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Nothing to do about motorcycles , but many years ago I had an old outboard mechanic teach me a valuable lesson about spark plugs. He instructed me to remove plugs from engine and throw them in bucket of water. If they float put them back in, otherwise replace the plugs.
Nothing to do about motorcycles , but many years ago I had an old outboard mechanic teach me a valuable lesson about spark plugs. He instructed me to remove plugs from engine and throw them in bucket of water. If they float put them back in, otherwise replace the plugs.
I use the bead blast cabinet, then soak them down with Brakleen, and blow them thoroughly clean and dry with compressed air. You don't won't any glass bead media introduced to the combustion chamber.
My dad had a spark plug cleaner where you put in the spark plug attached an air hose, give it a blast or two of air and you had a very clean spark plug.
Because, I do not have this tool, I use a brass wire brush.
So, what do you guys use to clean the spark plugs, or do you just replace them.
I use the trash can. Then open package for NEW ones. Simple
Once a bike is tuned and I’m happy with either a light cloudy grey or the coffee tan, I clean them with a wire brush, a bit of sandpaper and re-gap and re-index once, maybe twice before replacing. About every 3-4 months. Usually if I decide to clean and run them again, it’s because they look like they don’t even need cleaned.
Once re-installed once possibly twice, I toss them. I did have like about 6 or so sitting in a little pile.. I made handles out of them with a dab of jb weld and a bolt lol.
Gonna do these handles and four more cabinet doors on the other wall.
Last edited by Rains2much; Jul 14, 2025 at 05:39 AM.
In the 60’s and 70’s, cleaning the plug was SOP. I also had a compressed air spark plug cleaner. I don’t remember when I stopped using it, certainly in the late 90’s. Plugs became more standardized in my vehicles and far more affordable. I have a wooden block with holes sized for plugs, good looking plugs got placed in these holes, marked F and R. I used to have a laminated photo sheet of exact plug issues. Had like 12 or 15 photos of plugs. I still have that sheet, just haven’t looked at it in 20 years. It was handy when restoring vintage bikes to trouble shoot issues. I even used to carry spare plugs. Wow, that’s been a while ago.
What really changed was fuel injection. Now my plugs look the same and look good even after high mileage. I put new ones in about every 15-20,000. I don’t really even think about it on newer (post 2000) vehicles.
Nice you bring your dad’s old tool up. Brings back fond memories for us old farts. I no longer have the tool. Downsized 7 years ago. I know where it is, but don’t know if he is still restoring vintage bikes.
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Spark plugs
REPLACE
