zerotahero
Novice Class
Posts: 89
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posted March 22, 2009 09:44 AM
sparkplugs
how often are you guys changing these out? i have about 6k on my bike.
  
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jdzx14
Expert Class
Posts: 412
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posted March 22, 2009 10:15 AM
Manual says change them every 7500k but your gonna get mixed answers, i changed mine over the winter at 9700k, looks ok, but now it seems to idle better cold.
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2007 Black ZX-14
Lowering links, Brocks Strap Kit, Muzzy Full 4-2-1, No files, PC3, BMC Race filter, 6 inch extensions,16/44, Shinko 003 Ultra Soft..... SOLD!!!!!
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Rook
Pro
Posts: 1125
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posted March 22, 2009 08:17 PM
Mine seem fine at just over 6K miles. I might push it to 8,500 if I'm too busy riding. All depends on how it runs.
Rook
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Bawls
Needs a job
re-learning to ride
Posts: 2701
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posted March 22, 2009 08:55 PM
Mine had to be changed at 2500 Miles because my bike was in my moms shop while I was on deployment and she never rode it... just went out and started it up for a few minutes every week. My dad said that it was probably the single most miserable experience he ever had working on a motorcycle lol.
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Best 60ft: 1.42
Best 1/8th: 5.97
Best 1/8th MPH: 119
Brockland Police Badge # 001
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gilberjj
Needs a job
Friend of Fast
Posts: 3196
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posted March 22, 2009 11:37 PM
I just went over 10k yesterday on the stock plugs. If I've lost any performance I wouldn't know because it would be over time. I have new plugs, and I'll probably be putting them in this week.....
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Bluebyyou
Expert Class
Gettin My Curve On
Posts: 276
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posted March 23, 2009 03:42 AM
I went 12K before changing mine with no discernable performance loss or starting issues.
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2007 Bad to the Bone ZX-14 flies out, full Muzzy exhaust system, PC III, BMC race
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zxryder
Parking Attendant
Posts: 22
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posted March 23, 2009 05:14 AM
Jeez did I wait too long to change mine, I just changed them at 32,000kms.
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dcjens
Pro
Wet side of Washington
Posts: 1059
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posted March 23, 2009 05:44 AM
quote:
I just went over 10k yesterday on the stock plugs. If I've lost any performance I wouldn't know because it would be over time. I have new plugs, and I'll probably be putting them in this week.....
I have 11600 miles and it runs great. I pulled the easy one to reach and it looked new. Original plugs still.
Hey gilberjj, I heard you ran into my cousin this weekend- that's cool. Congrats on getting married too! I'll be up and running soon, parts on order finally! Maybe see ya this summer sometime...
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Black 06
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3000psi and falling
Zone Head
Posts: 848
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posted March 23, 2009 07:21 AM
I replaced mine at about 8000 and they looked fine, the gaps were still the same 0.8 mm as the new ones.
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08 ZX14, 2010 Persimmon Red bodywork.
Flies pulled, 16-42, BMC street, 8" extensions, drag shock, cut pan, Cycle Concepts Drag Pack and springs, muzzy m14 w/ oval can, lowered, Shinco usoft rear, pcv with autotune, leightweight Shori 18ah battery, throttle meister. 500lbs at bandimeres scales with half tank of juice.
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted March 23, 2009 09:07 AM
changed at 10250 because i thought it might be time, it was running fine but now it runs a little better.
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2006 Black ZX-14,6 inches over,16/42, flies out,BMC Street Filter,Brock's Street Meg,Brock's Radial Mount Strap,PClll with Race map,Dynojet LCD w/Techmount, ZX-14 fender eliminator,Pilot Power2CTs,Speedohealer,Pazzo Levers,Cox Radiator Guard, Garmin Nuvi 265WT
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eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
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posted March 23, 2009 10:05 AM
how hard is it to change them??? we were looking last week while the tank was off and i dont see a way to do it.... must be just me, out of curiosity i called the dealer and they watn $200 labor... i knew it would be high, but it is possible to do it without any special tools? i have 6,700 miles, and with me not runnin a pc for quite a few of those miles, im figuring its getting time to look into changing them
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Best: 60ft 1.351 1/8 5.68 mph 123.98 1/4
8.89 mph 151.32
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kawasakijockey
Pro
Posts: 1876
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posted March 23, 2009 10:09 AM
A mechanic told me the stock tool kit is the easiest thing to use, is that true?
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Get on the shortbus boys 'cause its time to get schooled.
2007 ZX-14
1.38 60ft
9.03 @ 149mph
8.95 @153 small shot n2o
8.68 @160mph 5lbs boost
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Compton
Zone Head
Posts: 969
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posted March 23, 2009 10:14 AM
with the air reed setup not there, it makes it a lot easier.
btw, if you think the 14 is bad, the 12 has even less space.
