I am soon going to be replacing my muffler and rejetting my carb - I have read the various threads on the spark plug being the window to a good carb tuning. I have also learned that the gas tank must be removed to get to the spark plug.

My question - to see the effects on the plug, do i need to actually RIDE the bike or can I leave it idle to get to running temperature and gun the engine for a while to simulate the engine working to be able to check the plug?

If I don't have to actually ride it - then it seems as if I don't have to reinstall the tank completely but just reconnect the fuel line and keep the tank at the right spot to deliver fuel - even running the throttle by hand from the side of the carb(?)

Or am I crazy for these notions and I have to button it all up, ride around for a while, disassemble, check the plug and repeat as needed?

Thanks for the quick reply and the info on how much it needs to be run to get a good accurate reading on the plug - and the affirmation on my sanity!


That makes sense to me now - I figure a whole tank will be a good week or more  worth of fuel - I was just seeing a PIA of removing the tank like every twenty minutes to check the plug or some such thing.

thanks!

I don't drain the tank when I take it off.  My Petcock is in working order so no drips.

  Had it off with it almost full, and half full but never got close enough to be almost empty   .  Only difference is it's heavier full (but it's only 2.9 gallons...).   You just have to not slosh it too much when full, and keep it level.

Last night I had it off to play with the white spacer / replacement washers.  Off/ tweak and back together , less than an hour.   Getting good at this...    Hopefully I'm done playing with the muffler , so I can get the jets set for the last time..... ( for a while   )