| Author | Message | ||
     Tortoise |
I had the spark plug fall out of the motor tonight when I was doing 70 during rush hour on the interstate. I had previously changed the plug at approximately 10,000 miles. Yes, I used red loctite on the threads. Yes, it was tight. Bike only has 12,500 on it now. Any better ideas on how to prevent this from happening again? I was experiencing some performance issues recently and should have realized something was severely wrong. However, I removed the carb boot last week and found that it had split almost completely in half. I thought this was the source of my problems because the bike was running better after replacing the boot. Now I feel like a •••••••. | ||
| Ezblast |
It was probably both. EZ | ||
| Cgent |
It's a HARLEY ... things are supposed to fall off ... .... just joking ... I wonder if this is a first ??? Seems I vaguely remember a post like this in the past. Maybe we should check the plug every 1000 or so ... You seem pretty positive in your installation ... yet it seems crazy that a properly installed and torqued plug would unscrew on it's own ... More comments from the gurus ??? | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Not a first and the Blast head isnt any different as to be susceptible to such an occurrence. Never use red loctite on the threads. That can cause you problems down the road leading to a seized plug and/or contributing to stripping the threads. Use anti-seize on the threads and use a torque wrench, 11-18 ft lbs. I've had quite a few parts fall off over the years, but never lost a spark plug! It can happen to all brands (and does). | ||
| Cgent |
Steel plug in an aluminum head, right ??? Back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth I had a plug seize in the head of my 1968 Volkswagon ... aluminum threads just turned out with the plug. "Liquid Aluminum" or such will do for a short term emergency fix ... later you need to insert a Helicoil. I always use anti seize in steel to aluminum situations. Thanks Eric ... | ||
| Tortoise |
I believe I used the stock plug. I did some more research and found that red loctite (222MS) can act as a lubricant at high temperatures. Oops! I couldn't get my torque wrench bit up in that small space  | ||
| Milt |
Suppose a plug is screwed in finger-tight. How many turns would you need to remove it? A dozen? More? Sounds fishy to me. | ||
| Tortoise |
Yep, I'm full of shit Milt. I've had both rear turn signal nuts come loose in the past. I've also had the license plate fall off because those nuts came loose. A lot of vibration on the one cylinder bike... | ||
| Ezblast |
LOL - at 10000 miles the stock plug was just telling you that it was time to change it! The bike was just assisting you with the change out! Unless you have the racing Iridium plug - change out every 10,000 miles. EZ | ||
| Britchri10 |
I think Milt is saying that it might have been tampered with. It is hard for a plug to unilaterally remove itself, not impossible but unlikely. (Now for the "old man" stuff) I have owned more than 20 bikes over 30 years including a host of Brit' singles, which vibrated enough to make the Blast seem like an IL4, & I have never had a plug back all the way out on its own. Doesn't mean it won't happen, just that I have never experienced it. FWIW: I have been really impressed with the mileage of a Yamaha 750 triple just in time for it to run out of gas completely. Someone had put the bike on "reserve" without me noticing. (Not too much fun in the outside lane of the M4 on a Thursday rush hour) Chris C | ||
| Swampy |
No, spark plugs come out by themself, I have seen it, it takes a while, but it will happen. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
"Steel plug in an aluminum head, right"That is very important to remember. You should avoid removing a spark plug from a hot engine as sometimes you'll take the threads with it. Religious use of anti-seize will greatly diminish the risk. My* red Loctite is rated for -65F to +450F. If your head is getting hotter than 450F, you're going to have more problems that just a plug coming loose! You can coat the threads with oil and its not going to make it come loose any quicker if properly tightened. Since you've already had a plug back out, resist the urge to torque the heck out of it. The threads are bound to be a tad worn now. It might be best to pull the tank to install your plug. Cross threading will also be easier now. *It used to be there were three kinds of Loctite: Red Blue & Green. Now it seems as if there are dozens of variations. | ||
| Milt |
Tortoise, I'm sorry I wasn't more clear. I certainly did not mean to say you were untruthful or naive or anything of the sort. Like BritChri10 said. | ||
| Tortoise |
Gearhead: Too late, I already torqued the heck out of it. Milt: I apologize for jumping to conclusions. BTW I did have a crazy chick cut my brake line last summer (the guys at the Harley shop loved that story). Maybe there was some more sabotage??? | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
A chick who knew where the brake line was? A crazy 'gearhead' chick? I think I'm in love. Still got her number? Does she have a less psychotic, but equally qualified sister? | ||
| Tortoise |
Gearhead: She has a sister but the sister isn't attractive at all. I think the ex-girlfriend was adopted because she was pretty hot but her mom and sister were not. You don't want her number. The craziness outweighs the hotness, trust me. The brake line is pretty exposed and obvious on a bike... | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
See, thats what drove her crazy. You didnt give her any credit for her, albeit limited, mechanical aptitude! "I'll show him I dont know nothing about motorcycles". | ||
| Britchri10 |
Hell hath no fury....... | ||
| Milt |
Amen. | ||
| Ezblast |
AMEN, AMEN, AMEN! |
