Plug caps

[TopCatGr58]

Well, I'm not totally sure about why our bikes use the exposed threaded tip of the plug with the cap that's designed for that type of connection vs. the larger automotive type...but I think it's because the cap has a springy wire that grips the plug/threads a bit better than the automotive type. And that allows the plug to not get wind blown off of the plug compared to the automotive type that doesn't get that level of wind pressure under the hood.

However, when I've tried to remove auto spark plug wires...they seem to be quite secured to the plug with their big boots...so I don't think you would really have any problems with it holding onto the plug with it in the wind. And you say the wire set you have are solid core, so should perform as well...vs. graphite type wires.

T.C.

[MPittma100]

Rfi

As mentioned by TC, RFI will likely only be heard from these bikes on AM radios. Probably be so little interference that it will only be heard through the AM side of the radio that is on the bike. Cannot see a reason for a lot of concern there.

[3Phase]

T.C.,

RF suppression is the electrical engineering equivalent of deburr, fit and finish.

It makes the F.C.C. happy so they don't fine the manufacturer into oblivion and it keeps down the individual and class action lawsuits that claim your noisy ignition kills people by interfering with pacemakers. It makes it harder for the mother ship and the black helicopters to track you too.

.

[BowlingSS]

T.C.,

RF suppression is the electrical engineering equivalent of deburr, fit and finish.

It makes the F.C.C. happy so they don't fine the manufacturer into oblivion and it keeps down the individual and class action lawsuits that claim your noisy ignition kills people by interfering with pacemakers. It makes it harder for the mother ship and the black helicopters to track you too.

.

Thank is funny...

Bill

[Radioguylogs]

Hey Scott, Steve, even Capt. Zap,

... I understand that the RF could possibly cause problems with sensitive automotive ignition electronics...but I wonder HOW CLOSE the bike would have to be for it to interfere??

Also...with the lower rpm's of our bikes....7500 rpm, 2 spark pulses per rpm due to wasted spark...so ~15,000 per MINUTE...that's only 250 hz! From what I remember low AUDIO frequencies are more omni-directional whereas hi frequencies are much more directional. Also remember that they travel farther easier that higher audio frequencies. I would think that RF is also Omni-directional....but don't know much about their transmission ability? I understand that AM frequencies are more susceptible to RF than FM.

T.C.

Things to ponder:

An ignition pulse (impulse) contains equal amplitude of all frequencies, regardless of the frequency that the pulses occur.

Sound propagation is as you described....lows are omnidirectional, highs are more directional...lows travel farther, etc......but electromagnetic radiation travels differently.

The directionality of the radiation depends on the shape of the radiating device (antenna). For example, a dipole has a figure 8 polar pattern- it can send receive maximum amplitude perpendicular to the wires, but almost nothing parallel to the wires.

The car electronics have specifications for EMC (electromagnetic compatibility). The relevant spec would be called "radiated immunity". Aside from the radio, it would be surprising if the pulses would interfere with anything else.

AM is indeed much more susceptible to interference than FM.

Now, if we hadn't been smoking dope instead paying attention to Laplace Transforms and Fourier Series, we might know something about this ignition system discussion.

[MPittma100]

The Fix

T.C.,

RF suppression is the electrical engineering equivalent of deburr, fit and finish.

It makes the F.C.C. happy so they don't fine the manufacturer into oblivion and it keeps down the individual and class action lawsuits that claim your noisy ignition kills people by interfering with pacemakers. It makes it harder for the mother ship and the black helicopters to track you too.

.

I'm pretty sure that Al Gore has already come up with a fix for this problem.

[3Phase]

Things to ponder:

An ignition pulse (impulse) contains equal amplitude of all frequencies, regardless of the frequency that the pulses occur.

Sound propagation is as you described....lows are omnidirectional, highs are more directional...lows travel farther, etc......but electromagnetic radiation travels differently.

The directionality of the radiation depends on the shape of the radiating device (antenna). For example, a dipole has a figure 8 polar pattern- it can send receive maximum amplitude perpendicular to the wires, but almost nothing parallel to the wires.

The car electronics have specifications for EMC (electromagnetic compatibility). The relevant spec would be called "radiated immunity". Aside from the radio, it would be surprising if the pulses would interfere with anything else.

AM is indeed much more susceptible to interference than FM.

Now, if we hadn't been smoking dope instead paying attention to Laplace Transforms and Fourier Series, we might know something about this ignition system discussion.

Wiki: Major-General's_Song.ogg | Ogg Vorbis sound file, length 2 min 47 sec, 64 kbps

"I'm very good at integral and differential calculus;
I know the scientific names of beings animalculous:
In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,
I am the very model of a modern Major-General."

Wiki: Major-General's_Song


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[3Phase]

NGK LZFH 8381 (Black) Non-Resistor Spark Plug Caps


NGK LZFH 8381 (Black) Plug Terminal



NGK LZFH 8381 (Black) Wire Terminal


The new collars and the little rubber feet are very nice. The terminals are a two-piece pressed fit in the cap and it cannot be disassembled to clean it.

Eventually the internal contact point will need to be cleaned with electrical contact cleaner but by then the little rubber feet and the high-necked collars will be hardened and cracked too. That's when you'll know that it's time to buy four new caps and put another motorcycle under them.

.

[dbeardslee]

The new collars and the little rubber feet are very nice. The terminals are a two-piece pressed fit in the cap and it cannot be disassembled to clean it.

Eventually the internal contact point will need to be cleaned with electrical contact cleaner but by then the little rubber feet and the high-necked collars will be hardened and cracked too. That's when you'll know that it's time to buy four new caps and put another motorcycle under them.

.

Nice. So, did you just pick those up?

[3Phase]

Nice. So, did you just pick those up?

Yep, the truck was fast and they got here this afternoon -- thanks again for the heads up!

.

[dbeardslee]

Glad I could help. I'm going to have to hit my local O'R's and pick up a set. I don't need them right now, but sooner or later something will be sitting in the mancave that does. Besides, I just can't resist a good deal - I blame 50 something years of television advertising.

[Radioguylogs]

Scott:

I'll have to shave my beard and leave the moustache.

[3Phase]

Scott:

I'll have to shave my beard and leave the moustache.

I tried that, Mike. I ended up ditching the sword too but kept the hat. You think a Hi-Vis vest is an attention-getter?


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[Radioguylogs]

I tried that, Mike. I ended up ditching the sword too but kept the hat. You think a Hi-Vis vest is an attention-getter?


.

We might be mistaken for one of the Knights of Columbus at church.

[alaskey2]

I kept the little caps on my spark plugs and use the automotive plug caps. No problems so far, put about 400 miles in this season.