Topic: cyclex modifications - any thoughts on these?

[1981cb650c]

Modify Your Spark Plugs For Free Horsepower.
There are many gizmo's that have claimed power increases through out the years ( splitfire spark plugs, indexing spark plugs, etc ).
Here is a modification that works:
Bend up the negative electrode on your spark plug and cut approx 3/16 off. File the sharp edges edges and bend the negative electrode back to your desired spark plug gap.
Essentially turning your spark plug into a side firing plug.
Gasoline does not explode in the combustion chamber,  it burns.
Nitro is the only fuel that explodes.
With this in mind we must remove any obstructions slowing down the burn ( the negative electrode )



Some racers would weld the advance unit in  the full advance position for instant throttle response.
Just some tid-bits from the old days

from this page (at the bottom) http://cyclexchange.net/Honda%20Cafe%20Page.htm

[Retro Rocket]

I was reading this a couple of days ago, interested to hear what the experts have to say..

Mick

[KingCustomCycles.com]

CycleX knows their stuff.  I don't see dynamometer results though.  I call shenanigans!

[eldar]

I have heard about it from other places quite a while back. I think the idea is the open the spark up a little more and to keep the spark sparking the same way too control it better. I am guessing anyways.

[MRieck]

Iridium's have a very fine center electrode and small ground strap...I'd use them first. I have filed back the ground in the past and while it had no negative impact I don't think it made any more HP. I didn't do back to back dyno tests which is the way to compare( to see if the A/F ratio changes and/or HP). I'd say you need an ignition system in good shape if you do do it.

[friedfish80]

I ran this past a drag raceing buddy of mine. According to him they been doing this for ages. The only thing is that the plugs wear much faster. That drag racers replace them after  every run. It doesn't seem practal for any road going motor.

[eldar]

Well given that a plug lasts a few thousand miles, $8 a year is not that bad really if you do not want to do iridium even though in a couple years, you would have paid for the iridiums.

[Stevevo8]

Every single motor reacts differently to the same change. Some may work with this mod, some may work with indexing.

Bottom line is you try many different little things to get the most out of your motor.

[gerhed]

Ken at cycle -x does know his stuff.
He is really into dragsters so a lot
of his suggestions work beautifully at FULL THROTTLE.

[billybobobrain]

I did it on my GMC, compaired to exhaust, intake and bullydog chip it had negligible results, and the plugs wore out faster. I did not put on a dyno so I don't know for sure but I do believe the principal.

[Don R]

The only drag racers that change the plugs every pass have some form of monster power adder. Like blowers, nitro, nitrous, or various combinations. I make 965hp on race gas and run the plugs all season. I could run them longer but I just start fresh every year. We do file the electrode quite often too. You can also use plug washers to index the plug gap so the electrode does not shroud the fuel and air coming from the valves.

[Freaky1]

The only drag racers that change the plugs every pass have some form of monster power adder. Like blowers, nitro, nitrous, or various combinations. I make 965hp on race gas and run the plugs all season. I could run them longer but I just start fresh every year. We do file the electrode quite often too. You can also use plug washers to index the plug gap so the electrode does not shroud the fuel and air coming from the valves.

I had wondered about this when I saw it also, I would think it would open it up to the fuel/air mix just like indexing because you don't have all that ground strap in the way, just my .02 cents.

[Sam Green Racing]

[quote author=Weird Beard Canuck link=topic=46806.msg491241#msg491241 date=1234947945
Gasoline does not explode in the combustion chamber,  it burns.
Nitro is the only fuel that explodes.

[/quote]

Nitro burns like all fuels, in fact it is the slowest burning fuel of all.
It is that slow, the ignition has to be a lot more advanced than for other fuels to give it time to burn.
When it dose burn, the power it developes is awsome.
Are you mixing it up with the unstable Nitro? whereby if you throw a test tube of it it explodes, it's not the same stuff.

Sam.

[mystic_1]

I do believe he was quoting the CycleX website.

mystic_1

[Sam Green Racing]

Yes I saw where Dave got it from but it still remains a fuel.
Allthough people reffer to fuels being explosive, it is only the burning of the said fuel in a confined container that causes the container to explode not the fuel.
Some fuels can be deemed better burners than others to create an explosion, nitro being one of the best.
If mixed with hydrazine it can become really nasty
If you have a shallow container with nitro in it and throw a burning match at it, it will ignite just like petrol, it won't blow a bloody great hole in the ground.
It you superheat water in a sealed container it will explode, try setting fire to it or run an internal combustion engine on it and you have no chance.

Sam.

[MRieck]

[quote author=Weird Beard Canuck link=topic=46806.msg491241#msg491241 date=1234947945
Gasoline does not explode in the combustion chamber,  it burns.
Nitro is the only fuel that explodes.

Nitro burns like all fuels, in fact it is the slowest burning fuel of all.
It is that slow, the ignition has to be a lot more advanced than for other fuels to give it time to burn.
When it dose burn, the power it developes is awsome.
Are you mixing it up with the unstable Nitro? whereby if you throw a test tube of it it explodes, it's not the same stuff.

Sam.
[/quote]

   Combining slow burn, huge compression, tons of advance and lots of charge you have a formidable combo. I don't know the energy release of a 95% nitro load but it is tremendous. That is why only 2 speed transmissions on bikes are needed.....it will pull a mountain and it needs something to pull against...like gearing.
 Sam knows something of this as he is a friend of Pete Williams who had the first 2 engine nitro Triumph in Great Britian. I've seen one of the 2 made (Two Face) if I remember the name correctly Sam.

[Sam Green Racing]

That's the guy Mike, all his so called blow ups were not the nitro exploding but the fuel hydraulicking the piston.

Sam.

[MRieck]

That's the guy Mike, all his so called blow ups were not the nitro exploding but the fuel hydraulicking the piston.

Sam.

Watching that bottom end exit on the warm up for the resurection run was priceless Sam. Pete throwing his arms up like "God....what did I do to deserve this"? It certainly wasn't funny BUT it shows how that stuff works. Christ I've seen regular fuel bend a rod secondary to bad float needles. I've never seen it blow the bottom end out of a case.

[Sam Green Racing]

I think it is how we interpret the word explosive, certain fuels are deemed better at creating an explosion.
They don't explode themselves, they just burn and cause the explosion of whatever they are contained in.

Sam.

[MRieck]

I think it is how we interpret the word explosive, certain fuels are deemed better at creating an explosion.
They don't explode themselves, they just burn and cause the explosion of whatever they are contained in.

Sam.

An explosion is a high pressure event....putting it in a small area can be good...or very bad.

[Sam Green Racing]

I think my head is about to explode time to go home to a few whiskies and bed.

Sam.