Sooty Tailpipe reason?

jchochole

jchochole

Senior Member
Hey fellers,
I yanked my muffler today and my banjo and spare tire were really sooty from only a few miles of driving? What do people suspect? Running too rich but when i turn down the carb she misfires- do I have an air leak around my manifolds?

Thanks,
James
 
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Soot means it's rich. I think you're on to something with you're idea of an air leak somewhere. Try the old trick of spraying carb cleaner around the manifold gasket while it's running. If it speeds up while you're spraying, it proves you have a leek.
 
If it quits on you you'll have to pull the plugs and clean them. It happened to me. Could not figure out why it wouldn't start until out of desperation I took a plug out. Solid carbon/soot. So bad it insulated the plugs. My problem was not re adjusting the needle after it warmed up but the result is the same as your problem.
 
I would think sucking in more air would lean it out not richen it.Think about it,more air than normal would lean it out more. ken ct OMO
 
Ken, you're right, the air is leaning out the normal mixture, which is why James has to make the mixture overly rich in order to compensate and to keep it running without misfiring.
 
Pulled my plugs and here are results: from front to back- first two are terribly sooty, 3rd is mildly sooty and 4th was clean and wet. Does that change any ideas? I will do an air test tomorrow morning with carb cleaner- stand by for results.

James
 
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Will do- and yes I always advance the timing when I run her. It is odd to me as well. I have all new Patterson coils, new wiring, new Anderson Timer and a rebuilt Regan coilbox- I hope it isn't a missing cylinder; my guess is an air leak as I always need to choke it as I start...always.

James
 
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Here is my test with carb cleaner- no running change. But I did add the stove today- would that make a significant difference? or some Sea-Foam in the gas? This is a YouTube.com short clip of the engine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKzoH-CDSa8

James

**warning kinda bouncy as I was alone and juggled the carb spray and camera- sorry.
 
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Ran it out today and opened-er up and she is slugglish and powerless.

Key Question: How can I tell the difference between worn clutch plates or bands overtightened? I am not sure if I should tighten my clutch screws or loosen my low/high band.

Any good key indicators?
James
 
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You are so correct- sorry for that:

1. slow picking up from low to high...takes about 50 feet to engage.
2. lack of power and very little response from throttle.
3. lumbers along and labors in high gear- actually slows instead of speeding up.
4. overall lack of power

Thanks,
James
 
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The timing should not be advanced when running slow, and should be brought back about half way when shifting. Too much timing can help contribute to running cool and fouling plugs. Try closing the mixture rod a little. You did clean the plugs first right? 50 feet to engage? You mean the clutch is slipping for 50 feet? This is nearly impossible without seeing first hand.
 
Yes, when I come off the pedal and throttle down slightly to allow it to pick up the load smoothly, it remains at the same speed for a bit and doesn't shift right away...then in about 50 feet the hum of the motor changes and it starts into high gear.
 
You should be all the way to idle for the shift. If not then the plates are slipping. You must let off the gas all the way when shifting.
 
Sounds like fuel starved, your YouTube gives nice running engine, can't tell for sure but the throttle lever seemed down farther than an idle point....have you checked the throttle rod linkage to the lever/ carb? Be sure the carb butterfly can open all the way for full throttle.

A friend had the same experience, was not running fast, so when advised to check the carb butterfly, he found the rod was bent wrong, and he could get no 'full throttle', when he fixed it, he gained those missing horses and was surprised by the difference.
 
Sooty,

It sounds like a mixture problem. I agree with the advice already given. But have you checked the choke spring? Is it lose? Is the choke plate fully open when running driving?
She just may be choking herself running too rich ...soot at tail pipe and lack of power.

Just a thought.
Also, make sure you have full travel of the throttle rod as Tmodelman suggested but also the timer rod to make sure you are getting full travel of the spark.

Good luck.
Let us know.
Larry
 
Hey those are great suggestions and yes I did have to add new rods for the timer and carb- so I appreciate the tips. I am gonna do that right away.

Love this forum! Thanks again! I'll keep ya posted on what I find.

James Chocole
 
Got her up and running today, re-bent & took slop of out my timer and throttle rods, cleaned my timer, found a bad coil that refuses to buzz and swapped it out for a spare Patterson coil and took her out- ran great and I was able to learn my spark and gas adjustment. I had been running her too advanced and causing problems- I still have a sooty plug- only number 1 (radiator side) and I added a heat-stove, so hopefully it'll work out.

Thanks for all the help!
James
 
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