Why does black carbon appear on the spark plug of an Alpha moped

The Alpha model is a universal bike that is suitable for both rural areas and city trips.

Among the main advantages of this vehicle is a motorcycle fit, reliable design and high cross-country ability. By the way, the size of the wheels allows the device to drive even on difficult routes, which is especially important for our roads. Alpha's resource is also excellent. They serve for 8-10 years without problems, but in order for all components of the devices to work properly, it is necessary to carry out regular maintenance.

Why does the spark plug on a moped blow?

It happens that a moped or scooter does not start. One of the reasons is there is no spark, i.e. the spark plug is filled with gasoline. First you need to unscrew the spark plug, dry it well, screw it back in and try to start the moped. If this does not help and the candle is damp again, then there is another way. You need to unscrew the candle again, dry it and put it somewhere. After this, with the moped turned off, start it using the foot, this will help splash out the gasoline where the spark plug was screwed in. But a new candle often helps. Low-quality fuel also plays the role of a wet spark; a mixture of low-quality fuel will ignite poorly and splash the spark plug.

It is worth checking the position of the carburetor, because it may be tilted to the side, which leads to gasoline leaking onto the filter. Also check the vacuum valve, it may be leaking. Or the carburetor needs to be adjusted.

How to adjust the carburetor on a moped?

To adjust the carburetor, take a screwdriver and tighten all the jets, then unscrew them one and a half turns. After this, watch the spark plug; if it is light, then everything is fine, but if it is black, you need to turn up the gas supply or give more air.

Why does the spark plug on a moped blow? Link to main publication

Carry out maintenance of the Alpha moped yourself

Having purchased an Alpha moped, it is important to read the instruction manual. In the documentation, the manufacturer indicates the frequency of maintenance. But first, the rider needs to break in the bike. Before the first maintenance, which is carried out after 500 km, you only need to accelerate to 35-40 km/h. But at maximum speed the throttle should be open no more than 50%.

After the new moped has traveled 500 km, the first maintenance should be carried out. The rider must:

Check components: battery, clutch, fuse, air filter, fuel hose, carburetor, steering bearing.
Clean the oil filter and spark plugs.
Change engine oil and brake fluid.
Adjust valve clearances, brakes.
Tighten the fasteners.

If after inspection it turns out that some parts are faulty, you need to order new spare parts for the Alpha moped.

Overheat

Plug Type: Extremely white insulator with small black flecks and premature electrode erosion.

Consequences: loss of scooter power at high speed or under load.

Probable causes: the spark plug is not screwed in enough; The scooter's engine cooling system is not working properly; ignition of the scooter too early; The thermal range is incorrectly selected - the candle is too “hot”.

Remedy: check the torque of the scooter's spark plug; operation of the scooter engine cooling system; adjust the ignition timing; select the correct spark plug heat rating.

Type of spark plug: melted and burned central and grounding electrodes (or one of the electrodes) of the scooter spark plug; bubbling insulator with metal deposits on it.

Consequences: significant loss of scooter engine power; ignition interruptions. Continued use of such spark plugs may cause serious damage to the scooter engine.

Probable causes: thermal overload; significant overheating of spark plug parts due to glow ignition - combustion begins before a proper ignition spark appears; use of low-quality fuel; burning out of the remaining air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber due to an incorrectly adjusted fuel system of the scooter or the ignition timing of the scooter; The thermal range is incorrectly selected - the spark plug is too “hot”.

Remedy: check the scooter engine, ignition system and fuel system, as well as the quality of the working mixture and the ignition timing of the scooter. Install new spark plugs with the correct heat rating.

Reasons for the formation of black soot

So why are spark plugs black? The accuracy of determining the causes of soot entirely depends on the analysis of its structure. The main forms of soot are dry (soot) and oily.

Experts believe that the main reason for the formation of black soot deposits is excessive enrichment of the fuel mixture. A motorist who is concerned about the condition of his car’s spark plugs simply needs to know the factors influencing increased enrichment of the fuel mixture:

Malfunctions or incorrect carburetor settings.
Due to a lack of oxygen flow due to a clogged air filter, complete combustion of the fuel mixture does not occur.
Problems with the starting enrichment.
The presence of increased pressure in the fuel rail (for injection power plants) contributes to excessive fuel injection. Occurs due to malfunctions of the fuel pressure regulator.
Low compression value in one or more cylinders.
Weak spark.

However, excessive enrichment of the air-fuel mixture is not the only answer to the question: “Why are spark plugs black?” There are several other reasons that influence (albeit to a lesser extent) the coating of spark plug electrodes with black soot. Here they are:

Malfunction of the ignition coil.
The air filter element is clogged.
Increased (reduced) gap of the breaker-distributor.
Capacitor failure.
Incorrect operation of the injection system.

