Damaged Spark plug

tomrom · 07-16-2018, 07:52 PM

About 30 miles into my 35 mile commute home from work today my Storm stopped running and would not restart. After pulling out the plug, I found it to be very damaged. Has anyone ever seen anything like this before or know how it can be caused? If I am lucky the metal either blew out the exhaust or is in the bottom of my oil pan but I am assuming a piston ring job may be in order.

ChipToothy · 07-16-2018, 08:16 PM

Was there a crash or something? That plug looks really chewed up top to bottom?

Megadan · 07-16-2018, 08:19 PM

If the plug is that damaged, I would say the piston and cylinder head are also screwed.

tomrom · 07-16-2018, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChipToothy

Was there a crash or something? That plug looks really chewed up top to bottom?

No noticeable sound. Just a loss of power.

**JerryHawk250** · 07-16-2018, 08:58 PM

That ain't good.

Pull the head and see what damage was done. I,m wondering if you had a screw or something in the air box it sucked in through the carb? Check the carb and see if screws or even if the butterfly choke valve is still there.

tomrom · 07-16-2018, 09:23 PM

It's my opinion this should be covered under warranty.

ben2go · 07-16-2018, 10:39 PM

The last time I saw that it was a dropped exhaust valve head that turned sideways and shut down the engine quick. There was no rev down. He was buzzing along then immediate silence. The valve head was embedded in the piston. When we sorted it out after cooling, we tried to start it and nothing. It made no funny noises or anything. Sounded just like it was out of fuel when we tried to start it. I could see the valve in the piston by rotating the engine with the kickstart and looking down the plug hole. My eyes were better 25 years ago.

roundhouse · 07-17-2018, 08:57 PM

HOLY SMOKE that is bad.

I bought one of these a while back and you will be able to do a cursory inspection without removing the head. It has 5 little LED lights on it and works great. You can get them cheaper on ebay but have to wait longer for shipping.

https://www.amazon.com/DZT1968%C2%AE...70_&dpSrc=srch

pete · 07-18-2018, 01:13 AM

A alloy piston is not going to do that sort of damage to a steel plug...
so my thought is something steel has gone though the motor..
start looking for missing bolts/nuts etc on the intake side of the motor..

Maybe it's still in there......the piston won't be a pretty sight... might pay to lift the head...

...

humanbeing · 07-18-2018, 03:55 AM

"LG" (蓝光牌) is made by 重庆市南迪火花塞制造有限公司. That company located at the SAME city as bike/ small engine "hub" which very few retails in bike shop/ parts house.

Nobody want that shite ruin their biz...
Infamous "torch" http://english.torchsparkplug.com/about.aspat at least is soild . For those short of ¥ = so-so product from Hebei/ Zhejiang ...

tomrom · 07-18-2018, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pete

A alloy piston is not going to do that sort of damage to a steel plug...
so my thought is something steel has gone though the motor..
start looking for missing bolts/nuts etc on the intake side of the motor..

Maybe it's still in there......the piston won't be a pretty sight... might pay to lift the head...
...

I am thinking it may have melted and possibly melted through the piston.
Will find out when I open it. Wishing I had that endoscope.

Weldangrind · 07-18-2018, 11:19 AM

Tom, you can pop the valve cover off and slowly turn the engine over by hand (or with the kicker). If both valves actuate properly, you'll know the damage wasn't the result of a dropped valve.
I'm with HB; my guess is the plug grenaded.

tomrom · 07-22-2018, 08:51 AM

Look like my piston melted. Exhaust valve is gone.

Cravin01 · 07-22-2018, 09:28 AM

OMG! That's something I've never seen, It's completely obliterated. Thats looks like something that should be covered. Have you contacted the seller?

tomrom · 07-22-2018, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cravin01

OMG! That's something I've never seen, It's completely obliterated. Thats looks like something that should be covered. Have you contacted the seller?

Yes, I sent Don at apscusa.com an email last week. He called me on the phone and promised to cover all the parts. He asked that I open it up first and take some pictures. I emailed him yesterday evening so I hope to hear back on Monday. Don says they have parts at 8 different locations around the country.
He also told be he would work with a professional shop for the parts If I want to bring it someplace for repair.

I did call a shop in my area. http://www.procyclevt.com/. I was politely told that it was not personal to me but they refuse to work on a Chinese, or any 'off brand' bike. He mentioned an bad customer experience but I assume there is some animosity considering he charges thousands more for used bikes.

