Sooty black spark plug

[Bone]

Yesterday I found a rich fouled #6 spark plug. Put in a new air filter and spark plugs. 40 miles later the new plug looks like the old one but runs good.
Trouble shooter I read said a possible dirty air filter, air jet (if I remember correctly). Going 300 miles tomorrow so I won't do anything until I return. Any suggestions ?
98 Tourer with 70 K.

[Michvalk]

If it is # 6 your petcock could use the rebuild kit installed. SOON!! The vacuum for the petcock comes from #6 intake and could be leaking extra fuel into the intake. There are many threads about rebuilding the petcock or replacing with one not made for vacuum. Not taking care of this problem could result in the dredded hydrolock. Much damage and cost involved there!

[Bone]

Hey thanks for the input that never crossed my brain storm. I will take care of that hopefully before anything happens. 

[Ricky-D]

Bring along a few extra plugs.

 

[Bone]

I have a new 2 week old grandson 150 miles away all Ohio Turnpike. I have to ride

[Wildman]

soot on thew #6 plug could also mean that your float valve is suck on #6.

This is more likely than the petcock being bad. If al else is good.

the combonation of petcock and stuck float can cause hydro lock (due to gas in the cylinder) and tear up your strater gears requiring and engine removal. Very expensive.

[Bone]

Just returned from my 300 mile trip. I want to pull that plug but I have to stand-up for awhile. The bike ran fine with the mpg down around 30. Was getting 33 on average last year. Lot of wind and I was going 70-75 most of the distance.

[Bone]

Checked the #6 plug. It isn't clean so I wire brushed it by hand. Did I disturb some crud ? I had pulled the petcock to put a new screen on the valve. The old screen was clean I have put 50K on myself.
Ricky-D I carried the 6 plugs I had replaced as spares if needed.
Can I pull that float bowl with the carb in place ? Like I said earlier my mpg was lower, wind related ?