Topic: huge difference after cutting pug wires!

[lostmykeys]

 Yesterday I wanted to re gap my plugs from 28 down to 24.Instead I just bought some new plugs even though the old ones had less than a thousand miles on them.The new plugs were already factory gapped at 24.
 While I was at it I unscrewed the plug wire caps and cut the wire back until I could see clean copper wire.One of the wires had to be cut back about a half inch before I could see clean copper.
 I thought the bike ran fine before this so I had no reason to try this.
 But I'm glad I did not only does the bike have more tourqe but it has less top end noise and the tranmission shifts smoother.

[Stev-o]

May not be a bad idea to change the plug caps too, only a couple bucks each.

[DJ_AX]

May not be a bad idea to change the plug caps too, only a couple bucks each.

+1

[lostmykeys]

 Thanks, where are you finding plug caps at that price? By the way these would be for a 78 f3

[DJ_AX]

Thanks, where are you finding plug caps at that price? By the way these would be for a 78 f3

A couple bucks? Yeah where? Wish I knew... I paid about $12 each.

[Stev-o]

Z1 Enterprises, $2.24 - $3.01. Make sure you get the right type, the 550 uses two different ones.

http://www.z1enterprises.com/SearchResult.aspx?All=True&KeyWords=ngk%20cap

[lostmykeys]

 Steve O, what kind of change can be expected after changing the caps?

[DJ_AX]

You can easily test the resistance of your old caps... More than 10k ohms = bad
New caps come in at 5k ohms = good
Run a little better... plugs last longer... I'm sure someone else could elaborate further... 

[lostmykeys]

 How do you you check plug caps for resistance? I know you use an ohm meter, but what is the procedure?

[DJ_AX]

You just take them off, and touch the tester leads to each side, and read the resistance on the meter. Quite simple actually.

[Stev-o]

Yes, simple. And less resistance equals better spark.