Sparkle Plug change

[AApple]

It was s'posed to be a simple enough deal...screw the old uns out, gap, & screw the new uns in. Ya'll know me better than that, right? :headscratch: :Awe:
First off, I couldn't find the plugs I wanted in stock anywhere today. I wanted to change from the stock NGK D8EA plugs to the DR7ES plugs, since they are listed for "Extended High Speed Riding", which is pretty much what I do. My entire commute to/from work is at 5000/55000 rpms....usually, with very little idle, or slow speed running. I wanted to see if the DR7ES plugs would help with the annoying pinging I get under a load(passing) at speed, in the 100+ degree temps here, even using Premium fuel. It's not a really bad ping, but it's enough to bother me.
Anywho....I wound up getting the stock NGK D8EA plugs, since they did have them....even tho they told me on da fone they dint. :head bang:
So, I get the plugs out, and see they are REALLY worn out. I kinda knew they were, but comparing them with the new ones makes me wonder how this turd would even fire at all. These plugs were in the bike when I bought it...in '08. Don't know how old they were then. Gapped the new ones all at .026" and put em in.

GLtuneup1

• AApple
• Aug 11, 2013

Old vs. New
Center electrode worn down on old

I checked the gap on the old ones just fer grins, and find they are all over .030"....specs are .024"-.028". :blush: Then I pulled the resistors out to have a look-see at them. Not too bad, I s'pose, but a little crudy. I Ohmed them all, and no 2 of them were the same resistance. Got from 4.20 to 5.50 ohms from the first to the last one. Don't know what they are s'posed to be, anyway, so I cleaned them, the springs, and the end terminals up and put them all back in.

GLtuneup6

• AApple
• Aug 11, 2013

Resistor set up

GLtuneup7

• AApple
• Aug 11, 2013

Resistor location

When I get to the last one, I find this....

GLtuneup9

• AApple
• Aug 11, 2013

Broken plug wire end cap

A broken end cap. Looks like it had been glued back together somewhere down the line, so...I glued it back together again. :whistling: I'll have to see aboot getting some new caps someday.....I guess....If I have to....
Finished putting all the chrome stuff back on, turned the key, hit the Start button, and it farred right up instantly, no choke, no problem. I'll see how it runs in the heat tomorrow with the new plugs....gotta be a little better, eh? :yes: :Egyptian:

btw..I know the pics suck...my camera has lost it's "Close Up" function somehow....so sue me.... :fiddle:

 

[joedrum]

I hate those ends

 

[mcgovern61]

Any idea how many miles you put on those plugs after '08? I had put a little over 11,000 miles on my plugs and they came out still gapped correctly with very little electrode wear. They were also NGK DP8EA plugs. I changed them before the trip to Joe's just because they were cheap insurance.

 

[slabghost]

Hmmm I should take a look at my plugs too.

 

[AApple]

mcgovern61 » Sun Aug 11, 2013 3:56 pm[/url]":359ipq1v]
Any idea how many miles you put on those plugs after '08?

I figure I got about 30,000 miles on the 'Wing since I've had it. Not really sure, cause I've changed the speedo a couple of times, so it's kinda hard to keep up with the true mileage. It had around 42,000 on it when I bought it, and I figure it's closin in on 70,000 now. :builder:

 

[mcgovern61]

I thought I was pushing it at 10,000 miles! :shock:

The manual says for us to replace them at 4,000 miles! :whip:

 

[AApple]

The "Manual"? Pshaw..... :cheeky:
Goll dangit, iffin I'm gunna spend $10 on a set of plugs, then I'm by golly gunna git my money's worth out of em...... :moped: :hihihi:

 

[joedrum]

no respect at all for these black and white info desasters call manuals

 

[brianinpa]

mcgovern61 » Sun Aug 11, 2013 7:41 pm[/url]":1ceu3ga3]
I thought I was pushing it at 10,000 miles! :shock:

The manual says for us to replace them at 4,000 miles! :whip:

Well I greatly exceeded that limit! When I changed mine prior to the trip to Joe's, I had 30,000 on the plugs since I bought the bike. Hard to tell how many miles the plugs had on them from the PO. I would just poull them every spring, clean them, gap them and put them back in.

Like you, I changed them only because of the cheap insurance.

 

[dan filipi]

irridium plugs can go much longer then non.
At least mine show no wear after 20k miles though I do think it's a good idea to remove them and check gaps at every oil change. If nothing else to clean the threads coming out so they don't freeze in place. I put anti sieze on the threads too.

 

[mcgovern61]

dan filipi » Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:14 am[/url]":3glkkmum]
irridium plugs can go much longer then non.
At least mine show no wear after 20k miles though I do think it's a good idea to remove them and check gaps at every oil change. If nothing else to clean the threads coming out so they don't freeze in place. I put anti sieze on the threads too.

Out of curiosity, anything you could share about your experience with the irridium plugs?

 

[dan filipi]

Well I don't notice it running any better or different but when I ran regulars in an 1100 that had a bad oil ring and burning oil, it would foul. The irridum wouldn't foul.

 

[Ansimp]

I run iridiums in all my vehicles in Oz as it means I don't have too touch them as much. As the Cbrs and Foresters are a pain to get access to. I would not go to the added expense of iridium on the Oldwings as access is great and good conventional plugs are cheap.

 

[AApple]

:yahoo: What a difference just plain ol NEW plugs make, tho! :shock: :mrgreen: Dang thing fired right up soon as I hit the button this morn...no choke, and idled perfectly....it ain't NEVER done that before. Definitely runs better on the road, and no moaning on take-off, or low speed lugging/rattling like it did before. I'll find out this evening if the new plugs are going to make any difference in the 100+ degree ambient temps. :beg:
If this had been someone else's vehicle, and I knew the plugs were worn 3-4 years ago, Ida insisted on replacing them then...but since it's MINE... oh2: I knew they were worn when I did the head gaskets and stuff last year, but put off putting new ones in then. Figured I'd wait to see if the thing was gunna hold together first.... :smilie_happy:

 

[mcgovern61]

I would hate to see the condition of your air filter. Those regular maintenance items might be piling up. :smilie_happy:

(Sorry Joel!)

 

[joedrum]

alright no more picking on the maintenance schedule of pro mechanics .... :smilie_happy: :smilie_happy: :smilie_happy: hmmmmm I guess I just did :mrgreen:

 

[mcgovern61]

joedrum » Mon Aug 12, 2013 1:31 pm[/url]"ywwuicv]
alright no more picking on the maintenance schedule of pro mechanics .... :smilie_happy: :smilie_happy: :smilie_happy: hmmmmm I guess I just did :mrgreen:

:smilie_happy:

(Sorry Joel.....this ain't your day) :hihihi:

 

[brianinpa]

Wow, so this is what an on-line gang pile-on looks like?

 

[AApple]

mcgovern61 » Mon Aug 12, 2013 1:17 pm[/url]":10mjpexe]
I would hate to see the condition of your air filter. Those regular maintenance items might be piling up. :smilie_happy:

(Sorry Joel!)

Naw Gerry...I blew the sir filter out a couple o weekends ago....it should be good for another couple o years now.... :good: :cheeky:

:smilie_happy: :smilie_happy: :smilie_happy:

The "Turd" did run much better on the ride home in the heat. Don't think I heard any pingin at all. There might be somethin to this changin the plugs regularly thing... :headscratch: :mrgreen: