[bikerboo]

Hi Guys,
 Fed up with my Bosch plugs which have come as standard on my 2011 Classic,so have taken advice of forum members and ordered NGK BPR 6ES.Could someone please tell me the correct spark plug gap for them?Thanks Boo.

       

[Ayers Garage]

On my bike, there is a sticker inside the air cleaner housing lid. I think it's .7-.8mm if I remember correctly.

[barenekd]

.028" (.7mm) is where I keep mine.
Bare

[bikerboo]

Thanks Lads,I know its .7-.8 for the Bosch but wasn't sure if it was different for the NGK.Hopefully now it will be all systems go and bye bye to sooty plugs.Had a lot of problems earlier and hoped that they were all sorted out after a new efi unit and wiring loom.
 Oh and has anyone else had a problem with their kickstart?Have been told by dealer to only use in an emergency as bike has been back twice with floppy kickstart.Apparently they are not the best of design! ....Cheers,Boo

[jartist]

Floppy kickstart?  Kickstarting should be no problem.  Rotate engine with the kicker just past the hard point (past TDC) with the engine in neutral, don't pull the clutch.  Then let her rip! I bent a kick lever by starting my kick at the hard point (TDC) but no problems now with the new technique.

[bikerboo]

Hi J,no probs with kickstarting  as such but the kickstart wouldn't spring back.Cast bit inside was shattered,probably on manufacture.They didn't replace the spring which was probably buggered so had reocurrence  after I had used kickstart a few times.Dealer did ask why I used the kickstart anyway as have e/s but I like to keep in practice.Will keep it for emergencies from now on as advised.I have found it easy enough to start using the kickstart.Beats kicking over a Norton.Now that was hard work. ;)Boo

[GlennF]

I still get sooty plugs with the NGK, especially on short rides at low revs around town, but the NGK helps with a few other issues like rough idle.

I am starting to suspect the occasional report of a UCE fouling plugs a lot may have more to do with crap fouling the injector than anything else.

As for kickstart, I use it all the time with no problems, definitely nothing has broken. Do you make sure you find TDC before kicking ? Because its a big single, if you just kick randomly without easing past TDC it puts a lot of stress on the mechanism.

[Ducati Scotty]

There are two heat ranges for the NGK that we can use on this bike, 6 and 7.  8 was tried by someone but was too cool sooted up really badly.  I didn't like 6, came out a little too white so went with the cooler 7.  I suppose you could try 5 too but also check your TPS voltage, it may be set too rich.

Scott

[bikerboo]

Eh? tps voltage??? whats that then?More stuff for me to worry about??? Boo

[Ducati Scotty]

TPS = Throttle position sensor.  It's a littl item that sits on the pivot of the throttle butterfly and tells the ECU the current angle of the throttle.  It's just a variable resistor really.  Anyway, that should be set to 0.6V +/- 0.2V.  Easiest to measure at the ECU connections.  Turn ignition on, lights off (or disconnect headlight), and snap the throttle a few times to make sure it's closed.  Then measure the voltage.  It should be pretty close to 0.6V.  If it's over 0.7V that might cause a rich condition, especially if you mostly putter about at the low end of the throttle. 

I forget exactly which lines into the ECU connect to the TPS, but it's in the wiring diagram.  If this sounds excessively confusing, just ask your dealer to check it

Scott

[barenekd]

Here is one of Singhg5's videos that shows you exactly how to do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiX8oFtYZls

Bare

[Ducati Scotty]

Ah yes!  Singh is a better communicator than I am

Scott

[Arizoni]

While watching Singh's video and reading the comments I was reminded that this TPS video is only applicable to the computer controlled fuel injected models.

The carbonated models sold in India also have a TPS but it only controls the ignition advance.
Those who own one of these carbonated models need to use a different method to set up their TPS.
I am not very familiar with these switches but I think that setting them up has to do with adjusting them so that a yellow stripe on them is visible with the throttle wide open.  (I might be wrong about this so I recommend checking the service manual for the proper method.)

[bikerboo]

Hi All,many thanks,that youtube vid was brilliant,Am off to buy a voltmeter so I can do it myself.I find the more I know the less I really do know if that makes any sense.Still, am finding that owning RE is a steep learning curve and at least I have all you guys out there to ask. ;)Boo

[trimleyman]

Just replaced the Bosch plug in my '11 G5 with and NGK BPR 7ES . I was amazed at the improvement in overall performance . Idle was stable  and it revs more freely. Has made it even more fun to ride.