Trying to determine if there is a problem

[BigD_83]

Feeler gauge and handlebars

Yup I can. I'll do that this evening. I have a plug socket and all that, so that's something I should be able to handle no problem. What about gapping (if necessary)? How is that done? I'm assuming I'd need a caliper to accurately measure the gap.

If you have a tool supplier in town you can pickup a feeler gauge with spark plug gap tools for around $5.00

I had their tech take a listen and he thought it sounded just fine. His possible explanation for why I felt like I had to shift earlier than I would have thought is that it's a Reagan-era bike so it was geared towards the 55 MPH limit. Not sure if that's true or not but it sounds plausible. He did say to expect it to be loud and a bit more vibration at the higher speeds but that it was fine and the bike could take it no problem.

Not sure about the 55 and gear ratios, but these bikes like to be high in the rev range. Don't putt about.

The ride to the shop and back was fine. I took the city streets going up and the highway heading back. It felt/sounded better. My confidence is much higher after that ride. I definitely need to get better handle-bars though. These (stock?) ones suck.

I thought the stock E bars were lower than those on the G, but either way, consider picking up superbike or Daytona bars, or a Euro bar. That will put you into a more forward stance and turn your wrists out less. The only thing is that the less expensive bars may not have the bar end plugs in them and may transmit more vibration than the stock bars. I know my new eurotour bars do not dampen vibration as well as the stockers.

[sedelen]

Yes, you'll need a feeler gauge if you want to check the gap. .024-.028 iches, NGK D8EA is the standard plug (normal temp range). I use a little anti-seize on the plug threads, and those are aluminum heads so don't over torque.
There is a service manual on BassCliff's site, you can download it,
page 2-10 concerns info about the plug. Click on this link and it will start downloading.

http://www.mtsac.edu/~cliff/storage/gs/GS650E_Service_Manual.pdf

I like the tech's comment about the Reagan Era bike so it was geared for the 55mph limit! I don't think I'll have to tell you what I think about that.
The only thing it affected on these bikes was the speedo which max'd out at 85mph.

[MAJikMARCer]

Yes, you'll need a feeler gauge if you want to check the gap. .024-.028 iches, NGK D8EA is the standard plug (normal temp range). I use a little anti-seize on the plug threads, and those are aluminum heads so don't over torque.
There is a service manual on BassCliff's site, you can download it,
page 2-10 concerns info about the plug. Click on this link and it will start downloading.

http://www.mtsac.edu/~cliff/storage/gs/GS650E_Service_Manual.pdf

I like the tech's comment about the Reagan Era bike so it was geared for the 55mph limit! I don't think I'll have to tell you what I think about that.
The only thing it affected on these bikes was the speedo which max'd out at 85mph.

Yea I've downloaded the service manual for my bike already. Thanks!

I didn't swallow the 55mph thing. I think he was just trying to make me feel better. LOL It did 55-60 on the hwy, on the way home, with no problem at all. I'm sure it would have gone faster but there were a lot of sheriff cars on that stretch today.

[sedelen]

These bikes like to run at higher RPM. On my 1100 I'm always shifting for the higher gear to find I'm already in it. I think once you get some miles under your belt you'll feel alot more comfortable with the RPM's and the gearing. Enjoy!

[MAJikMARCer]

Enjoy!

I'm finally starting to. The first couple of rides were short and exhausting because I was all nerves. I'm finally starting to relax and enjoy the ride.

[MAJikMARCer]

Yeah but those things don't involve fuel, fire, and going over the speed limit

Well there is electricity and maybe natural gas/propane involved, so there COULD be fuel and fire, but the only way a kitchen is going over the speed-limit is when it's on it's way to Oz. LOL

[MAJikMARCer]

No checking the plugs tonight. First I found that both plug sockets that I own are SAE and not close enough to fudge it, so on the bike I go to Ace. I get the 18mm socket and DOH! my socket wrench is 3/8 not 1/2 like the socket needs and I don't have the adapter.

Too frustrated to go back to Ace tonight. I swear I can never just go to the hardware store once for a project.

[mike_of_bbg]

?????

I use a 13/16" plug socket on mine all the time... NGK B8ES plugs, right?

25.4mm * 13 / 16 ~= 18.3mm

[MAJikMARCer]

?????

I use a 13/16" plug socket on mine all the time... NGK B8ES plugs, right?

25.4mm * 13 / 16 ~= 18.3mm

I used this website to get the specs for the NGK B8ES (not sure if they ARE B8ES plugs but they are NGK): http://www.gsparkplug.com/shop/ngk-d8ea.html

It said 18mm, so that's what I got. Regardless all my SAE sockets didn't fit so I had to get a new socket regardless.

[cowboyup3371]

Yea, 13/16 spark plug socket is the correct one. Good luck though. I'm the same way, everytime I walk out of Ace, Sears, or Lowes, I always need to go back for something else I "forgot"

[Steve]

I use a 13/16" plug socket on mine all the time... NGK B8ES plugs, right?

No.

Yea, 13/16 spark plug socket is the correct one.

Not on the 650.

It uses D8EA plugs, which are much smaller.

.

[mike_of_bbg]

Ah, so, oh wise and experienced one...

I knew most (if not all) of the later 16V motors used the smaller plugs.

[Killer2600]

?????

I use a 13/16" plug socket on mine all the time... NGK B8ES plugs, right?

25.4mm * 13 / 16 ~= 18.3mm

um your math is wrong: 13 / 16 = 0.8125, 25.4mm * 0.8125 = 20.6375mm (nowhere close to 18.3mm)

[MAJikMARCer]

No.

Not on the 650.

It uses D8EA plugs, which are much smaller.

.

I can confirm that the 18mm socket DOES fit the D8EA plugs on my bike. I can't turn it yet until I make another run to the store but it does fit properly.

The more you know...

[MAJikMARCer]

Plug condition

I finally got the plugs out of the bike, one at a time. I checked their gaps and they are right on. They are all D8EA, so that's all good.

But I'm not sure about the color/condition. They seem a bit sooty to me, but not terrible. Thoughts/opinions?




You can ignore the allen keys, they were just there to help me keep track of which plug was which when I get back to the computer to look at the pictures.