Hi Travsta,

I have 4 TS/TF185 and I'm learning something new about them all the time. My latest machine blowes lots of blue smoke and fouls plugs. I removed the barrel and found transmission oil on the crank. This means the R/H crank seal has failed due to hardening/damage. I'd suggest yours may have the same problem. TS185 only blow small traces of blue smoke when they are running well.

First check your carb/oil pump alignment, gain access to the oil pump (behind the spront sprocket) by removing the left magneto side cover (4 screws) and then the oil pump cover (2 screws). Remove the small screw half way up the slide body of the carby on the left side. Turn your throttle (bike not running) and watch the slide move up. You will notice a notch in the slide. When the notch is visible through the screw hole, check the oil pump and see if the oil pump plate aligns with the line on the right hand side of the pump. If not adjust your oil pump cable adjuster just where the cable enters the crankcase.

Another possible cause of your bike chewing up plugs could be a bad exciter coil in the magneto assembly. If some of the turns of wire have shorted together due to insulation breakdown, the ignition will not deliver the correct voltage to the primary side of the coil, therefore the bike always runs best with a clean plug. A plug with carbon adds resistance which means a poor spark.