Spark Plug Mystery?

[VanRiver]

Was changing the spark plugs on one of my newly acquired 1986 Venture Royale's over the weekend and found something that is perplexing me....one of those WTF moments ("What the Fig-Newton?" this is a G rated forum). The bike was running fine but rich. When I pulled the plugs, one of the plugs looked like the previous owner had gapped it with a claw hammer!

 

My questions to the experts here.....A. I'm really surprised she was even sparking on that cylinder....but B. How could a plug get shaped this way?...I don't think a sensible person would do such as a thing, so was it mechanical forces?

 

The plug side electrode is expanded 2-3 times the size of gap spec plus it is twisted to the right. Any ideas? I've seen plugs compressed due to hitting a piston but not stretched before.

 

 

 

 

By the way the bike is now purring like a kitten with new plugs, new diaphragms, and new fluids. It was a good weekend turning wrenches.

Edited February 16, 2015 by VanRiver
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[bongobobny]

I can't think of a single mechanical thing that would cause that! Perhaps you are assuming everybody plays with a full deck...

[Prairiehammer]

I can't think of a single mechanical thing that would cause that! Perhaps you are assuming everybody plays with a full deck...

 

 

[MiCarl]

 

I've learned to never be surprised what some people will do.

[XV1100SE]

From the look of the plug, you weren't running on a full deck (of cylinders)

[Flyinfool]

OK to give the PO some benefit of the doubt.......

 

As the plug was being inserted into the plug hole it was not aligned correctly and the electrode caught on the top thread while at the same time some side load was applied while pulling it back out for another try???

 

A piece of debris managed to get past the intake valve, whack the plug, and make it back out the exhaust valve with no other damage???

 

That cylinder was way lean for a little while at high RPM and full throttle and it got hot enough to soften the electrode?

 

Yes now I'm grasping at straws.

 

Well OK I did say some benefit of the doubt ........

[tz89]

Elementary, Watson. Bent upon removal. Mechanic 54 years old, faded tattoo, using a tall socket from Harbor Freight.

 

[jasonm.]

i have had sets of plugs in for 15k to 20k and none looked like that. I am sure the engine did not cause this. As for being rich. It takes at least 100 miles of running after start up w/o choke to blow the carbon off if the engine is tuned properly. If you run it and run it hard and it's still dark. I suspect your floats are too high as now is common with the ethanol fuels attracting water. Water really messes up the floats.

[revinger]

I have actually seen this happen once. Dad had a ford 2n that all 4 plugs would start looking like that. Had it lose significant power on a hot Day, when we pulled the plugs your pictures look durn closeto what they looked like. I was a teenager at the time and looked to dad to explain it. We were both petplexed. Gapped the plugs again and it would repeat performance on a hot day of owing. That tractorsy have had mixture problems at the time

 

 

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[djh3]

Actually a couple Flyins explaination are plausable. We had a piece of carbon bust loose and completly smash the plug closed. Also I think the idea of heat causing the distortion. Could be the metal heat treat was flawed.