Regular maintenance on your Harley Davidson is important and
changing the spark plugs is something that's easy to do. Spark
plugs should be changed every five to ten thousand miles. If you have
performance problems during that time, the spark plugs should be
checker. It will help your bike to run better and can save a trip into
the shop. When doing spark plug replacements on a Harley Davidson, it's
highly recommended to use only the stock spark plugs from Harley
Davidson. Many vehicles work just as well with different brands, but
it's not so with Harleys.
Tools Needed
- Rachet and Spark Plug Socket
- Plug Gap Guage
- Gapping Tool
Steps
- Remove your Spark Plugs.
There will be two plugs - one located in the front part of the engine and one on the rear portion. Remove the spark plug boots and then take out the spark plugs. You can use a standard ratchet, but you'll want to get a plug socket. It's a special socket designed to grip and turn the spark plug without damaging it.
- Inspect the Spark
Plugs
Look over the spark plugs after you remove them. Be careful to check for coloration. What you want to see is a tan/brown color around the ceramic. Black indicates a mixture that is too rich - meaning too much fuel to air. White shows that the motorcycle's mix is too lean.
- Set
the Plug Gap
Get your new plugs and check the plug gap on them. There are tools specifically designed for this purpose. The right plug gap should be in the range of 38 to 42 thousandths of an inch. Adjust the gap with a gapping tool if necessary.
- Install the New Plugs
You just reverse the process you used to take out the old spark plugs to install the new ones. Use the plug socket and ratchet to put your new plugs in. Inspect the plug boot and wire for any breaks or residue. If it's dirty you should clean it. If there are cracks you will want to replace the wire. Just as you should use stock Harley Davidson plugs, if you need to replace the wires be sure to use stock wires. If the wires check out fine, just place them back onto the spark plugs. They should snap into place with an audible click.
Spark plug replacements are among the easiest maintenance you can do on any vehicle. With your Harley Davidson motorcycle they can be very important. Doing it yourself can save you some money and a trip to the shop.