Swapping Sparkplugs depending on your ride.

**pyrocam** · 19th May 2005, 07:50

Ok. well Colemans got back to me. its just over $500 to fix, new piston and gaskets and stuff. It definately did seize and wasnt just me being a noob.
(I hope I can keep the old piston, make quite a nice souvineer and Id like to see the damage he was talking about)

but the reason is seized is quite interesting. basically the head got too hot and expanded and got stuck. colemans recommended that If go on long rides I should use a '10' plug instead of a '9' plug (10 being a colder spark plug, 9 being the recommended) because a colder spark plug will keep the engine cooler.

Ive got two options for long rides.
every three hours let the engine cool down for an hour, perhaps even more if consistantly at high rpm.

or, if I plan to go on long rides. swap the plugs, which is apparently quite easy but looks tricky for me (its inbetween fins).

So what would you do? ride easier or swap the plugs?

**John** · 19th May 2005, 07:59

Swap it' takes about 2 minutes, get them to show you how - might save you money in the future, slap the smaller back in when your commuting, so it warms up quicker.

**Racey Rider** · 19th May 2005, 08:04

Swap the plug.

or better still,,, trade bike in on a older RG150. Then you can thrash it all day!

**Pwalo** · 19th May 2005, 08:09

That's one thing that I don't miss about two strokes. Remember all those plug chops, and tinkering with plug grades and carb settings when the weather conditions changed. But at least there was always that lovely smell of burnt two stroke oil (Castrol R??).

**White trash** · 19th May 2005, 08:09

Originally Posted by Racey Rider

Swap the plug.

or better still,,, trade bike in on a older RG150. Then you can thrash it all day!

Untill it has a powervalve melt down.

**Madguitarist!** · 19th May 2005, 09:03

Originally Posted by White trash

Untill it has a powervalve melt down.

Ah, memories of those lovely 2 stroker days!

Might be more maintenance..but they sure were da bomb when I was a teenage mutant street racer!!

.... waaaay back when......

ps Pyro...change plugs dude....

**bugjuice** · 19th May 2005, 09:10

get a 4stroke 250 and not worry

**F5 Dave** · 19th May 2005, 09:50

What a lot of bollocks! Use a 10 instead of a 9, oh please!

Yes you can run too hot a plug, but 9 is pretty cold. Now let’s get one thing straight, the plug temperature doesn’t affect the cylinder temperature directly, but more likely there was another problem like an air leak, timing or bad batch of petrol -if there is damage to the top of the piston. If the seizure is only on the sides then look elsewhere.

Look at examples here

Check your airfilter seats properly, carb jets are clean, use a decent oil & consider 96 petrol for safety.

**FROSTY:Me** · 19th May 2005, 09:57

Yea Dave I must say a change of only one heat range sounds suss to me.
I know they do use a pretty cold plug in those lil strokers cos theyre mostly round town.
In the "old days' We had 3 sets of plugs in our strokers.-1 for city riding 1 for longer distance commuting and 1 for the big thrash.
Anyhoo its a 2 second job to swap plugs

**Racey Rider** · 19th May 2005, 09:58

Originally Posted by White trash

Untill it has a powervalve melt down.

Quite right WT!
My mistake.

Should have said, Buy a KR150 !

**Waylander** · 19th May 2005, 11:06

Get a cruiser. Takes me a total of two minutes to change out the plugs. Easily accesable cause there are no plastic pansy bits getting in the way.

**John** · 19th May 2005, 11:12

Originally Posted by Waylander

Get a cruiser. Takes me a total of two minutes to change out the plugs. Easily accesable cause there are no plastic pansy bits getting in the way.

Takes that time on just about all bikes, especially 2stroke singles come on... I can change my plugs quick smart if needs be, about a 4/5minute job.

**crashe** · 19th May 2005, 13:01

You can ask for all parts that have been replaced.
and you will get them back.... does help to ask ahead of time thou.

I do that on anything that I have fixed, as I like to see what I am paying for.

**Pixie** · 19th May 2005, 13:13

Originally Posted by Madguitarist!

Ah, memories of those lovely 2 stroker days!

Might be more maintenance..but they sure were da bomb when I was a teenage mutant street racer!!

.... waaaay back when......

ps Pyro...change plugs dude....

My RZ350: possible the most enjoyable,most reliable bike I've owned.
Maintenance?Check the oil pump setting-never needed to adjust it.Look at the plugs once a year .Check coolant.check cables
Nothing

**roogazza** · 19th May 2005, 13:25

[QUOTE=F5 Dave]What a lot of bollocks! Use a 10 instead of a 9, oh please!
Yes you can run too hot a plug, but more likely there was another problem like an air leak,
Check your airfilter seats properly,

Reckon you're on the right track F5. I've had heaps of Rd's etc etc Even leaning then right off for trackwork I've never holed a piston. But I have done that and seized when trying to run no air element and not upping the jetting enough... G.