechanic by trade so I am not sure what is normal in these things. Nothing looked bad to me, the pistons were black, and the sidewalls looked good. I couldn't get a good look at the valves but the bike was running fine, the only thing that tipped me off was the ceramic coating on the pipes starting to flake at the first 90 bend off the engine. Any help would be great.
-Thanks

 

[atomsplitter]

You can use a "color tune" to watch the flame color at idle. I bought one years ago for my XS1100 and still have it. It replaces one plug with a special plug that has a 'window' so you can see the color of the flame. They include a color chart so you can tell how rich or lean your firing, however since the injection system is mapped the color won't be consistent throughout the rev range and loads. Your best bet is to put it on a dyno and tune it for max power.

 

[IngrahamS]

That's the plan as soon as I can find a place to dyno. Just want to make sure I didn't do any damage to the engine.

 

[Willtill]

Stew, are you using any of the Tunes that Sam had sent for the Predators?

3_1x320050TA
3_1x3TA
Predatorbe2wepc
predatorexhaustp9
Regulator PredatorA
StripedApeTune
StripedApeTune2
wtpred050

I'm using the "Regulator PredatorA tune at my engine seems to be running with no lean issues. I also used the StripedApe tune previously as well, it ran a little rich (about 12:1 on the Dyno....) ...that tune was definitely "ball's to the wall" ....I liked it.

 

[IngrahamS]

I was running WTpred050, Sam has since had me switch to predatorexhaustp9

 

[warp9.9]

I'm looking for some pics of what the cylinders and pistons should look like under normal operating conditions. Was running real lean on my bike so I pulled some plugs and stuck a scope down to check things out. I am a diesel mechanic by trade so I am not sure what is normal in these things. Nothing looked bad to me, the pistons were black, and the sidewalls looked good. I couldn't get a good look at the valves but the bike was running fine, the only thing that tipped me off was the ceramic coating on the pipes starting to flake at the first 90 bend off the engine. Any help would be great.
-Thanks

Stew can you email me the pictures of the pistons and I will have a look at them. Black is good as they need a carbon layer. what you need to look at the the edges of the OD on the pistons for burning if it is lean. I really does not sound like it was lean from what you said except the pipes which mine discolored also from the exhaust heat. They did not flake though, I am wondering if the pipe was not prpared right before it was coated. Flaking sounds like it had a bonding issue.
Anyway here is my e-mail address
szczepaniak@grics.net
I will look at the pictures of mine but I must admit I only have about 240 miles on them.

Renmember depending on what cams you used your valves open more and are open much longer in duration. so the pipes are exposed to more heat especially if it was rich and still burning on its way thru the pipes. If its not a secret send me the cam info.

 

[Willtill]

Hey Stew,

Out of the Tunes that Sam has sent, I've tried the:

1. wtpred050 - used it initially, but the gas mileage was pretty economical; I was concerned of being too lean.
2. StripedApeTune - EXCELLENT tune for power; balls to the wall, had it Dyno'ed and it was rich (12:1) and I got terrible gas mileage (24mpg)
3. Regulator PredatorA - currently using; GREAT power, getting in the 30's for mileage. Talked to Wayne Tripp about this tune last week; he said he developed it years ago and it has the fuel trims committed to the fuel tables. I am sort of content with it now. I don't think I'm running lean with it. I just haven't had a chance to get back to the Dyno to check out the A/F on it.

At any rate, I popped off one of my heat shields to see if my ceramic was peeling as well. It's hard to tell in the photo below; but the only thing I can detect is a very slight brownish tinge in the first outer bend of the pipe. Also, no sign of the ceramic cracking or peeling. Still smooth.



I've got at least a thousand hard highway miles on these pipes; using the Regulator PredatorA Tune.