Hi Guys,
I thought I'd ask all you guys if anybody else has had problems with spark plugs breaking down after a short period of use, myself and a mate have just got back from taking part in the XXX Corp event in Holland, my mate was riding a Matchless and he had no end of problems with bad running bike, as soon as he changed the plug for a new one the bike ran fine, this happened 3 days on the trot.
My Enfield ran fine without a problem but all the black paint burnt off the exhaust and pipe is a nice shade of blue.
The Dutch army supplied all the fuel and we were wondering if the octaine level is different from UK petrol, I came across another guy with a Matchless who was having the same problems.

Any ideas??

Cheers
Mike

email (option): mike_yockney(at)yahoo.com

Hello Mike,

That was me with the spark plug trouble!! and after 200 yards from riding away from the spot I spoke to you, the clutch cable went, so had to negotiate potholes, public, bicycles, horses, trains, etc. etc. with a poorly running bike, and no clutch!! but got back to our camp without stalling once!

Anyway, I mentioned the erratic running to someone else and he said not to use Shell V Power, and that is just what I put in!! never again!!

So must be petrol related, will try again with normal petrol when I've fixed the cable.

Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@welbxxx.net

Hi Lex,
My pal had to replace the spark plug e more times and it started to play up just as he was getting into the ferry, also good to meet you there.
Mike

I was expecting that someone would say that the problem is
That none of the bikes was a BSA.
How could you miss it??...


Noam.

email (option): noam10@gmail.com

Noam, we're talking about proper bikes here, not some inferior product that will even run on paraffin!!

Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@welbxxx.net

Using the wrong version of the Matchless spark plug was probably the problem...

They increased the number of sparks on the Mk.5(B) type fitted after 1943.... ....

Meanwhile the M20 riders were back at camp after an uneventful ride enjoying a cup of Char and a wad.....Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

Still I think its more a M20 related problem!
2 of the bikes of the group ( indeed BSA M20 ) have had a brakedown of broken
sparkplugs
regards,

Bram

email (option): bram at ockhuizen dot com

If an M20 broke down as well then it must have been the petrol.... ...Ian

email (option): welbike@welbxxx.net

Spark plugs were designed to burn petrol.
Fuel is not petrol and is unsuiteable for igniting with a spark plug.
Over the years I have found that
1) I need a plug 2 grades hotter fo slow city riding
2) one grade hotter for long runs
3) running the carb dry makes hot starting a lot easier and the plugs last a lot longer.
4) if the engine stalls before it has gotten hot, the plug will be toast
5) a fouled plug can only be reclaimed by burning it off.
We once had a "new" plug that burned for 13 minutes

email (option): wariron@tpg,com,au

I know nothing about the fuel issued in Holland to the people on that run...

Here in the UK there isn't an issue vis a vis spark plugs when running on bog standard pump petrol...

I never have ANY plug trouble, in varying conditions, using the current equivalent of the original plug grade (Champion L82C)...

They last thousands of miles and all I do is clean and regap them (very) occasionally...

Usually I replace the plug when the plated part gets too rusty... ...Ian

Were the plugs NGKs? I have heard somewhere that some far eastern copies got into the supply chain which dont last very long.

Peter,
yes the plugs were NGK, but the strange thing is that the original plug that was fitted to the bike was fitted in the UK, we rode from Surrey to Dover no problems at all, that particular plug failed whilst riding around Holland, the plug packed up when we were riding in one of the XXX corps convoys, luckily it packed up just outside a small garage in one village and the mechanic came out and asked what the problem was, he then got on the phone and ordered 2 more plugs (NGK),the plug was fitted and bike started first kick and off we went.
Next day we were riding along and all of a sudden the bike started misfiring and the engine just died, once again the plug was change for a new one and lo and behold, first kick ,the bike started and off we went again.

Mike

email (option): mike_yockney(at)yahoo.com

H9i Mike...Did you try refitting any of the 'failed' plugs?...Ian

Ian,
We did try once, we gave one of the plugs a rub over with a wire brush but to be honest it looked pretty clean (it had only been in the bike less than 24hrs), however even after a clean and a refit, the bike still wouldn't start.

Mike

email (option): mike_yockney(at)yahoo.com

It seems the heat range of the plug may have been unsuited to whatever fuel the Dutch Army gave you..Do they have E10 in Holland yet?...Ian