spark plugs and water seperator filter

[GregF]

The rest of that means

B= 14mm
8 = Heat range 8 (on a range of 2 hot - 11 cool)
H = 12.7 mm (1/2") thread length
S = Standard 2mm center electrode
10 = Wide gap .40"

[Ron Burgundy]

I'll take your word on that.

[chill'nthemost]

and to add another these spark plug sockets are the only way to go. They hold on the hex nut, not the porcelain.
http://www.lockitsocket.com/

[Ron Burgundy]

Looks like high quality stuff.

[BiXLL]

and to add another these spark plug sockets are the only way to go. They hold on the hex nut, not the porcelain.
http://www.lockitsocket.com/

Now I am confused! What socket holds the porcelain???

[GregF]

Most plug sockets I have seen have a rubber insert that holds the porcelain.
I don't know of any problems from that. People have been using them for about 100 years.

On my 75 HP Mariner/Merc you really needed a box end wrench to put in he plugs because the back strap between the case halves was right over the plugs.
I had a 13/16 open/box I carried just for the purpose (2 stroke so plugs were a regular thing)
I tied a turks head around the shank with 3/16 nylon line that had an eye on the other end you slipped over your wrist so it wouldn't fall in the water.
I did drop a plug or two in the 10 years I had the motor.

[chill'nthemost]

I called on 400 to 450 professionals weekly for 10 years and yes you can crack the porcelain on a plug if the socket is not square on and the porcelain half of the plug get wedged. With some plugs costing $15 and up it is a problem. If it wasn't, believe me I wouldn't have sold so many of the Loc-it sockets at $40+ each

[Leisure Kraft]

NGK strongly recommends using resistor spark plugs in any vehicle that uses on-board computer systems to monitor or control engine performance. This is because resistor spark plugs reduce electromagnetic interference with on-board electronics.

If you've ever heard your RPM on your radio (that high-pitched noise that changes with your engine speed) then this is what they're talking about. Spark gaps create spikey radio waves which can then get induced back into any wires in the area. The resistor cuts down the voltage/volume/power of those spikes.

http://media.digikey.com/photos/TDK%20P ... -1030A.jpg

Those video cable filters are made specifically to remove that noise from your electronics. It would be nice if engine manufacturers would learn this one and just incorporate this into their circuits. /rant

[Ron Burgundy]

I finally got around to picking up 3 new NGK spark plugs from West Marine. I got the 'R' resistor plugs which are a direct replacement for what is currenty in my motor.

Am I correct in my interpretation that the plugs are already set to the proper gap from the factory? Denoted by the 10 = Wide gap .40" below...

The rest of that means

B= 14mm
8 = Heat range 8 (on a range of 2 hot - 11 cool)
H = 12.7 mm (1/2") thread length
S = Standard 2mm center electrode
10 = Wide gap .40"

[badmoonrising]

Always recheck the gap. Even if they are gapped to spec at the factory, the boxes can be dropped anywhere from the factory to the parts store. I've always made it a point to double check.

[GXPWeasel]

Hey Ron... if you have a 2 stroke, then there shouldn't be a gap in the plugs, unless your motor takes something drastically different than the other 2 strokes I've seen.

Oh, and any automotive store that carries NGK's can order your boat spark plugs. I get mine from the local Advance auto, and they are MUCH cheaper than the boat places.

[Ron Burgundy]

Hey Ron... if you have a 2 stroke, then there shouldn't be a gap in the plugs, unless your motor takes something drastically different than the other 2 strokes I've seen.

I'm no expert, but the Yamaha owners manual says the gap should be between .9 and 1.0 mm

How would you get a spark without a gap?

[badmoonrising]

There are surface gap plugs too...

[Ron Burgundy]

Just did a little Google research on surface gap plugs. Learn something new everyday.

According to my owners manual I'm supposed to use the standard electrode style gap plugs...part # NGK B8HS-10

I'm not sure if age of motor has anything to do with it, but it seems that the surface gap plugs were more common in older 2 strokes.

The plugs that are currently in my motor are the resistor plugs...part # NGK 8RHS-10...which is what I purchased to replace with.

[GregF]

Ahh spark plugs. I remember the old 2 stroke days when you had to replace spark plugs. I think you could own a 4 stroke for 10 years and never replace the plugs. I did it once on my 2002 mercury at around 1500 hours but they were not bad.