Motorcycle spark plug

Motorcycle spark plugs are necessary to produce an electric spark in a combustion chamber. It ignites the air-fuel mixture.

Types of motorcycle spark plugs

By the heat rating:

• From 2 to 6. These elements operate efficiently under low load conditions. They are suitable for riding a bike in winter and for short trips. It is also recommended to install them in vehicles expected to often get stuck in a traffic jam.
• From 7 to 11. Products of this category are used in the summertime, as well as if you are going to use the bike for long trips and for riding at high speeds.

By electrode material:

• Nickel. They are relatively cheap. Their service life is, as a rule, not more than 15,000 – 30,000 km.
• Copper. They are also considered as budget-friendly. They are intended for covering 20,000 – 30,000 km.
• Iridium. They are characterised by high durability. They operate steadily almost in any load conditions. They can last for 60,000 – 70,000 km.
• Platinum. They can well withstand the impact of electric discharges. Their life expectancy is 60,000 – 70,000 km.
• With gold. They are intended mainly for racing bikes. They last for 80,000 – 100,000 km.

Malfunctions: their causes and symptoms

• Wear and tear. It is a natural result of the use of motorcycle spark plugs beyond the rated service period. It causes problems with starting the engine at low temperatures and in high humidity conditions. Fuel consumption is also likely to increase.
• Oiling-up. This happens when valve oil seals aren’t replaced on time. This leads to difficult start and erratic operation of the engine.
• Carbon deposits on electrodes. A cause of the malfunction can be the component with too small insulator. As a result, the engine may fail to start at once and run erratically.

Tips on how to maintain and replace motorcycle spark plugs

• If you don’t have the required skills to work with high voltage wires, it is necessary to have the parts removed and mounted at a repair shop.
• Do not dismantle the components until the engine has completely cool down.
• It is possible to remove dirt from spark plug wells with compressed air. Before doing that, you should put on protective goggles.
• A spark plug wrench of an appropriate size must be used for replacement. While installing, apply the tightening torque specified in the vehicle repair manual.
• It is not advisable to use parts with a heat rating different from the one recommended by the bike manufacturer. It might cause overheating which has an adverse effect on the life expectancy of the components.
• If you notice deposits on electrodes, in most cases, it is better to switch to other fuel brand. Besides, new valve oil seals might also help.

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