Bored tonight and tinkering with the bike. I had new plugs installed at the dealer at the end of last summer. I checked them tonight to see how they looked. They looked perfect, both of them. When I checked the gap both were set at about .032-.033. The service manual states to gap them at .038-.043.

Normally I would re gap them, but since the bike runs perfectly and both plugs looked good, should I re gap them or leave them alone?

I put them back in for now.

 

Dealer probably didnt take the time to gap them would be my guess.

 

Interesting as any HD plugs I bought were already gapped right close to .40. I'd say if it is running okay leave it be. Conversely an Indy told me to try .25. DO NOT do that!!!!! Ran like crap. I would be curious to know how the gap works out in the long run.

 

Setting the gap can be a matter of opinion/experience. Depending on your experience, I'd leave it.

 

Coin toss...bike's running OK so leave it, gap it, or ride it.

 

There is an old and outdated line of thinking that you gapped your plugs small when new so that as they erroded they would go through the proper range before finally becoming too large.

If it were my bike, I'd re-open the gap. Smaller gaps take less voltage to arc and you get a weaker spark. This drops power a little bit. Not something you'll likely detect by seat of the pants, but it's there.

 

I'll give it a go. If it run worse I'll gap them back.

 

Back before the ECM's I use to gap mine .060 with hotter coil and wires. I would open the gap to .040.

 

Well. I gapped them to 040. I also adjusted my clutch last night for the first time. Took a ride today and I know it's idling smoother for sure. Also the clutch is like butter now.

I'm so glad I'm doing this stuff myself and not paying the dealer to do it.

 

Fun, huh.