How fat should the spark be?

[Guest]

Checking out the condition of the spark at tip of plugs yesterday and while sort of expecting a nice fat bluish "stoke of lightning" I saw a thin line about as thick as a fine thread. Put a brand new unused plug in #4 to compare but same result. Probably always looked like this but in relation to the thickness of the round electrode of the plug, how thick/wide should that spark be? When I tested the coils, the resistance was in that 30k range.

Sort of looks wimpy but what do I know. Is this thread thin spark what we should get and is the fantasy of a fat blue spark that has an audible snap a figment of my imagination?

Do aftermarket coils, al DynoTek, put out a hotter looking spark?

Thanks for your responses

DH

 

[Big T]

Color is more important than size. If it's blue/white, you're good

 

[Steve]

I am about to change my stock coils to Dynas, would be happy to get a short video of each for you.

.

 

[Guest]

I am about to change my stock coils to Dynas, would be happy to get a short video of each for you.

.

Thanks Steve. Would love to see it. Don't know if I'm in the market unless bike won't run without. Fixed income limits (joys of geezertude ya know) but still of great interest to me.

DH

 

[Cipher]

my spark looks weak but the bike runs like a champ. Its not a briggs and stratton engine

 

[Steve]

I need to get a cable to load the videos from my phone and get them on YouTube.

Actually, I cheated. Did not get into my bike this evening, but shot a video of my bike with stock coils and my son's bike with its brand-new Dynas. After watching the videos on the phone's screen, the difference is somewhat less than impressive, so don't expect much.

.

 

[Guest]

my spark looks weak but the bike runs like a champ. Its not a briggs and stratton engine

Thanks Cipher. Just came back from an after dark visit to Roadkill's shed. All 4 cylinders have equal looking arcs using brandy new plugs to view in the dark. The arcs are thin, like a pretty fine sewing thread but are bluish-white in color. Do wonder if one of those more expensive fine wire or exotic iridium plug formulations give a more dramatic spark. If any one out there wants to buy me some, I'd be glad to experiment.......Helloo,....is anyone there?

Oh well guess I'll just have to imagine then cause I'm too cheap to do it. Trying to remember what I saw in the past. Remember thinking spark not what I'd expect but can't remember if it was on this machine or some other engine.

They do look better in the dark though.

Thanks for the responses.

You don't have to do all that video stuff Steve, lessen you wants to.

DH

 

[Steve]

You don't have to do all that video stuff Steve, lessen you wants to.

Videos are done, just need to be posted.

.

 

[mvalenti]

Add music, during a long scrolling wordy introduction... finish with cymbals banging and explosions... and a closing shot of Chuck Norris giving a thumbs up... That should help with the lackluster change in spark...

I did see a noticeable difference in spark when I switched to dynas, fyi

 

[Cipher]

did you see a measurable change in performance? Is it worth it beyond the false perception needed to justify an expense? All the spark needed is that sufficient to ignite a load of air fuel mixture all the rest is marketing bull****

 

[Steve]

OK, here are the videos.

850 with stock coils:

1000 with Dynas:

No extra charge for the slo-mo. :encouragement:

.

 

[Cipher]

same colour same temp what the heck? more stable at higher rpm?

 

[steve murdoch]

Thank you for taking the time to do this, Steve.

 

[Steve]

You are quite welcome. :encouragement:

I learned a couple things in the process, as well. The first video I shot (not shown) showed a weaker spark, but it also showed that there was a spark between the plug and the head it was sitting on. I connected a jumper wire with an alligator clip to ensure a good ground and a spark in only one location.

I also learned that if you copy the slo-mo video from your iPhone to your computer, then post it to You Tube, you don't get any slo-mo, just full-speed, and it's just not the same. You have to use the You Tube app on the phone and upload directly from your phone to get the slo-mo.

Oh, yeah, I also learned that the spark looks pretty much the same between stock coils and Dynas.

.

 

[posplayr]

Actually, I measure how far the spark will gap, not the spark in the gap.

Accel coils will do a solid blue spark over 1/4".

 

[mvalenti]

Performance as in speed, response? No... easier starts, smoother running, yes. I went with coils, wires, and a dyna ignition, and new stator and reg/rec... all worth it in my mind, and had done this over a 2-3 yr period...

 

[mvalenti]

Or... if your into chubby (spark) chasing...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlfFan-Yy88

Looks like a spark plug stun gun...