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I used the search function and didn't come across the answer I was looking for. Will the stock ignition handle a .035 plug gap? Or should I stay in the recommended .028-.032 range?
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Richard
'79 XS1100SF "Phantom Stranger" full fairing w/radio and cd player, H-D Roadking trunk, everything else stock
'02 Honda VTX1800C -
Maybe....
Voltage is needed to overcome the gap so a larger gap = more voltage needed.
Are the 30+ year old components up to the task or will you misfire?
When the gap goes up, spark duration decreases. (Higher voltage means less duration - its a fixed formula) The wider the gap means more likely there will be some flammable mixture near the wider area to be ignited - the longer duration of a smaller gap the more chance to find some to ignite. A leaner mixture will have more areas with insufficient flammable mixture, resulting in a lean misfire with a wider gap.
Forcing the coils to push higher voltages will necessarily cause secondary effects on insulation and the like - it all won't last as long.
But in the interests of peak performance sometimes that is a sacrifice we make in longevity for the last ounce of horsepower.
I am not saying .035 won't work I am sure it will run - just that the recommended spark gap is determined by a multitude of factors - I have a whole book on the design and tuning of competition engines that I bought back in Engineering School - it made my head hurt and I switched to Nursing instead
Now I am lucky to remember lefty loosey righty tighty.
Now that I have muddied the fountain with my two pennies, others who have gapped to .036 may chime in...
JohnJohn is in an anonymous city with an Alamo (N29.519227,W-98.678980)
Go ahead, click on the bikes - you know you want to...the electrons are ready.
'81 XS1100H - "Enterprise"
Bob Jones Custom Navy bike: Tkat brace, EBC floating rotors & SS lines, ROX pivot risers, Geezer rectifier, new 3H3 engine
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That's not muddy....
John's giving you the straight poop. Yes, a good-condition OEM ignition system will fire a larger gap, but you'll reduce the longevity of all the parts, if only slightly. 30-year-old bits, maybe more than slightly....Fast, Cheap, Reliable... Pick any two
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There has been some discussion about side gapping plugs before... I havent read any if the technical info on it but it might be an alternative..?
See here...
http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...t=side+gapping'79 XS11 F
Stock except K&N
'79 XS11 SF
Stock, no title.
'84 Chevy K-10 "Big Blue"
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Thank you, gentlemen. I know it requires more voltage, but didn't think of the "wear and tear" aspect. I have read up on the side gapping method and might try that in the future, but for now, I guess I will stick with .032 for a gap. I only have one spare OEM coil per side and don't want to have to place them in service because I burned up one that is in use.Richard
'79 XS1100SF "Phantom Stranger" full fairing w/radio and cd player, H-D Roadking trunk, everything else stock
'02 Honda VTX1800CComment
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