21-10-12, 07:59 PM
Spark Plug check gap and condition
The plugs should be changed every 12000 miles. They were last replaced immediately before I bought it. They were replaced feb12 at approx 20000. (was only idling on 3 cylinders, therefore Honda Chiswick re-synced carbs, did compression test, and replaced spark plugs)
Again with my two teens (so took some time):
Removed spark plugs - all good colour so engine appears healthy.
Quick trip to Halfords (again): bought spark plug gauge. They're the wire type rather than the feeler type (flat bits of metal)
Here's the thing: Checking the wires with the £20 digital verniers I bought from Halfords, and the wires are *not* what they're stamped with...
Anyway, using the reading from the digital verniers (I'm relying on this rather than the wires) I established the gap across all four was around 0.75-0.77 - this was inside the tolerance of 0.7mm-0.8mm
Once thing I wasn't happy about and wish I would have thought about: compressed air to blow away the top of the spark plugs. I could feel the grit as I put the spark plugs back. Sadly this means that there's every chance that a bit of power can be lost through whatever gap this creates.
Starting it up, it sounds it has no issues - tomorrow is my 22 mile (one way) commute to work so I'll see what it's like.
Darren
The plugs should be changed every 12000 miles. They were last replaced immediately before I bought it. They were replaced feb12 at approx 20000. (was only idling on 3 cylinders, therefore Honda Chiswick re-synced carbs, did compression test, and replaced spark plugs)
Again with my two teens (so took some time):
Removed spark plugs - all good colour so engine appears healthy.
Quick trip to Halfords (again): bought spark plug gauge. They're the wire type rather than the feeler type (flat bits of metal)
Here's the thing: Checking the wires with the £20 digital verniers I bought from Halfords, and the wires are *not* what they're stamped with...
Anyway, using the reading from the digital verniers (I'm relying on this rather than the wires) I established the gap across all four was around 0.75-0.77 - this was inside the tolerance of 0.7mm-0.8mm
Once thing I wasn't happy about and wish I would have thought about: compressed air to blow away the top of the spark plugs. I could feel the grit as I put the spark plugs back. Sadly this means that there's every chance that a bit of power can be lost through whatever gap this creates.
Starting it up, it sounds it has no issues - tomorrow is my 22 mile (one way) commute to work so I'll see what it's like.
Darren