250-500cc spark plug color

not sure if im posting this in the right section, or if it should go in the jetting section...mainly just looking for a few opinions on plug color. I put a new PC pipe and silencer on it and it was lean and hard to start, so I went a little richer. went from 175 to 178 on the main and from a 40 to a 42 PJ and went from clip 3 on the JD red to clip three on the blue (half clip richer)..tell me your thoughts, need to go richer still? seems pretty crisp and clean, still a little bit of a bugger to start tho.

That plug looks lean. Set your main first, then work your way back from the needle to the pilot.

Ok I'll go bigger on the main. Going bigger on the main will effect the needle circuit also? Bike was ridden 5 to 6k elevation at 40s temp. Will be in moab next week temps in the 60s to 70s. 4k to 5k feet. JDs chart says that will be about 5 percent richer then it was here. So guessing, but how far should I go up on the main...1 size to a 180 or 2 to a 182? I can't believe the PC pipe made that much difference as it was perfect before. Maybe even slightly rich.

I always just do small changes, like one size up or down. What temp is your plug?

plug is a BR8ES. I saw I accidentally put the ES in. I'm going to pick a G up now. I'm hopping the G will be easier to start with the fine wire electrode.

You can use iridium, they do work well in two strokes and make it easier to start.

Ok I'll grab one of them. Do you think it was lean enough to hurt the bike? Did some single track and very few wide open spots. Rode for maybe 30 miles with frequent stops and it never was really hot.

I doubt it. What's your mix ratio like?

32 to 1. Maxima super m

Ok, went to a 180 main. No much different on the top. I went a half clip richer on the needle. Wanted to load up in the mid aftr some low speed sections. Going back on the needle. Used the air screw procedure to get the highest idle. It was 3 turns out. So I leaned the PJ to a 40. Still a bitch to start. The worst part is after switching back to the BR8EG from the s I am having a hell of a time getting any color at all on the plug. Man I am tired of messing with jets. Should have stuck with the stock pipe.

I know it's frustrating sometimes. Ty and I just finished jetting my race bike and it took us 27 different jets to get it right, talk to me about frustrating. Ty always tells me when in doubt, go big, so jump up to 185 or 190 and see if it bogs. I'll give Ty a call and see what he recommends.

See what he says...stock bike with a PWK AS1 and a PC pipe and silencer. Shoot, after my last set up...38 PJ 180 main and JD blue clip 3 and ran really good. Maybe I should stop chasing plug color and go off.how it runs. Man front tire was just pulling of the ground coming out of corners. Just crisp. Iridium plug wad a no go. Would never start with it. Started halfway decent with a BR8EG. So I guess I will take it to moab and if I feel it needs to be richer down there I'll do it there. Going to be 1k feet higher and same temps as today (60s and 70s there) so if anything it will be a touch richer there. I wish I would have jumped on the oil mod for my tc449 earlier and had it ready. Maybe I should pull the paddle off it and take it as a spare

Hmm weird, all we run is iridium 2&4 strokes. Well I hope you get it sorted. Ty is kind of busy at the moment, but said he would get back with me when he could. We are on back order for the oil tanks, but they should of came in today or possibly tomorrow.