 Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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OP
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Riding with the wife on Saturday, kind of lugging along a slight uphill. Probably in 4th. Bike just died. I restarted, took two tries with one backfire. Refired and ran fine since. I was around 7k on the sparkplugs, so I put in a new set (NGK DPR8EA-9, $1.98 each at Advance Auto).
Two years ago, I had a lot of running problems that was solved with a new set of plugs, guess one/both was fouled. That was with over 8k on that plug set.
Guess for $4/set, changing the plugs annually probably would be a wise move.
Al
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,189 Likes: 55
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,189 Likes: 55 |
I still have my origonal plugs in at 14,000 miles and haven't even gapped them. Pulled a couple times to check color and put back in.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3
Old Hand
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Old Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3 |
You know, the thing I don't understand is that back when sparkplugs were really cheap, like 35 - 75 cents, they used to have all kinds of gear in gas stations to recondition them. Now that some are selling for $8.00 or more, you don't see that. They just sell you a new set and don't even bother with cleaning them and running them on a pressure tester.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1 |
Does seem kind of opposite to me.
Soren
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 604
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 604 |
Who at the BP (Baath Party) station would recognize a point file?
Said Molly to James, that's a fine motorbike.
Richard Thompson
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616 |
I dont remeber seeng a gas station with an area for mechanical work in years...You can get about anything lese now except work done at a gas station.
SOLD: 07 Black BA, 39mm FCRs, TPUSA stage 1 head, TPUSA 813 cams, TPUSA 10.8:1 pistons, TTP #3 igniter, Specialty Spares Long Cannons, Tsukayu Hard Bags. 82HP/55tq
NEW: 19 Goldwing Tour DCT
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
I remember a kind of small bead blaster you could put the end of the plug in and it would come out all shiny and new looking. Haven't seen one of those in years. Quote:
Who at the BP station would recognize a point file?
Carefull, there, you'll bring out the Luddite in me... 
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,124 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,124 Likes: 13 |
Quote:
I remember a kind of small bead blaster you could put the end of the plug in and it would come out all shiny and new looking. Haven't seen one of those in years.
I bet if I went over to my Dad's house I would find his. 
Went into Sears a year or so ago and asked about a timing light. We don't sell those. Never have either. Right buddy. That's why I have Sears/Penske timing light in my garage. grrr
Back in my day static timing, matchbook covers, and buck knives all were in my traveling kit... 
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,189 Likes: 55
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,189 Likes: 55 |
I have one of those bead blasters made for sparkplugs and I use it. Getting time for a new one though I think mine is getting worn out.
Baath Party? BP is British Petrolium and uses little or no Mid East oil.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 65
Member
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Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 65 |
Not sure how we would qualify this against thier total imports but BP did import Middle Eastern oil (in 2002 anyway) to the tune of about 6.5 billion barrels (scroll a little over half way down). I can't see how that could have changed dramaticaly. BP is also no a saint as they have plenty of skeletons in their closet. Just clarifying, not busting on ya!
03 Red/Black Speedmaster
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,189 Likes: 55
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,189 Likes: 55 |
I didn't take it as any kind of attack.
I never said they were perfect. I didn't know about the pipeline. I did know they buy some oil thats why I said little and in the world of oil little is alot to you and me. But I would rather buy from a co. that uses as little oil from the Mid East as possible, so I buy from BP and Hess almost exclusivly.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,059 Likes: 8
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,059 Likes: 8 |
Quote:
Bike just died. I restarted, took two tries with one backfire. Refired and ran fine since. I was around 7k on the sparkplugs, so I put in a new set (NGK DPR8EA-9, $1.98 each at Advance Auto).
Guess for $4/set, changing the plugs annually probably would be a wise move.
Spark plugs don't normally cause an engine to stall. What was the condtition of the plugs when you pulled them? Tan colour is ideal. Black means too rich, white too lean.
If the stalling has disappeared, probably just a glitch but.... 
12 Rocket Roadster
03 Bonneville America
69 BSA Firebird Scrambler
73 Yamaha TX 750
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 386
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 386 |
I have never bought BP fuel or any of thier products after I found out how they aquired their crude initially to form the company.
To cut a long story short:-
At the turn of the century (the early 1900's) a wealthy gold miner from Mt. Morgan in central Queensland, Australia by the name of D'Arcy decided to turn his hand and invest in crude oil extraction & its distillation in the middle east crude oil fields. At the beginning of WW1 the British Govenment in need of a sure & cheap supply of Distillate confiscated all of his wells etc, under some emergency wartime proclamination and formed a company to Administer the extraction, production & distillation of this now precious resource - they called the company "British Petroleum." They never gave back the company to D'Arcy after the end of WW1 and never gave him or his family a cent recompense, he died a pauper.
To add salt to the wound, bout 4-5 yrs. ago BP ran an advertisment to commemmorate the founder of BP and you guessed it - Mr D'Arcy was proclaimed along with his picture in the ad. I wrote an appropiate letter to the GM of BP and to date I still haven't recieved an answer.
Hoffo
2x Norton Commando Roadsters
08 Triumph America
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,189 Likes: 55
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,189 Likes: 55 |
That sucks but those guys are long dead and I would rather give my money to them than sponsors of terrorisim. I am not saying it makes what they did OK but it's a long time ago and I am talking now. If I went by the past then I would think people living now should recieve compensation for their relatives who were enslaved years ago. So everyone would owe everyone else since at one time or another every race was enslaved. Or maybe Germany should be paying all the Holocost survivors and their families or all US citizens should have to pay native Americans not of their decent, Or we could go back to ancient China and compensate the Mongolians etc.... You could keep going back and back. Should we try and find some Neandethals and compensate them since we put them out of existance. So yeah it sucks what they did but to me it's better than supporting Arab oil any more than I have to today.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 386
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 386 |
2x Norton Commando Roadsters
08 Triumph America
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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OP
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Sears Craftsman Timing light in the original box also hiding in my garage cabinets. Been a while since it's been used, but I remain hopeful! Quote:
Quote:
I remember a kind of small bead blaster you could put the end of the plug in and it would come out all shiny and new looking. Haven't seen one of those in years.
