In many ways, maintaining a motorcycle is a balancing act. If you wait too long between tune-ups, your motorcycle may suffer. But being overzealous can lead to unnecessary costs, both money and time. Your motorcycle is a complex piece of engineering. The installation or replacement of components, in particular, must be carried out with care. If an item does not fit as it should or is not installed correctly, it can affect the performance of your vehicle. This fully applies to spark plugs, and in this article we answer the following question: How to tighten the spark plug on your motorcycle?
Motorcycle spark plugs - General information
There are a whole bunch of motorcycle spark plugs on the market that meet specific needs. So, before you get started, we advise you to take a look at our complete guide on the subject.
Tighten the spark plug of your motorcycle
It is necessary to tighten your motorcycle's spark plug into the engine using the correct torque. Note that if the torque is too low, the spark plugs may sag. loosen due to flue gas leakage or vibration, which could damage the engine and spark plugs. Conversely, if the tightening torque is too high, the crimp between the insulator and the housing may loosen, which may affect the integrity of the seal or cause the thread of the mounting screw to break.
- Use the appropriate wrench that matches the hex part of the plug. Be careful not to damage the insulator.
- When carrying out this work, take measures so that oil, dust and foreign objects near the cylinder head do not enter the engine.
- Before installing the plug, clean the motor side mounting seat, check for a gasket, then insert the plug into the mounting seat.
- Before installing the spark plug, clean the engine side mounting seat, check for a gasket, then insert the spark plug into the mounting seat.
- When doing this, hold the cap vertically, then tighten it lightly by hand or using a cap wrench.
- When doing this work, hold the plug vertically, then tighten it lightly by hand or using a plug wrench.
- Then, using a plug wrench, tighten the plug to the recommended torque or recommended angle shown in the table below.
Our recommended products to tighten the spark plug of your motorcycle:
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What if the spark plugs are too loose?
Too loose spark plugs usually lead to poor performance and eventually damage the engine! Thanks to your engine mount, you shouldn't hear or smell much of your engine from the cabin. Older vehicles can be fitted with rubber mounts, while newer ones have hydro-elastic varieties. Despite this, it is impossible to suppress the vibrations internally. Ill-fitting spark plugs can loosen as you ride with them.
Naturally, this will influence the performance of the affected cylinders. Imagine that an electrical appliance is only half plugged in: it will not always perform to its best of its ability, or sometimes not even at all. If your spark plugs are too loose, your engine is very likely to experience one of the following situations:
- Engine performance problems.
- Pre-ignition.
- Detonation.
- Dead cylinder.
What happens if the spark plugs are too tight?
Excessively tight spark plugs can damage the cylinder head and make removal impossible. Remember the balance we talked about earlier? Too tight caps can also have unpleasant repercussions, including:
- Stuck units that don't want to get out.
- A damaged cylinder head.
- Pieces of the broken unit falling into the combustion chamber.
Spark plugs too tight: At a minimum, removing a spark plug that is too tight will be difficult. In the worst case, it won't come out at all. One can even have the impression that the spark plug has merged with the cylinder head. Deposits, debris, and potential corrosion buildup can behave like glue.
Damaged cylinder head: The bolt hole inside the cylinder head should remain intact. If it is stripped or deformed, it is not possible to install a replacement part. Removing a stuck spark plug can damage the bolt hole. If the problem is severe, repair costs can be high.
Foreign objects in the combustion chamber: Broken pieces of the spark plug insulator or electrode can end up in the combustion chamber. They can collide and damage parts and the surfaces they strike.