Another reason that leads to the appearance of black carbon deposits on automobile spark plugs and requires immediate elimination is the installation of spark plugs whose heat rating does not correspond to the parameter specified by the manufacturer. In this case, two options are possible:

unburnt remains of the fuel-air mixture settle on the spark plug elements, forming a coating;
The spark plug heats up under the influence of high temperatures, and the power unit begins to operate in glow ignition mode.

If the carbon structure shows signs of oiliness, then the car owner receives direct evidence of excess oil entering the combustion chamber. The main reasons for the formation of oily deposits on the spark plug electrodes are excessive wear:

oil valve caps;
oil scraper piston rings.

Filter selection

How to choose the right filter?

There are two types of cleaning mechanisms for the Alpha moped:

standard cleaner;
zero resistance filter.

The first provides basic filtration parameters and requires replacement after 1.5 thousand kilometers. The zero-resistance device is an idea that came from racing cars, where they use such filters or not use them at all to increase power. This increases engine power by 3-5 percent, but the engine loses protection from dust and dirt. Since sports cars with this type of cleaning device are used on special racing tracks, the amount of dirt and dust on the road there is kept to a minimum.

When using a zero-resistance filter on a moped, it will not provide a noticeable increase in power; the only visual difference will be the sound of operation (it will become more bassy). On the other hand, such a device does not protect the engine from small dust particles, so during its operation there is a possibility of rapid failure of the moped engine.

Alfa moped no spark

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Publicado em 14 Out 2014
After work we were going to go home, but my friend’s moped didn’t start. He unscrewed the spark plug, there was no spark, replaced it with another one, the same result. Since it was one o’clock in the morning, he pushed his moped to my garage, and I drove him home ( he lives in a neighboring village). In the morning I decided to see what the reason was. First, I checked all the contacts, then I rang the armor wire with a multimeter, then I changed the coil (I have it in stock). There was still no spark, then I changed the switch (I removed it from my moped) , but the spark never appeared. But when I checked, the current from the armored wire began to flow and I decided to try to install my own spark plug, as it turned out the whole problem was in the chip from the switch, the contacts went loose there, but when the spark disappeared, the owner changed the spark plug to a non-sparking one working. His second spare one was also not working. In the end, of course, I found a malfunction, but it could have been found faster. I concluded for myself that in any case it is necessary to check the functionality of the spark plug (even if they only installed another one before your eyes)) ), well, the owner didn’t draw any conclusions and I’m waiting for him again in my garage soon))). Naturally, not everything was included in the video, since it would have turned out to be a very long video, so I had to cut something out.
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Soot contamination

Type of spark plug: dry soft soot of intense black color on the insulator, electrodes and spark plug body.

Consequences: poor start of the scooter engine; poor operation of a cold scooter engine; interruptions in ignition of the air-fuel mixture; bad reaction to gas.

Probable causes: excessively rich air-fuel mixture; The scooter's air filter is very clogged; The thermal range is incorrectly selected - the candle is too “cold”.

Remedy: adjust the working mixture; adjust the cold start system of the scooter engine; change the scooter air filter; clean the spark plugs or replace them with new ones - with the correct heat rating.

Air filter functions

The function of a filter is to allow one substance to pass through and prevent another from entering. Accordingly, the job of the filter is to allow air into the carburetor, but to prevent the penetration of dust and large particles that enter the device along with the air. Another function of the air filter is to create air resistance. Such resistance is necessary for stable operation of two-stroke engines. On mopeds equipped with a four-stroke engine, air resistance reduces engine power, and accordingly, when it becomes clogged, the traction and speed characteristics of the moped decrease.

Signs that replacement is needed:

The car consumes more combustible material;
The engine picks up speed more slowly and is difficult to start;
Exhaust emissions release more carbon dioxide;
When visually examining the device, dirt, plaque, dust, small insects, etc. are visible.

Cleaning carbon deposits

Having found out why there is a black spark plug on the Alpha moped and what the problem is, you need to fix the problem. After this, you can install a new part or try to restore the functionality of the old spark plug. To do this, you need to rinse it by performing several sequential steps:

Rust cleaner is poured into a glass.
The candle is dipped into the prepared liquid for half an hour.
When the carbon deposits soften, it must be carefully cleaned off (use a brush).
Under the pressure of water, the candle is washed to remove any remaining dirt.
Wipe the part dry with a clean rag and leave to dry at temperatures up to +70°C (in the oven or on a radiator).

Do not use sandpaper when cleaning. Aggressive impact will damage the protective top layer. Because of this, the part will quickly become unusable.

How to choose the right oil for a moped?

After the driver has ridden the moped for 500 km, the oil in the crankcase needs to be changed. It is also necessary to periodically check the lubricant level in the crankcase. And to carry out this procedure, you need to place the bike on a level area.

After this, unscrew the dipstick, which is located to the right of the crankcase. It is used to check the oil level. There should be a mark on the dipstick, which will indicate the amount of lubricant. If there is less oil than necessary, you need to add a little liquid. The parameters of the oil used for the Alpha moped are as follows:

Composition for a four-stroke engine.
API SE, SF.
SAE 15W40.

