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rwarner
USA
351 Posts |
 Posted - 09/26/2008 : 18:04:16
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Hello All;
OK,,, My posts are documented on this site. I've done some carb/electrical trouble shooting. Every thing is running good. But I keep wondering, how many sets o' plugs do you go through till you are satisfied that things are good, and, do you just throw the used ones away? I mean, I could get a life time of use out of a set of spark plugs now a days. Should I save them?
Bob
'68 T120R |
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JubeePrince
USA
796 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2008 : 19:50:46
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I had a set of N3C's that had about 2500 - 3000 miles on them.....I could have gotten more, I'm sure, but I tore the carbs down and did some subsequent plug chops with new ones.....
I save my old ones. (5 or 6 pairs)..I use them for when I have to sync up the carbs and pull an HT lead......I could probably use them after I freshen up the top-end some time in the next year and have to re-dial everything back in....or I can just look at them everytime I open the drawers to my spaeres and bits...
I know of people who have gone 10K+ miles on one set.....I'm sure there are many who have gone farther.....
Steve
'77 T140J
"Vintage Bike" What's in your garage?
"The paying customer is always right." |
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tangerine-jack
USA
631 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2008 : 17:09:16
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I get quite a lot of miles out of a set of plugs. If they look good but have gunk on them, I sandblast the ends (I have a special tool for this, file the electrode (also with a special tool) and regap and reuse. It's been my experience that unless the plug has been gas soaked or the electrode is clearly worn down by erosion, the plug can be used over again.
One consideration is platinum plugs, when they become oil or gas fouled they are no good. They cannot be cleaned or filed, so spending $5 on a single plug to me is silly. An NKG runs about $2 and can be cleaned, filed and reused indefinitly. I have experimented with cheap and expensive plugs, platinum, split fire, and any other gadget plug I could get my hands on and I've found that standard $.99 Autolites work great, NKG is optimum, the rest are snake oil.
Words are so unnecessary!
   
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stewdog68
USA
170 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2008 : 09:44:21
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every oil change i change them. your looking at $2-$4 for 2 plugs. cheap insurance for me. as far as cleaning them its not worth my time.
remember it's $4.
-The Dirty Dog-
The Euro's
'68 T120
'73 TR7RV
'69 BSA 440 |
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Grumpy
New Zealand
493 Posts |
Posted - 10/03/2008 : 04:42:21
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I also change mine every Spring service, other times as long as they arn't soaked or showing signs of wear I clean, regap and use again.
Cheers,
Trev |
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don reid
USA
92 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2008 : 14:26:15
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i noticed that there is quite a long list of 'vintage' plugs listed on the BO ebay site right now. what are the advantages to using them over just going over to your local auto parts store and getting them over the counter?
maybe i'm just assuming that they are that readily available.
don reid | 72 triumph trident |
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stewdog68
USA
170 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2008 : 15:57:37
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any autoparts store will carry them. there cheap $1 lowend $4 highend
NGK,CHAMPION etc.......
-The Dirty Dog-
The Euro's
'68 T120
'73 TR7RV
'69 BSA 440 |
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rwarner
USA
351 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2008 : 20:05:49
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Hello All;
Don, I'm with Stew I buy N3C at Auto Zone @ $.99. I have to think that the vintage plugs B.O. sells are for the "settle for nothing else but original show bike shopper". Not that it's a bad thing, I'm impressed that they are available.
Bob
'68 T120R |
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JubeePrince
USA
796 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2008 : 21:41:08
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That's where I get mine.....save the vintage plugs for the Concours D'Elegence at Pebble Beach.....
Steve
'77 T140J
"Vintage Bike" What's in your garage?
"The paying customer is always right." |
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tangerine-jack
USA
631 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2008 : 23:48:07
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I concure, the "vintage" plug is a mere curiosity. Modern plugs are just fine, I can't see any difference one way or the other. Honestly, how much has plug tech changed in 30 years for a standard electrode plug? Yeah, zero to not much at all. I just looked in the garage and I also have a box of N3C's from the local auto parts store, hmmm musta been on sale....
Words are so unnecessary!
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don reid
USA
92 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2010 : 21:28:01
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what should they be gap'd to for my 72 trident? and how many pounds do you tighten down to? can't seem to find those numbers in my book for some reason.
don reid | 1972 T150V trident 750
california |
Edited by - don reid on 02/20/2010 21:37:29 |
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JubeePrince
USA
796 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2010 : 22:07:49
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Hi Don,
For stock applications, N3C's gapped to .020".(Page 8 in the General Data section)
As far as tightening, there is no spec for plugs.....I tighten down just enough to "crush" the washer on the plug.....if I had to guess, I'd say on the order of 2 - 3 lb/ft.
Put some anti-seize on the threads before installing, especially if your going to do plug chops with the head hot....
HTH,
Steve
'77 T140J
"Vintage Bike" What's in your garage?
