NGK LD05FP (8070)

[cfairweather]

Since the correct NGK XD05F is not available, I tried a NGK LD05FP today on one of my projects. You have to route the spark plug wires differently, but it might actually look better with these caps. NGK has discontinued this part number too.

DSCN4803.JPG (169.77 KiB) Viewed 480 times

DSCN4802.JPG (182.39 KiB) Viewed 480 times

DSCN4801.JPG (239.24 KiB) Viewed 480 times

DSCN4800.JPG (248.06 KiB) Viewed 480 times

[redglbx]

Cedric, I like the look !

[dontwantapickle]

Good looking project.

[pidjones]

I guess they are forcing us to go to resistor plugs and non-resistor caps.

[digger]

Thanks for doing the homework for us Cedric, I too like the look.

[Sidecar Bob]

Those look good. I don't think they would work with the "supressor seals" but without the seals these don't stick out like the XD05Fs do. Now, if they came in red....

Unfortunately, they aren't going to be around any longer than the original. NGK.com says that both the XD05F and the LD05FP are discontinued. Apparently NGK stopped making spark plug caps over a year ago so when the dealers' existing stocks are gone we'll have to find other brands.

From what I can find on Google, this happened around the time they announced that NGK Spark Plug is changing its name to Niterra
https://www.ngkntk.com/newsroom/press-r ... o-niterra/

[wolf_walker78]

Bought a set of XD05F off an ebay shop in the UK, surprisingly reasonable cost but the stock isn't going to last forever. I'll be stashing my originals away for a rainy day. Somewhere online I found a pretty good catalog with dimensions and such for all the caps NGK makes.

[Sidecar Bob]

FWIW, the cap used on the CX/GL500/650 bikes was not used on anything else. When I had the GL500 ('00-'05) original replacements (made by NGK) were still available from Honda and you could also get the NGK branded version, which had their name on a rectangular boss that made them not fit the spark plug well seals properly. Some years ago Honda sold off all of their old stock and I think NGK stopped making them too so new replacements became hard to find for a few years.
Then David Silver Spares started having replicas made (apparently they sell versions with & without the resistor).

I fully expect that some aftermarket supplier will do the same for old GoldWings when the supply of NGK made caps starts to dry up.

[Rednaxs60]

I guess they are forcing us to go to resistor plugs and non-resistor caps.

The 1200 has resistor plugs and caps. It has been mentioned that some owners have replaced the cap resistors with a length of copper wire. Tried this, no difference. The auto industry doesn't use resistor caps. The GW engines were designed with an automotive "flavour" so to speak.

[Sidecar Bob]

As I understand it, having some resistance between the coil and the spark gap increases the duration of the spark event, which means more power and a cleaner exhaust (probably better fuel economy too).

The auto industry doesn't use resistor caps because they use so-called "resistor wires", which are basically carbon impregnated string. That garbage may be OK when there is a hood to keep the sun & wind off but it doesn't hold up long on a motorcycle (trust me: I tried this a couple of decades ago).

[wolf_walker78]

FWIW, the cap used on the CX/GL500/650 bikes was not used on anything else. When I had the GL500 ('00-'05) original replacements (made by NGK) were still available from Honda and you could also get the NGK branded version, which had their name on a rectangular boss that made them not fit the spark plug well seals properly. Some years ago Honda sold off all of their old stock and I think NGK stopped making them too so new replacements became hard to find for a few years.
Then David Silver Spares started having replicas made (apparently they sell versions with & without the resistor).

I fully expect that some aftermarket supplier will do the same for old GoldWings when the supply of NGK made caps starts to dry up.

I saw some very cheap no known name brand ones available domestically online so I think that's already happened. I still ordered NGK since they were available, never know with aftermarket. I wouldn't have paid $25 each for them or such though.

[wolf_walker78]

As I understand it, having some resistance between the coil and the spark gap increases the duration of the spark event, which means more power and a cleaner exhaust (probably better fuel economy too).

The auto industry doesn't use resistor caps because they use so-called "resistor wires", which are basically carbon impregnated string. That garbage may be OK when there is a hood to keep the sun & wind off but it doesn't hold up long on a motorcycle (trust me: I tried this a couple of decades ago).

Surely they weren't using solid core wires in the late 70's? I thought everything had gone to spiral wound emi suppression before that. I've seen tons of bikes with generic ole yellow Accel wires on them that seem to do okay. What's the rated resistance per foot on the GL's? I think what I ordered for my dyna coil upgrade is just generic plug wires though the seller did suggest they were a good match for dyna coils. I don't recall seeing any car that didn't have a resistor spark plug unless it was way, way old. Like 60's or older old.

[Sidecar Bob]

Cars use resistor wires. Our old bikes need real wire.

The resistance that Honda's engineers designed for is all in the caps and/or plugs.

[wolf_walker78]

I don't think I've ever heard them referred to as resistor wires, we've had carbon suppression wires and spiral wound wires and resistor plugs in cars since the early 70's if not before which is about as far back as I go. The rated wire resistance generally depends on the type of ignition system and wire manufacturer, anywhere from 20 to 10-15K per foot. Modern-ish (late 70's) electronic ignitions are pretty tolerant of varying resistance apparently, but not of EMI/RFI. There are a number of people that say low resistance wires for modern-ish applications is snake oil for some various electrical reasons and I'm inclined to believe them overall. Points and/or a relatively weak spark is a different matter though. If there was room to mount a cdi ignition box on this thing I would.


Looks like the wire I ordered is copper core.

[Sidecar Bob]

I don't know a lot about cars so I'll say maybe?

Honda dabbled with CDI in the late '70s to early '80s but they settled on the Transistor amplifier Ignition system (usually called TI) as used on the GL500, CX & GL650 and GL1100 (I'm not sure if the GL1200 has the same).

The easy way to get electronic ignition on a GL1000 is to use one of the Dyna S clones (quite reasonably priced these days). They fit in place of the points, connect where the points did (you disconnect & remove the condensers) and time like the points (except that you only have to do it once).