'78 GL1000 Spark Plug Gap

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Stealth126
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'78 GL1000 Spark Plug Gap

#1

Post by Stealth126 »

Is there an ideal plug gap that you guys have found? There is a range in the manual and mine are set in the middle. I have a Martek electronic ignition so I don't know what affect that has. Suggestions welcome. Thank you.
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robin1731
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Re: '78 GL1000 Spark Plug Gap

#2

Post by robin1731 »

.028"-.032". Some say go wider with electronic ignition but it really is no benefit. The ignition has to work harder if you get the gap too wide. I run the same gap in everything. Including the race engines.

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Re: '78 GL1000 Spark Plug Gap

#3

Post by Stealth126 »

Okay. So the manual says .024 to .028 and you're above the top end of that. Is that a hotter spark?
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Re: '78 GL1000 Spark Plug Gap

#4

Post by Stealth126 »

I will try it and let you know.
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Re: '78 GL1000 Spark Plug Gap

#5

Post by Fred Camper »

Pretty sure I run at 0.30 ish with Dyna coils and Dyna electronic ignition.
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Stealth126
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Re: '78 GL1000 Spark Plug Gap

#6

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Cylinder 2 is adjusted at 1 turn out on the fuel mixture screw. The rest of them idle well at around 2 turns. Does that indicate an obvious problem in your opinion?
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pidjones
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Re: '78 GL1000 Spark Plug Gap

#7

Post by pidjones »

That screw (pilot) controls fuel to the pilot outlet (the small tube that sticks up in the outlet of the carb after the throttle butterfly) it is most important when on idle but also adds fuel throughout the entire range. Running it in should make idle a bit leaner on that cylinder at idle. I suspect that carb may have the small holes just under the butterfly partly plugged and this is making up, or the seat/needle damaged requiring running it closed some for the same fuel flow. Have you balanced the carbs yet? I usually adjust the pilots to spec (ignoring idle-drop), balance, adjust pilots again, balance again.
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Stealth126
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Re: '78 GL1000 Spark Plug Gap

#8

Post by Stealth126 »

I have balanced them. But not since adjusting idle screws. I'll do it again and see what balance I can find.
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Re: '78 GL1000 Spark Plug Gap

#9

Post by Stealth126 »

I had the gap set at .025 and it idled and ran well with some popping in the exhaust above 26 or 2700 rpms. I have tweaked the idle mixture screws a lot. It gets better and worse intermittently. So today I decided to recheck the valve tappet clearances. For some reason they were all gapped too wide. I have heard these machines are finicky about that so I was sure that was my answer. So I adjusted all the clearances, but like a novice I also regapped my spark plugs to .028. I have a Martek Electronic setup but I'm running stock coils. So now, not only does it still pop in the exhaust above 2600 rpms now it idles good until the fan comes on then wants to stall. Never had that problem before. Do I start with widening the tappet clearances? Or regapping the plugs? Thanks in advance.
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Re: '78 GL1000 Spark Plug Gap

#10

Post by CYBORG »

Sounds like a charging problem. Check the condition of the battery, and connections. Especially the ground to frame. Check the voltage at idle, and the RPM's at idle.
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Re: '78 GL1000 Spark Plug Gap

#11

Post by robin1731 »

CYBORG wrote:Sounds like a charging problem. Check the condition of the battery, and connections. Especially the ground to frame. Check the voltage at idle, and the RPM's at idle.
This^^^^^ Also make sure the idle isn't set too low.

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1976 Goldwing Super Sport
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
Randakk approved Carb Rebuilder
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Re: '78 GL1000 Spark Plug Gap

#12

Post by Stealth126 »

When you say check the voltage at idle do you mean on the dash meter? Or some other method?
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Re: '78 GL1000 Spark Plug Gap

#13

Post by Stealth126 »

Rpms are set right around 1000 at warmed up idle. The volt meter drops down just above 10.5 or so if I let it sit and idle. It started stalling at stop signs too. It will fire right back up. But thg his just started happening last night after I did that valve adjustment.
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Re: '78 GL1000 Spark Plug Gap

#14

Post by Stealth126 »

After some consideration, after doing the valve adjust and setting the timing I didn't put the charger on the bike. I haven't ridden it other than through my subdivision a couple times at low speeds. Not enough to recharge the battery. I'll put the charger on and see how it idles warmed up on a full charge. I never would have thought of that.
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