no info

[redbone]

i will post my disclaimer as usuasl..i have no owners manual or repaiir manual. all i need to know at this point is what is the spark plug gap for a 1980 xs 1100. i've got the plugs butthe gap seems awful small. any info apprec,
redbone

[trbig]

The book says .7-.8mm or .028-.031"

[Czekus21]

As trbig said.
Also, as rough rule of thumb. Every engine that takes a spark plug will run with a gap of .035. ( the thickness of a matchbook cover ) Good info for if your on the road and you have to pull a plug or 2 and one drops on the ground closing the gap.

[redbone]

plugs

thanx for tthe info...they were pretty much dead on the gap rite from the box. put them in and it runs way better now. still many headaches to fix, so you'll hear from me again.
redbone

[fredintoon]

A rougher rule of thumb

Is to shove your thumbnail into the gap.
Unless you are a nailbiter, that gauge is always with you. If your thumbnail goes in, the gap is more than 0.020" If it don't rattle in the gap it's less than 0.040"
Any distance in there will work because sparkplugs ain't fussy. If you can see a fat blue spark at the plug and the motor don't run, most likely it ain't the plug that's doing it.
Except, once for me, it was. Bastards had maybe a thousand miles on them. Swapped them out for identical new ones, albeit from a different store, and the engine ran perfectly.

[TomB]

If you can see a fat blue spark at the plug and the motor don't run, most likely it ain't the plug that's doing it.

Yep! agree there, but just now and then you'll get a good spark when checking with the plug resting on the head but when inside under pressure and fuel no spark I had this problem and it was the coil.

As Fred says, most likely

Recently (last few years) I've noticed problems with NGK's, stick new plugs in, fire engine up for short time to try it and it runs great, come back to it and it won't run good.

They seem to need to be run for a long time and got bloody good and hot, as if you're kinda curing them, then they're Ok.

Anyone else had this problem?

[webbcraft2150]

Originally posted by TomB

Recently (last few years) I've noticed problems with NGK's, stick new plugs in, fire engine up for short time to try it and it runs great, come back to it and it won't run good.

They seem to need to be run for a long time and got bloody good and hot, as if you're kinda curing them, then they're Ok.

Anyone else had this problem?

I have. I have nicknamed it "flameout". Dosen't seem to follow any pattern, new, old, in town, outa town. Had gone to Bosch plugs then found Autolites like my XS much better. I know plugs should be plugs but I hafta go with what works. If you want some interesting reading, go to Bosch's site and read about Bosch platniums and the problem with useing them in a "wasted spark" ign system. I thought it was bunk till I tried to run them in my 3.8 Olds and had to change em back out because of constant misfire.

[TomB]

I've only ever had it on new NGK's

Once they are 'cured' they seem fine.

I've got to the stage when I put new plugs in I push the bike out to the road, put all my riding gear on, sit on the bike pointing in the direction I want to go, start the engine and go straight away.

It has stopped me having new plugs fail.

[Brent]

break in for spark plugs

Never thought of it before. Thanks

Originally posted by TomB
I've only ever had it on new NGK's

Once they are 'cured' they seem fine.

I've got to the stage when I put new plugs in I push the bike out to the road, put all my riding gear on, sit on the bike pointing in the direction I want to go, start the engine and go straight away.

It has stopped me having new plugs fail.

[mro]

New Spark plugs from F.O.P.

Enhaned spark, always provides complete combustion even if running lean or rich fuel mixture. Takes the guess work out of tuning the carbs pilot needles. Will increase fuel economy over 30 percent and on the average increases HP near 10 percent (due to complete fuel burn) The new dilithium spark plugs will be the last set you would ever have to buy. Money back life time guaranty not to fail.


mro
BTW,
warp speed is not legal with in 2 AU of earth

[fredintoon]

The new dilithium spark plugs will be the last set

Congratulations mro,
while any fool with a dowsing rod & crystal ball can go to Asia Minor and salvage the remains of Noah's Ark, you and you alone have time-shifted to the crash site of the Starship Enterprise and discovered it's warp core.

[randy]

Break-in for plugs? Am I on candid camera?

Never heard of such a thing as break-in for spark plugs! A very common cause of 'flame-out' or no spark under compression, is a fouled plug.

[planedick]

What is

F. O. P. ?

I'm looking for some new plugs and your numbers sound too good to be true..... I would be willing to pay pretty good price for such things if they are really true.

[mro]

What is
F. O. P. ?

Federation of Planets...


mro
Quote of the thread.
"One born every day" W.C. Fields

[GNEPIG]

Video footage from inside of internal combustion engine:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=73e_1192001762


It's ok Dick, those spark plugs are free! There is no money in the future- well the future that mro speaks of anyway.


Quote:
break-in for spark plugs!

Now that's funny!
How bout Break-in for oil too.