Colortune spark plug to assist in setting idle mixture

[hkeiner]

I have seen ads for the Colortune spark plug, which the ads claim can be used to check for proper idle mixture setting on the carb. It is a see-through spark plug that lets you see the color of a cylinder's combustion while the motor is idling. It it swapped with one regular spark plug at a time.

Is this tool actually usefull for checking/setting the idle mixture screw on an ouboard motor's carbs or is it only a useless fool's tool? I have read and followed the Mercury shop manual's link and sync procedures for setting the idle screw. I am just wondering if the Colortune spark plug would make this adjustment more accurate or at least allow me to confirm that I have NOT set the idle screw too lean.

Has anyone had any experience with this tool, especially with a V6 carbed outboard?

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Colortune spark plug to assist in setting idle mixture

Never heard of one. Do you have a link for the product? If nothing else, it would be cool to be able to see into the combustion chamber.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Colortune spark plug to assist in setting idle mixture

Outboards are typically mixed rich for acceleration. If you set it for optimum mixture, it'll invariably bog and die on acceleration. Outboards (most) don't have accelerator pumps like car carbs.

 

[hkeiner]

Re: Colortune spark plug to assist in setting idle mixture

Thanks for the replies, I thought I would check in case it was a good tool and I just didn't know about it. Based upon the few replies to this post, it appears that this tool is not widely used by others for outboards,

I think I won't be adding it to my toolbox collection. Thanks for saving me some money by not buying a tool I didn't need.