Oily spark plug preventing engine running - Honda dax st50

[Guest]

Hi,

I've got a dax st50 on loan from a friend but it's in serious need of some tlc.

It's been starting and running fine until recently, but a short while ago it began to struggle a bit on starting up - it'd start ok and then the revs would drop suddenly and it'd either stall or almost stall. Revving it like crazy seemed to make the engine catch hold and once it was warmed up it'd be fine. The spark plug was always very sooted up and cleaning it helped but eventually it cracked on removal and I bought a new plug, hoping that'd be the end of it. The guy in the shop told me the new plug was a one rating colder than the old one but that it wouldn't make a difference - I don't know if that relevant or not.

It seemed to run better at first but the same problem crept back in and got worse. Now it'll only start if I've just cleaned the plug and it'll only run for a few seconds before dying. When I take the plug out, the tip of it is covered in oil and needs cleaning before it'll start again.

Just to complicate things a little more, I put some petrol from a friends bike in there to get it going as it was low. I found out afterwards he puts a 50-1 mix of 2-stroke oil in his fuel. The guy who owns my bike was under the impression that you're supposed to do this even though it's a 4-stroke engine with its own oil tank. He ran it with that for years so I don't see that it'd make too much difference!

I've ordered the correct spark plug and I'm also about to do an oil change which may well be overdue. I need to replace the battery too as it's not keeping much charge and some of the gaskets could do with replacing too. Dunno if these issues are going to affect the main thing which is that it ain't going anywhere but they sure can't be helping things so I've got a battery and gasket set on order and I'm going to pick up some oil today.

[eastanglianbiker]

well as its a 4 stroke engine and not a 2 stroke engine you dont need to add any oil to the petrol at all.you need to check condition of the air filter and clean/replace if it needs it.also if you have been adding oil to the petrol for a long period of time then the exhaust could also be sooted up and need cleaning out