Spark Plug Gapping

[97ranger4x4]

So on my little mini bike (3 hp briggs and stratton, older than me) I was doing a compression test (90) and noticed that the Spark Plug has a lot of carbon built up on it. It is gapped at .030. I believe I have it running a little rich at idle to give me some top end to make it acctually go over 15 mph. Anyways it runs well and doesnt smoke. It isnt burning any oil and the oil still looks pretty clean. It has about 5-10 hours since I changed the oil.

My question is if I regap it, closer or farther how will that effect it running and will it get a better spark one vs the other. It is your standard champion spark plug.

Also how often do you reccommend switching spark plugs. I might as well do it now on my blower and lawn mowers. However those are all ran dry for the winter.

Thanks, Keith

 

[almostclueless]

I doubt you'll notice any difference with another brand or gap.

 

[kunar]

i havent heard anything good about champion plugs... i wont use them

 

[Southern3.0]

I doubt you'll notice any difference with another brand or gap.

+1

and if your looking to go faster then 15 mph on a mini bike, the best way is to by pass the governor, back when I used to ride my mini bike I used a bicycle spoke and a spring to make new linkage to completely by pass it. I'll dig my old bike out tommarow and take a pic of the set up.

 

[MAKG]

A wider gap will raise the voltage. But it will cause misfires if the coil can't provide enough energy.

If you are fouling plugs, you either need a hotter plug, or more likely, you need to fix your mixture. Running rich all the time and expecting it to run well are nearly mutually exclusive.