In actuality, this only took a few minutes to tear down and seeing that I won't need to split the case, it's going to be quick to repair.

07-16-2018, 08:19 PM	#3
Megadan Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 7,990	If the plug is that damaged, I would say the piston and cylinder head are also screwed. __________________ Hawk Information and Resource guide: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=20331 2018 Hawk 250 - Full Mod list here. http://www.chinariders.net/showpost....62&postcount=1 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 https://chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=34124
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07-16-2018, 08:58 PM	#5
JerryHawk250 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 11,554	That ain't good. Pull the head and see what damage was done. I,m wondering if you had a screw or something in the air box it sucked in through the carb? Check the carb and see if screws or even if the butterfly choke valve is still there. __________________ 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel Last edited by JerryHawk250; 07-19-2018 at 05:13 PM.
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07-16-2018, 09:23 PM	#6
tomrom Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Vermont Posts: 56	It's my opinion this should be covered under warranty. __________________ 2017 Bashan Storm
	2

07-18-2018, 01:13 AM	#9
pete Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: ChCh , NZ Posts: 2,261	A alloy piston is not going to do that sort of damage to a steel plug... so my thought is something steel has gone though the motor.. start looking for missing bolts/nuts etc on the intake side of the motor.. Maybe it's still in there......the piston won't be a pretty sight... might pay to lift the head... ... __________________ 09 XT660R ... 06 TTR250 ... 80 Montesa H6 125 Enduro... 77 Montesa Cota 348 MRR "Malcom Rathnell Replica"... Current resto projects.. 81 Honda CT110... 80 Kawasaki KL250A1... 11 Husaburg TE125 enduro... "sold" along with another 31... Lifan 125 Pitbike.. "stolen" ... KIWI BIKER FORUM...... http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/content.php All the best offroad rides in NZ... http://www.remotemoto.com/ E-mail... xtpete1@gmail.com
	1

07-18-2018, 03:55 AM	#10
humanbeing Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2,436	"LG" (蓝光牌) is made by 重庆市南迪火花塞制造有限公司. That company located at the SAME city as bike/ small engine "hub" which very few retails in bike shop/ parts house. Nobody want that shite ruin their biz... Infamous "torch" http://english.torchsparkplug.com/about.aspat at least is soild . For those short of ¥ = so-so product from Hebei/ Zhejiang ... __________________
	1

07-16-2018, 08:16 PM	#2
ChipToothy Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 819	Was there a crash or something? That plug looks really chewed up top to bottom?
	0

07-16-2018, 10:39 PM	#7
ben2go Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,335	The last time I saw that it was a dropped exhaust valve head that turned sideways and shut down the engine quick. There was no rev down. He was buzzing along then immediate silence. The valve head was embedded in the piston. When we sorted it out after cooling, we tried to start it and nothing. It made no funny noises or anything. Sounded just like it was out of fuel when we tried to start it. I could see the valve in the piston by rotating the engine with the kickstart and looking down the plug hole. My eyes were better 25 years ago.
	0

07-17-2018, 08:57 PM	#8
roundhouse Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: N Texas Posts: 706	HOLY SMOKE that is bad. I bought one of these a while back and you will be able to do a cursory inspection without removing the head. It has 5 little LED lights on it and works great. You can get them cheaper on ebay but have to wait longer for shipping. https://www.amazon.com/DZT1968%C2%AE...70_&dpSrc=srch
	1

07-18-2018, 11:19 AM	#12
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Tom, you can pop the valve cover off and slowly turn the engine over by hand (or with the kicker). If both valves actuate properly, you'll know the damage wasn't the result of a dropped valve. I'm with HB; my guess is the plug grenaded. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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07-22-2018, 09:28 AM	#14
Cravin01 Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Forney Texas Posts: 498	OMG! That's something I've never seen, It's completely obliterated. Thats looks like something that should be covered. Have you contacted the seller? __________________ Visit me on YouTube at "Project Next"! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6KTCi2GVbfRDv-2XCqHhsg?view_as=subscriber 2017 Bashan Storm Keihen PZ30 Pumper Carb,115 main jet,35 pilot jet, gutted factory exhaust, Sambo Digital Speedometer,LED blinkers, H4 headlight,D.I.D X-ring chain 428,17/42 sprockets,UNI cone filter.
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