Plug wire caps

[moehme]

The plug wire caps on my GS1100GLZ (1982) don't fit "snuggly" on the spark plugs. Thinking this might be a partial cause to my weak/no spark situation.

It looks like you can replace just the caps. Is it much of a task to replace them? Also, if I do replace them, does anyone know what size plug wire this bike might have?

(Apparently, replacing the wires out of the coils looks to be a different story though - pretty tough to do).

[Nessism]

Z1 enterprises sells NGK plug caps. Match up your existing caps with what they sell - they come in different lengths and angles. Before you install them it's standard pratice to snip off about 1/2 inch (1 cm) of the wire to expose fresh wire.

Good luck.

[Ozmiander]

Z1 enterprises sells NGK plug caps. Match up your existing caps with what they sell - they come in different lengths and angles. Before you install them it's standard pratice to snip off about 1/2 inch (1 cm) of the wire to expose fresh wire.

Good luck.

Seconded on Z1. My local dealer (Griffin's in Schenectady) doesn't sell D series NGK caps, just Bs.

The caps themselves are dead easy to install. Unscrew them, cut off a bit like Nessism said and screw the new ones on. Feel free to use liberal amounts of dielectric grease too since they're so weather exposed.

[doctorgonzo]

Caps will bite you. I had a cylinder missing badly at idle. I had replaced the 2 & 3 caps, but not the 1 & 4 because local dealer didn't have them in stock. What fixed my miss (after much gnashing of teeth).... A new cap on Cylinder 1.

[greg78gs750]

The plug wire caps on my GS1100GLZ (1982) don't fit "snuggly" on the spark plugs. Thinking this might be a partial cause to my weak/no spark situation.

It looks like you can replace just the caps. Is it much of a task to replace them? Also, if I do replace them, does anyone know what size plug wire this bike might have?

(Apparently, replacing the wires out of the coils looks to be a different story though - pretty tough to do).

actually, i just pulled the old wires out of my stock coils last night. it really isnt all that hard.... i chipped/dug away at the glue around where they come out of the coils with a knife, then wiggled them back and forth a bit to loosen them um, then, with a bit of force, tugged them out. the connection in there is just a high-tension "spike", like on a furnace ignitor, that just sticks into the end of the plug wire.

i did have one wire break off, i took a drill with a bit a little smaller thatn the hole and CAREFULLY drilled about halfway in, being careful not to get CLOSE to the spike, about a cm in the glue holding the wire gave up and i just pulled it out with needlenose pliers. piece of cake, and i figured at the worst i would be getting new coils, gee, what a bummer that would be...

i 'think" the plug wires are 7mm, copper core, not the suppression type. you can get wires, and caps, at z1. the cap designation should be engraved on the cap, letters and numbers like a spark plug.

there are many threads on this, check "high tension"

greg