"The paying customer is always right." |
Edited by - JubeePrince on 02/20/2010 22:10:16 |
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rookie
USA
305 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2010 : 23:14:35
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Most Triples run at about .025 gap.
Lorin
1972 TR6R
1974 T150V |
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don reid
USA
92 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2010 : 13:24:34
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thanks for the info guys.
I'm getting dangerously close to putting it on the street, although everytime I think that, there's another thing that comes up that'll go on that 'one last order'. =)
don reid | 1972 T150V trident 750
california |
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f scott dundas
Australia
154 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2010 : 16:46:09
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I find NGK (B8ES)better than Champion or any of the others. I have had some plugs shorting and faulty fro the moment I put them in from the store. That really screws with your mind as you dont think a new plug can be the problem !
Scott |
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Missouri71TR6R
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - 02/25/2010 : 22:00:36
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| What's the gap for N3Cs for a 71 650 Tiger? Also for NGKs? Thanks! |
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rwarner
USA
351 Posts |
Posted - 02/25/2010 : 22:31:19
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Hello All;
quote:
Originally posted by Missouri71TR6R
What's the gap for N3Cs for a 71 650 Tiger? Also for NGKs? Thanks!
6CA & 10CA POINTS
0.025 spark plug gap
EI,,,?
Bob
'68 T120R |
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f scott dundas
Australia
154 Posts |
Posted - 02/25/2010 : 23:18:59
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Yes 25thou for a 71 Triumph(Tiger or Bonnie) irrespective of the brand of plug.
Scott |
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Grumpy
New Zealand
493 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2010 : 04:19:00
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NGK B8ES for me, gap set using hacksaw blade.
Cheers,
Trev
1938 5T.....work in progress
1966 T100 Cafe racer
1959 T20 Cub (in captivity)
Oh and one modern of another marque
My Triumphs don't bleed they are just marking their territory. |
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rwarner
USA
351 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2010 : 22:23:20
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Hello All;
quote:
Originally posted by Grumpy
NGK B8ES for me, gap set using hacksaw blade.
Trev, And your using 91 octane gas? 
OOOPS, sorry. Just measered a hacksaw blade.
Bob
'68 T120R |
Edited by - rwarner on 02/27/2010 15:05:58 |
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Grumpy
New Zealand
493 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2010 : 20:23:48
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98 unleaded pump gas, not sold at every servo here so occasionaly 96 unleaded.
Cheers,
Trev
1938 5T.....work in progress
1966 T100 Cafe racer
1959 T20 Cub (in captivity)
Oh and one modern of another marque
My Triumphs don't bleed they are just marking their territory. |
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don reid
USA
92 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2010 : 14:25:10
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gap to octane chart anywhere? =)
don reid | 1972 T150V trident 750
california |
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rwarner
USA
351 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2010 : 21:23:49
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Hello All;
quote:
Originally posted by Grumpy
98 unleaded pump gas, not sold at every servo here so occasionaly 96 unleaded.
Cheers,
Trev
1938 5T.....work in progress
1966 T100 Cafe racer
1959 T20 Cub (in captivity)
Oh and one modern of another marque
My Triumphs don't bleed they are just marking their territory.
Trev; wait just a minute.... 96-98 0ctane, is that unleaded?? Sounds like you could be running HHHOT!
Bob
'68 T120R |
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JubeePrince
USA
796 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2010 : 07:22:49
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Don,
I think you'll find a greater correlation between octane and timing than you will octane and plug gap....
Bob,
I'm sure Tev will correct me if I'm wrong, but AIUI, 96 octane there is equal to ~93 octane here....U.S. uses the (RON + MON) / 2 formula, AUS/NZ uses a slightly different equation, hence the different numbers...
There are select Sunoco stations throughout the US that sell 100LL (low lead) fuel, but at 5.00 - 6.00 / gal.
Steve
'77 T140J
"Vintage Bike" What's in your garage?
"The paying customer is always right." |
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Grumpy
New Zealand
493 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2010 : 17:28:20
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Plug gap is only 1 part of it.
Octane
Plug gap
plug rateing
gas to air mix (jet size & air screw)
Timeing
All have an influence on how you will run.
Been that long since I did my set up so not 100% what I ended up with but think it was either 210 or 220 mains.
2hr plus hard ride and plugs are a nice brown, no sign of oiling or over heating.
Cheeers,
Trev
1938 5T.....work in progress
1966 T100 Cafe racer
1959 T20 Cub (in captivity)
Oh and one modern of another marque
My Triumphs don't bleed they are just marking their territory. |
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rwarner
USA
351 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2010 : 20:46:46
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Hello All;
Steve; 93 octane??? I gotta get the scooter out of SoCal. 91 tops unless you use avgas.
Trev.; I'm a hamfisted backyard bolt twister. B7's and B8's never worked good for me.
The N3C's seem to be the ones she likes.
But the hacksaw blade may make a difference! Would that be with or without the paint?
Bob
'68 T120R |
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Topic |
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Spark Plugs