I bet if I went over to my Dad's house I would find his.
Went into Sears a year or so ago and asked about a timing light. We don't sell those. Never have either. Right buddy. That's why I have Sears/Penske timing light in my garage. grrr
Back in my day static timing, matchbook covers, and buck knives all were in my traveling kit...
Al
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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OP
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Quote:
Quote:
Bike just died. I restarted, took two tries with one backfire. Refired and ran fine since. I was around 7k on the sparkplugs, so I put in a new set (NGK DPR8EA-9, $1.98 each at Advance Auto).
Guess for $4/set, changing the plugs annually probably would be a wise move.
Spark plugs don't normally cause an engine to stall. What was the condtition of the plugs when you pulled them? Tan colour is ideal. Black means too rich, white too lean.
If the stalling has disappeared, probably just a glitch but....
Yeah, that's what I thought. The hiccup has not repeated. I'll go through all my connections this weekend. We had just gone over a set of railroad tracks, but they were very smooth.
Taking over a 5 hour ride on the Labor Day weekend, than heading to Syracuse NY from MD the following week. I don't need any hiccups....
Al
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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OP
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Stalled out once again yesterday, in town, barely moving between traffic lights and traffic. Started right up and no problem since (80 miles since).
I pulled my in-line filter, it did look a little dirty. Picked up a $3 GM filter, but it's not real pretty. Is anyone aware of an alternative that is readily available form Pep Boy's, etc.? I checked the K&N in the Tech Vault, its a mail-order, which I'll do if nothing else surfaces.
Al
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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OP
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Well, I put 800 miles on her in the last two days. Day one, it stalled out on the interstate three times. Day two, no problems. I'm stumped!
On Day one, doing 70 mph on I-81, it just cuts out, motor dies with no warning. Coasting, it backfires through the pipes twice, quite loud. I refire and continue on. I was 70 miles into my trip at that point. Tank was low @ 138 miles but no sign of runnign into the reserve. I fill up and continue on. 200 miles later, it does it again and refires. Another 100 miles later, one more time, this time going over a big bump (road heave). Refires immediately.
Day 2 same trip but not as much interstate, more rural roads at 60 mph. No problems.
I'm on my original coil/plug wires. Any sense replacing them? (23k on my 02)
Stopping abruptly on I-81 is a bit dangerous, luckily I wasn't in teh fast lane or in a construction zone. Definitely had me thinking and kept me in the slow lane for the rest of the trip.
Al
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,189 Likes: 55
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,189 Likes: 55 |
If it is happening when you hit a bump sounds like a bad connection somewhere. Also couldn't hurt to change the plug wires.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
I'm wondering if the pickup coil connection under the tank might be suspect.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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OP
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Quote:
I'm wondering if the pickup coil connection under the tank might be suspect.
Ordered the NGK plug wires from New Bonneville and check that connection when they arrive. Re-apply dielectric grease to all the vulnerable points.
Speaking of which - what is the chance it is my kickstand switch? The last cut-out was definitely after a heavy bump in the road. Following the cut-outs yesterday, it was a bit hard to start when getting gas/food. I had to put the choke on twice when it should have started immediately without. Today, it fired right up on every stop, no choke required.
Last edited by ssjones; 09/13/2007 9:11 PM.
Al
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
Speaking of which - what is the chance it is my kickstand switch? The last cut-out was definitely after a heavy bump in the road. Following the cut-outs yesterday, it was a bit hard to start when getting gas/food. I had to put the choke on twice when it should have started immediately without. Today, it fired right up on every stop, no choke required.
Kickstand switch is always a good suspect...you might put the scoot up on the old lift and double check the kickstand bolt and spring as well. I'm betting on a dodgy connection there or under the tank since solid bumps seem to be the only consistent diagnostic.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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OP
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Quote:
Quote:
Speaking of which - what is the chance it is my kickstand switch? The last cut-out was definitely after a heavy bump in the road. Following the cut-outs yesterday, it was a bit hard to start when getting gas/food. I had to put the choke on twice when it should have started immediately without. Today, it fired right up on every stop, no choke required.
Kickstand switch is always a good suspect...you might put the scoot up on the old lift and double check the kickstand bolt and spring as well. I'm betting on a dodgy connection there or under the tank since solid bumps seem to be the only consistent diagnostic.
Guess I have more work to do this weekend.
Al
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 850
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 850 |
i have the iridium plugs and have about 8000 grand or so on mine-- i've had similar problems with backfire, stutter, then running fine.
i'll check the plugs. my ai was removed since new.
cat
George in Easy Rider: "Oh, oh I've got a helmet! I got a beauty!"
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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OP
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
I fouled a plug two years ago, thought I'd luck out and that would be my $5 solution but nope. I'll take a $5 gamble any day, the $150 for coils has me holding out.
Al
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Re: Hiccup running, new sparkplugs
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 222
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 222 |
After hitting bump, I discovered the wire from the ignitor had come loose from the coil. I used dielectric grease on the coil connections, then used zip-ties to secure the wires to the coils. No problems now.
'06 Speedmaster, Long TORS, rest is stock (for now)
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