Please note that you should not mix different types of oils. Also, do not pour compounds for two-stroke engines into 4-stroke internal combustion engines. If fluid from one manufacturer was poured into the crankcase, but the driver wants to use a composition from another brand, the system must first be flushed. You can buy the necessary spare parts and high-quality components for maintenance in the online store.

How to avoid flooding spark plugs with gasoline?

The most important criterion is to maintain the battery charge and the functionality of the starter. For this, sufficient conditions are created for the scooter to start even on the frostiest morning. In addition, you should fill in high-quality oil and use high-quality gasoline with a sufficient octane number, as specified in the operating manual of the purchased scooter. As a preventative measure, it is worth cleaning and adjusting the injector nozzles.

People's Council

To prevent the spark plug from flooding with gasoline during the cold season, you should occasionally “spin” your scooter to maximum and move at a speed slightly above average, thus increasing the load on the scooter’s engine at high speeds, due to which self-cleaning of carbon deposits and excess in the combustion chamber occurs.

By fulfilling all these basic requirements, you can not only eliminate problems associated with filling spark plugs with gasoline, but also increase the service life of your scooter’s engine significantly. By following all the above instructions, you will not have to contact a car service center again for expensive service.

Experienced vehicle owners know that in the cold season, for some reason, sometimes the scooter does not start. Some people find themselves in such an unpleasant situation in the summer, but much less often. The problem can have many causes, but the most common is a flooded spark plug.

This can happen regardless of the fuel injection system, injector or carburetor, installed on your scooter. The design of the spark plug and methods for troubleshooting the problem do not change significantly.

In the case of an injector, the fuel supply is regulated by an electronic control unit. Cold air has more oxygen. Realizing this, the ECU increases the supply of gasoline. If the spark in the plug is not strong enough, unignited fuel will remain on the spark plug electrodes. Then it will no longer be possible to start an iron horse.

How to remove and replace the air filter of a scooter or moped

The engines of most scooters and mopeds have a “wet” type filter (on almost all Chinese vehicles) or a “dry” type filter (mainly on Japanese ones). “Wet” is made of oil- and petrol-resistant foam rubber and impregnated with a special oil that ensures the retention of small particles. The filter itself consists of two layers:

internal, having a fine-mesh structure - to retain the smallest contaminants;
external, with larger cells - for filtering large particles.

What to do if soot appears

First of all, it is necessary to remember that oil contamination and overheating, which results in soot on the spark plugs, are very harmful to the ignition system . Overheating is especially dangerous, since it causes the possibility of failure of the electrodes on the spark plugs without the possibility of their restoration.

If your car only has one blackened spark plug, you can diagnose the breakdown by simply swapping the spark plugs. If after this the new spark plug also turns black and the old one clears up, it means that the problem is not in the spark plugs, but in the cylinder. And if nothing has changed, then questions arise about the performance of the candle itself.

Oil deposits

In some cases, the candles may be wet and black. Most often, the reason for this fact is oil getting into the combustion chamber. Additional symptoms of this problem are as follows:

Oil on candle

difficulty starting the engine;
omissions in the operation of the corresponding cylinder;
the engine jerks during operation;
the appearance of blue smoke from the exhaust.

Oil can enter the combustion chamber in two ways - from below or from above. In the first case, it enters through the piston rings. And this is a very bad sign, because it often threatens a major engine overhaul . In rare cases, you can get by with decoking the engine. If oil enters the combustion chamber through the top, it comes from the cylinder head along the valve guides. The reason for this is the wear of the valve stem seals. To eliminate this problem, you just need to select new, high-quality caps and replace them.

Carbon deposits on the insulator

Red carbon deposits on a candle

In some cases, carbon deposits that naturally appear in the combustion chamber can come off the piston at high engine speeds and stick to the spark plug insulator. The consequence of this will be gaps in the operation of the corresponding cylinder. The engine will “trouble” in this case. This is the most harmless situation why spark plugs turn black. You can eliminate it simply by cleaning their surface or replacing it with new ones.

If black and red spark plugs , this means that you are pouring fuel with an excessive amount of metal additives. It cannot be used for a long time because over time, metal deposits form a conductive coating on the surface of the spark plug insulator. Sparking will deteriorate and the spark plug will soon fail.

Cleaning spark plugs

Oil contamination

Type of spark plug: wet oily black deposits on the insulator, black oil deposits on the insulator, electrodes and spark plug body.

Consequences: poor start of the scooter engine, interruptions in ignition.

Probable causes: too much oil in the fuel mixture (for two-stroke engines); wear of the rings and/or piston liner - wastes oil.

Remedy: mix gasoline and oil in the correct proportion, install new spark plugs for the scooter (for two-stroke engines); inspect the condition of the scooter engine, if necessary, repair the engine, CPG; .