Spark plug recommendations, comments...

[Josh M]

My bike is due for some new spark plugs, and I'm wondering if I should stick to the D8EA plugs that are in it ($2.50 each) or if I should put in the higher performance D8EVX plugs ($8.25 each)  The cost isn't really an issue.  

  What's everybody using, what's good, what's not.  Also, does anyone have any reccommendations for plug wires?  Can they be replaced without replacing the coil?

tia

[Superfly]

I am using the stock D8EA plugs, and they work good for me.

[ProfessorRex]

I've got D8EA, they are working great for me.

[louthepou]

Same here, NGK; don't spend too much on the plugs, but gap them properly and change them once in a while = trouble free.

Louis

[Rick G]

Go with the stock ones , I believe you can replace the plug wires ,but I've never had the occasion to do so.

[h2olawyer]

The one time I changed them, I could only find the alternate ND plugs.  They seem to work fine too.  With an occasional cleaning & gap check, either the stock NGKs or the NDs work great & provide lots of miles of good service.

H2O

[Lucky]

Yes you can change just the plug wires, but you probably should change the caps as well.  the caps unscrew from the wire, as does the ciol end.  you should be able to get the caps at any good m/c shop, around $5 each.  i found that finding bulk wire though is getting harder than it used to be....

[ProfessorRex]

Jegs carries two different kinds of plug wire that I could find in the 2mins that I spent looking (both waaaaay better than stock).  I bet sumit racing also has some, and probably any other big online store of that type.  I'm not sure what would work with the stock caps, and coils, and I'm interested in finding out.  I'm a big believer in powerful spark!

[louthepou]

Good advices, guys. 20 year old wire is probably not the most efficient, and changing the cap is a good idea after a few years, since the vibration can cause the metal in the cap to wear.

Found out about that on my FJ1100 in 1993, just outside Winnipeg, Manitoba, in pooring rain. I put aluminum foil in two of the caps that were loose on the plugs, that worked until I found a motorcycle shop.

Since they are quite cheap, changing them every few years before the bike starts working on half its cylinders in the middle of nowhere is a good idea.

Louis

[Josh M]

20 year old wire is probably not the most efficient, and changing the cap is a good idea after a few years

When I got the bike running three years ago, I remember I had to cut about two to three inches off the plug wires.  The cores had deteriorated to green dust.  I can only imagine what condition they're in now. :o  

What do you guys think of the Accel universal 8.8mm kits?

[Rick G]

You need to find a source of  plug wire that has wire in side, not the carbon core stuff for cars,

[Josh M]

The Accel wires are silver plated copper woven around stainless steel.  And they're yellow for high performance ;D

[Superfly]

One of the first things I do is change out the plug wires.  I found a shop that sells the wire, and I just buy the NGK caps.  Huge difference.

[jasonm.]

8.8mm wire won't fit into these coils. 7mm is what they came with. The local auto store has rolls of the stuff. The caps???Do a resistance check first, 10k ohms. The Yamaha caps last a long time. I put NGK caps(5k ohms) on mine with D8EVX plugs. No noticable difference running. But seemed to start easier. But one NGK cap went bad in just a couple years. Go figure.

[Lucky]

another reason for replacing the caps is that they can micro crack, and short to ground.

[Josh M]

8.8mm wire won't fit into these coils. 7mm is what they came with.

D'oh!!!  All I can find in my catalogs is 8mm and 8.8mm.....

[coyote_killer]

How do the plug wires go into the coil??Are they easy to change??

[Superfly]

Making wires is very easy.  After you cut the wire to length, put the coil cap & O ring onto the wire, leaving about 1" to stick into the coil, then just screw in the wire.