Spark plug wires

[surferdude]

I noticed that one of them is splitting at the spark plug boot - not good. The other three appear to be OK but won't know for certain how they'll fire for another couple of weeks.

Any recommendations for factory or aftermarket spark plug sets?

Thanks,

Derek

[whiskeypigeon]

Talk to Hord about some NGK plugs/wires. They aren't a true "drop-in" installation, but they are easy enough.

[cfiiman]

Talk to Hord about some NGK plugs/wires. They aren't a true "drop-in" installation, but they are easy enough.

+1 on Hord he is who I'd call for parts, whatever he recommends get, he is good at answering emails too from his site

[whiskeypigeon]

...and by plugs i meant plug caps. the "plugs" need no modification... heh...well, unless you're a crackhead.

[surferdude]

...and by plugs i meant plug caps. the "plugs" need no modification... heh...well, unless you're a crackhead.

hee hee, yeah, tell me about it.

I got the plugs already but didn't think proactively about the wires. BTW, the NGK's are pre-gapped, correct?

[surferdude]

Talk to Hord about some NGK plugs/wires. They aren't a true "drop-in" installation, but they are easy enough.

+1 on Hord he is who I'd call for parts, whatever he recommends get, he is good at answering emails too from his site

I'll shoot him an email tomorrow.

[bk94si]

This thread got me thinking. I still have the original wires from 1991. Maybe it's time to replace them? They still look and function okay.

[whiskeypigeon]

I got the plugs already but didn't think proactively about the wires. BTW, the NGK's are pre-gapped, correct?

They do come pre-gapped, but I always check them just in case.

[DefTrap]

How about just snipping off an inch or so and refitting the cap, assuming there's enough slack?

I replaced the leads on mine thinking, like you, that 15 years service was quite good enough - didn't make a jot of difference to performance. FWIW the oe leads come with grommets at the coil end to help you fix them firmly on - if you buy the lead loose off a cable you'll have to make 100% sure they're on straight before replacing the coils (a lot cheaper, mind). Refitting the coils is a bit of a pain in the arse, BTW.

[whiskeypigeon]

How about just snipping off an inch or so and refitting the cap, assuming there's enough slack?

I think the only potential issue with doing this is that it's only temporarily solving the problem. These cables are coming up on their 20th birthday and more cracks (visible or not) are going to probably start showing up. Not saying its guaranteed, but $60-70 is pretty good insurance that it won't.

FWIW the oe leads come with grommets at the coil end to help you fix them firmly on - if you buy the lead loose off a cable you'll have to make 100% sure they're on straight before replacing the coils (a lot cheaper, mind). Refitting the coils is a bit of a pain in the arse, BTW.

A small strip of duct tape or heat shrink makes a perfect grommet for the NGK cables. When I swapped everything out it took about a half hour and the longest part was getting the coils out/in.

I am not saying he needs to do anything I did or that any advice you are giving him is wrong, just some other options to ponder. I definitely think snipping the end of the bad wire would be a good interim solution if he wants to keep getting some miles in

[surferdude]

All good advice, but the bike isn't running at the moment, so getting new factory or NGK's is really the only option.

[DefTrap]

$60-$70
A couple of metres of copper cored was less than a tenner if I recall correctly.

[whiskeypigeon]

A couple of metres of copper cored was less than a tenner if I recall correctly.

The NGK's come with caps already installed, its not just the wire.

[surferdude]

A couple of metres of copper cored was less than a tenner if I recall correctly.

The NGK's come with caps already installed, its not just the wire.

Ja, that's the issue - the cap/boot is cracking and splitting where it connects to the spark plug. The wire itself is fine but that crack in the cap/boot can lead to arcing and a misfire, if it hasn't already.

[DefTrap]

A couple of metres of copper cored was less than a tenner if I recall correctly.

The NGK's come with caps already installed, its not just the wire.

Proper posh.