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Potholes shaking parts loose?

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andym
World Chat Champion



Joined: 16 Nov 2010
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PostPosted: 14:30 - 11 Jul 2018    Post subject: Potholes shaking parts loose? Reply with quote
Today is the third day in a row trying to get the ninja running properly.

So far the fuel pump has been replaced, secured HT leads, stripped and cleaned the starter motor, secured HT leads (again)... after a few minutes riding again it would idle at the lights for a few seconds then fade out.

Today I decided to try securing the HT leads and check none of the spark plugs were loose... problem leads were 2 & 3, but I found plugs 1 & 4 weren't even hand tight Evil or Very Mad

Tightened everything up, took it for a test ride and it ran great, got back home and as I was opening my lockup.... the engine faded out again.

This is the end of my road:
https://goo.gl/wDBrVG

Quite a lot of the roads are like that around here, so could this be shaking parts loose?
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stinkwheel
Bovine Proctologist



Joined: 12 Jul 2004
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PostPosted: 14:51 - 11 Jul 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote
So the plugs are coming loose? I seriously doubt it's vibration, the plugs stay in my enfield and i've seen me ride my VFR 10 miles along forestry tracks to go camping.

I wonder if the crush washers are beyond re-use. I'd try new plugs/caps if they are coming loose.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.
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u33db
Renault 5 Driver



Joined: 26 Sep 2008
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PostPosted: 14:57 - 11 Jul 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote
Maybe you're not tightening the plugs enough?

If you're doing them by "feel", maybe try using a torque wrench instead to be more accurate?
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stinkwheel
Bovine Proctologist



Joined: 12 Jul 2004
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PostPosted: 15:46 - 11 Jul 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote
u33db wrote:
Maybe you're not tightening the plugs enough?

If you're doing them by "feel", maybe try using a torque wrench instead to be more accurate?


I personally wouldn't recommend that. I seriously doubt most people have a torque wrench that would go low enough anyway.

Sparkplugs with a crush washer go in finger tight + 1/4 turn the first time you fit them, finger-tight then 1/12 of a turn the next time you fit them. There will be variations on this according to size but it's usually printed on the box.

No tighter that that. I've been doing that for over 20 years and have never had one come loose or (*touches wood*) stripped a thread out.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.
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andym
World Chat Champion



Joined: 16 Nov 2010
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PostPosted: 15:51 - 11 Jul 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote
stinkwheel wrote:
Sparkplugs with a crush washer go in finger tight + 1/4 turn the first time you fit them, finger-tight then 1/12 of a turn the next time you fit them. There will be variations on this according to size but it's usually printed on the box.

No tighter that that. I've been doing that for over 20 years and have never had one come loose or (*touches wood*) stripped a thread out.


That's usually what I do and I've never had a problem with them coming loose before... until now that is.

I don't think I've even done 1,500 miles since they were replaced... mind you they haven't been checked since then either
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stinkwheel
Bovine Proctologist



Joined: 12 Jul 2004
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PostPosted: 17:24 - 11 Jul 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote
How are the threads? A lot of kawasakis have deeply recessed plugs that can become a real water trap. Have the alloy worms been at it?
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.
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u33db
Renault 5 Driver



Joined: 26 Sep 2008
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PostPosted: 19:49 - 11 Jul 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote
stinkwheel wrote:
u33db wrote:
Maybe you're not tightening the plugs enough?

If you're doing them by "feel", maybe try using a torque wrench instead to be more accurate?


I personally wouldn't recommend that. I seriously doubt most people have a torque wrench that would go low enough anyway.

Sparkplugs with a crush washer go in finger tight + 1/4 turn the first time you fit them, finger-tight then 1/12 of a turn the next time you fit them. There will be variations on this according to size but it's usually printed on the box.

No tighter that that. I've been doing that for over 20 years and have never had one come loose or (*touches wood*) stripped a thread out.


Err...if you check NGK's website they give recommended torques;

https://www.ngkntk.co.uk/index.php/technical-centre/spark-plugs/tightening-torque/

Its usually in the region of 20 Nm depending on plug size which is within range for most smaller torque wrenchs...e.g. halfords smallest goes 12-60NM IIRC, yet their largest goes 60-300NM.
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stinkwheel
Bovine Proctologist



Joined: 12 Jul 2004
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PostPosted: 20:56 - 11 Jul 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote
u33db wrote:


Err...if you check NGK's website they give recommended torques;

https://www.ngkntk.co.uk/index.php/technical-centre/spark-plugs/tightening-torque/

Its usually in the region of 20 Nm depending on plug size which is within range for most smaller torque wrenchs...e.g. halfords smallest goes 12-60NM IIRC, yet their largest goes 60-300NM.


Fair do's. Hadn't ever seen that. Equally, there is no way in holy hell I'd wind a sparkplug up to that kind of torque in the alloy head of any of my bikes. I'd fully expect it to keep turning and never hear a click.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.
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Old Thread Alert!

The last post was made 5 years, 280 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful?
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