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Your plug gap opion

  • Thread starter Thread starter oldschoolgs1100e
  • Start date Start date
O

oldschoolgs1100e

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Hi. Do you have an opinion on setting the plug gap on either the small or large end of specs. ? I had always set mine to the large end thinking longer spark more burning but now I'am thinking smaller gap and quicker spark, by a zillionth of a sec. I know, but every little bit here and there adds up. May seem silly but just wondering.
 
A zillionth is way overstating the duration.
Engines are actually quite slow piston per piston spark per spark.
 
Ya. Kind of thinking out loud, something I have wondered about.
 
Hi,

I usually take them out of the box and slam them in. Anywhere between 0.025" and and 0.035" will work just fine.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
IF THE IGN IS STOCK I would stick with .025-028 With a Dyna ign & coils you could open it up to .035
 
BassCliff said:
Hi,

I usually take them out of the box and slam them in. Anywhere between 0.025" and and 0.035" will work just fine.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
Click to expand...

Me too. I don't even check them anymore. I've never seen out that was out of spec.
 
SqDancerLynn1 said:
IF THE IGN IS STOCK I would stick with .025-028 With a Dyna ign & coils you could open it up to .035
Click to expand...
Good thinking. Since it takes more volts to jump the wider gap, you're not using the Dynatec to it's full potential if you don't open up the plug gap a bit. That's why lots of new cars have a plug gap of .060". And playing with plug gaps can make a noticable difference in performance IF everything else is 100%. Race teams do it, and even go so far as to index the plugs, so it must work.
 
Indexing a plug is of no concern to someone that is willing to gamble on the gap "right out of the box."
They are also the ones that don't realize that many are damaged while "in the box." ;)

Daniel
 
Nessism said:
Me too. I don't even check them anymore. I've never seen out that was out of spec.
Click to expand...

Me three. IIRC, B8-ES plugs are set at something like .028" (or is it .031"?) from the NGK factory -- at any rate, every one I've ever measured was gapped exactly the same and after a while I stopped measuring.

I eyeball them to make sure they haven't been dropped on the electrode or something, add a bit of anti-sieze and put them in without fussing with the gaps.

On to the next question, no, you do not need iridium plugs, rocket plugs, plasma plugs, plugs with funny shapes, plugs with multiple electrodes, or any of the assorted silly plug quackery out there this month.

If you have too much money lying around, the NGK iridium plugs at least won't hurt anything. Some of the goofy plugs can cause problems.

None of them make the least bit of difference in a GS engine. Just stick with NGK or ND plugs -- that's what your GS was wearing from the factory, and that what had been proven to work the best for decades. They're less than two bucks each at most auto parts stores, although they somehow magically double in price when found at a motorcycle shop.
 
Wow you guys have got to be kidding. The last set of NGKs I put in when I gapped them they were all way out of spec either too small or way too big, one was .045 and other was .020 none were .028. I bought them from autozone but still I'd at least check them since it takes what a half a second to throw a feeler in there and another half to put it to spec?
 
Bit of old school trickey, I was once told and seen it myself.

"Narrower gap advance's ignition (less potential needed to jump) wider gap retards. "

You really ought check gap on new plugs, particualy the more generic the plug, its made to fit a range engines, and no one gap suit them all.



John
 
The Suzuki spec range is wide, much wider than NGK's production tolerance. I used to measure the plugs but after never finding one even close to being out of spec I stopped. I buy my plugs on-line from reliable vendors so I'm fairly certain they have never been out of the box. Buying from Auto Zone is a crap shoot in comparison. Sounds like someone was "over thinking" the whole gap issue and jacked around with those plugs. Cracks me up when people think they know better than Suzuki and NGK.:(
 
I always check them out of the box. That way, if there is a problem, I immediately know what it isn't. It only takes a second. Never found that many out of spec. Never indexed a plug, I've never gotten to the point in tuning that it would make a difference. But I have played with gaps after getting a bike to the best state of tune that I could accomplish at home. It CAN make a difference.
 
I buy em at Auto Zone or the like. I might spot check em now and again but usually just eyeball em.
Never had a problem.
 
Nessism said:
Cracks me up when people think they know better than Suzuki and NGK.:(
Click to expand...

Like the people that don't use a torque wrench when Suzuki lists the specs? :rolleyes:

When I have a bomb between my legs that can rev to 10,000+ rpm,
it is nice to know that it was put together correctly. ;)

Just sayin'


Daniel
 
7981GS said:
Like the people that don't use a torque wrench when Suzuki lists the specs? :rolleyes:

When I have a bomb between my legs that can rev to 10,000+ rpm,
it is nice to know that it was put together correctly. ;)

Just sayin'


Daniel
Click to expand...


So my bike is going to blow up because I didn't torque my valve cover?:rolleyes:

Comments like this are mean spirited Daniel and not in keeping with a logical progression related to the topic at hand.

I've worked in the OE automotive field for 21 years, and in the Quality field for longer than that. There is this thing called "process capability", which is a statical method by which manufactures quantify how well their manufacturing method produces parts within the production tolerance allowance. A high "capability" means they are consistently producing within the requirement. NGK spark plugs have a very high capability related to the gap width. High enough so that it's relatively meaningless to check them before install.

And speaking of "inspection" as a method of assuring quality: how much inspection do you think major OE auto producers perform on the parts coming into their factory? The answer is NONE. So Honda/Toyota/Nissan/Ford/etc don't check the plug gaps before sticking them into OE engines, yet you feel it's necessary?
 
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Hi,

I think we've found a subject that can replace our oil and tire discussions. :p

Fun stuff!

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
Nessism said:
Cracks me up when people think they know better than Suzuki.:(
Click to expand...

I was simply agreeing with you and you get your underwear in a bunch? :rolleyes:

If Suzuki wanted you to install plugs "out of the box" why do they give specifications in the FACTORY MANUAL?

As for torque specs for cam covers,
I guess that SUZUKI had an over abundance of paper and ink when they listed those torque specs in the FACTORY MANUAL also?


I guess that those that know better, include yourself? :p


Just sayin'


Daniel
 
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No biggy

No biggy

7981GS said:
I was simply agreeing with you and you get your underwear in a bunch? :rolleyes:

If Suzuki wanted you to install plugs "out of the box" why do they give specifications in the FACTORY MANUAL?

I guess that those that know better, include you? :p


Just sayin'


daniel
Click to expand...

In case you hadn't noticed, people getting upset about routine stuff is pretty much normal on this forum.:(

As far as the spark plug gap, I've experimented with wide and narrow gaps (within range) and never been able to tell the difference.
 
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