Help Reading this 2 stroke spark plug/how is my engine running?

[Mikestony]

. Since I'm a wee bit anal when it comes to my equipment, and searching around online about how to read a spark plug on a 2-stroke engine, can anyone shed some light on these pics and how my engine is running?
It's a 2-stroke, 50:1, handheld blower. I always use premium gas with synthetic 2 stroke oil.
fwiw, it starts fine and runs smooth, no smoking.

During the leaf season, it will go ba**s out for hours on end and this particular plug has been in there since last season. Hence changing it this season.

I'm thinking the insulator and electrode are normal in color? (why tan/brown?) (for a 2 stroke), but the black on the "flat" surface of the plug itself leads me to believe it is running rich.

 

[mlrz24]

It looks like a normal color to me. What's the gap reading? Usually if it's running rich it affects the gap too. Does it smoke alot? That usually is a sign of it running rich.

 

[olbriar]

I'm thinking it's just a little rich Mike. Just follow the manufacture's mix and you'll be good to go. Usually 50:1 on two stroke blowers. It's better to foul a plug than to starve the engine for lubrication. Your plug is relatively clean. Too rich will be smoking. You are nearly spot on.

 

[Mikestony]

It looks like a normal color to me. What's the gap reading? Usually if it's running rich it affects the gap too. Does it smoke alot? That usually is a sign of it running rich.

The gap is, believe it or not, at .02" and that is what the spec should be,, and as far as smoking, no, not at all

I'm thinking it's just a little rich Mike. Just follow the manufacture's mix and you'll be good to go. Usually 50:1 on two stroke blowers. It's better to foul a plug than to starve the engine for lubrication. Your plug is relatively clean. Too rich will be smoking. You are nearly spot on.

Thanks Just found it kinda odd about the tan-ish color.
Best blower I've ever owned---Stihl BG55---5 years so far and still runs like a champ (took the spark arrestor out )


Thanks for the input guys

 

[mikedt]

I think your plug looks OK with tan or light brown deposites, and is about the right colour. It's bound to get some coking or sooting, simply because it is a two-stroke engine and will be burning some oil of course. Two-stroke engines do require decoking occasionally.

 

[olbriar]

Best blower I've ever owned---Stihl BG55---5 years so far and still runs like a champ (took the spark arrestor out )


Thanks for the input guys

I just purchased a replacement blower for my Shindaiwa EB630 after 14 years of solid use.
It wasn't used up so it will make a great backup.
I bought another Shindaiwa. They long since moved on from the 630 so I bought a EB820.
I doubt seriously that it will last 14 years. I removed the arrestor as I was assembling the blower.