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b.w.
zx14, little longer, little louder, little lower.
08 Busa, just a little longer and louder and lower than the 14
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ratbyk
Expert Class
Posts: 179
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posted March 23, 2009 12:07 PM
19000+Kms when I changed mine for first time. The old ones looked fine and gap was still OK! Found using the plug wrench from the tool kit worked best. It is a miserable time consuming job. Very little finger/hand room but it is do-able. Just takes lots of patience. I used the rubber gas line trick to reach down into the pockets to R&R the plugs once loose.
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Old Guy
Expert Class
Posts: 470
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posted March 23, 2009 01:42 PM
quote:
I just went over 10k yesterday on the stock plugs. If I've lost any performance I wouldn't know because it would be over time. I have new plugs, and I'll probably be putting them in this week.....
Went about the same. Old plugs were in great shape.
Fresh ones added about 50+ hp. 
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Living the good life...,
On a XZ !!!!!
Tsukigi stainless full system
pcIII w/custom map
NO freakin flies!!
GP suspension forks
Penske rear shock
Rich's custom seat
And a whole bunch of other stuff.
97 zx6r full race bike with all the
good stuff
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Old Guy
Expert Class
Posts: 470
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posted March 23, 2009 01:47 PM
quote:
19000+Kms when I changed mine for first time. The old ones looked fine and gap was still OK! Found using the plug wrench from the tool kit worked best. It is a miserable time consuming job. Very little finger/hand room but it is do-able. Just takes lots of patience. I used the rubber gas line trick to reach down into the pockets to R&R the plugs once loose.
+1
I used a chunk of the fresh air (or whatever that crap is called) hoses I eliminated at the time. Plugged frame air hole and glued bolts into the reed valve covers.
A racheting box end works great w/stock plug wrench.
____________
Living the good life...,
On a XZ !!!!!
Tsukigi stainless full system
pcIII w/custom map
NO freakin flies!!
GP suspension forks
Penske rear shock
Rich's custom seat
And a whole bunch of other stuff.
97 zx6r full race bike with all the
good stuff
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BIGZXDADDY
Expert Class
Posts: 270
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posted March 23, 2009 03:35 PM
quote:
A mechanic told me the stock tool kit is the easiest thing to use, is that true?
yes
changed mine and checked valve lash at 15k. i think the manuel says 7500,15000 then every 15k after that
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"never drive faster than you can see, besides it's all in the reflexes"
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted March 23, 2009 08:16 PM
I changed my plugs at 7000 miles.
They still looked ok, but not new. nice color, gaps fine, but the elctrode was erroded some around the edge...
I thought it ran good, but what a difference afterward.
It pulled roll ons, and idled much better.
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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gilberjj
Needs a job
Friend of Fast
Posts: 3196
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posted March 25, 2009 10:19 AM
question...... I'm having major difficulty getting the coil caps off the head of the spark plug. I've really been pulling on the #1 cylinder and it's no happening. Any advise?
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gilberjj
Needs a job
Friend of Fast
Posts: 3196
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posted March 25, 2009 11:10 AM
nm........ I got it. It wasn't that bad at all.....
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WARBIRD
Needs a job
Posts: 2739
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posted March 25, 2009 11:53 AM
Twist, and twist some more while pulling up on the coil/cap..............  
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I'd Rather Be Roadracing.
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted March 25, 2009 03:54 PM
my fave...
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natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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faz
Parking Attendant
Posts: 28
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posted March 25, 2009 04:09 PM
 Edited By: faz on 26 Mar 2009 00:11
Good discussion, as I am coming close to 7000 miles and was wondering about whether it is worth going through the trouble or not. From the now dead previous board that some of us were frequenting, someone had mentioned that the european spec doesn't call for a change of spark plug until much later (12k miles or something), and that this is probably more of an emissions/env. requirement here for U.S. spec bikes than a real need. Anyone has any input they would like to share on that perhaps??
In all of my previous bikes I have gone through the trouble of getting to spark plugs and replacing them at the exact required date as per owner's manual, only to find out that the existing spark plugs were almost new looking and no performance difference or idle improvement. This was even true on my v-twin liter bikes, where spark plugs had to endure extra torture of 500 cc per cylinder. In fact, the only reason I would change them was due to the fact that I was already there and had the new plugs ready to go anyway... so might as well. But I would never follow the same interval afterward.
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted March 25, 2009 04:21 PM
depends what your doing with it I think....
http://www.bikeland.org/board/viewthread.php?FID=27&TID=45876&set_time=
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natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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faz
Parking Attendant
Posts: 28
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posted March 25, 2009 04:25 PM
^ absolutely.
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