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General Topics/Tech TipsDiscussion on break in periods, rider comfort, seats and pad suggestions. Tech tips as they become available will be posted here.
With all the changes I constantly make on my bikes, I decided it was time to buy a spark plug cleaner.. What I'm starting to learn is that with my Power Vision tuner, I can't solely rely on Data logs to determine what the problems are as in my last post in the General Topics section.. Spark plugs tell the entire story and with all the changes I make buying new plugs every time can get a little expensive.. It's not that the plugs are expensive @$6.00 a piece but when you need fresh clean plugs to identify any problems it can add up after making changes several times.. So I ordered a cheap unit off of Amazon.. I looked at some videos and it appears to work ok, so for $20, I said just do it.. Look at it this way I have 6 sets on OEM plugs on the shelf that have less than 500 miles on them.. IMHO This cheap little unit already paid for itself..
Got the plug cleaner today.. Put together and mounted it on the wall and I got to say it does a pretty good job.. very happy with the results.. Probably the best $20 I spent in a while...
Ok gonna have to hang the one I have and try it, had zero luck so far.
I think you'll be surprised ....
Like I said best 20 bucks I spent in a long time... Lol...
Think of it this way, something that actually works like it's supposed to and it's from freaking China...
Last edited by 98hotrodfatboy; Jun 18, 2025 at 05:52 AM.
I think you'll be surprised ....
Like I said best 20 bucks I spent in a long time... Lol...
Think of it this way, something that actually works like it's supposed to and it's from freaking China...
Pretty sure I've had mine since before China was a country ":>)
in the industrial world we used at one time STIT rebuildable plugs and used a media cleaner, however, just because the plug is clean does not mean it is as good as new. there was a final step where the plug was put into a test stand and conditions met that simulated chamber parameter and a lot of cores were replaced.
you MUST be careful of the media because that can lead to other issues.
for one, plugs are glued together for lack of a better word. the center electrode is inserted into the ceramic holders and a adhesive is used to make the seal and the shell is done the same way.
the issue is that media will erode the adhesive since it is softer than the ceramic and that leads to a void where the media can become trapped. two things: the media can dislodge into the chamber, and second the media can melt forming a conductive coating especially so if you are using a leaded glass media. this is a concern also if the blast pressures are high and over time micro particles embedded into the ceramic become conductive. with today's engines and controls, this can cause problems.
another issue is if you erode the sharp surfaces as electricity performs better from a point and not a rounded surface.
in the industrial world we used at one time STIT rebuildable plugs and used a media cleaner, however, just because the plug is clean does not mean it is as good as new. there was a final step where the plug was put into a test stand and conditions met that simulated chamber parameter and a lot of cores were replaced.
you MUST be careful of the media because that can lead to other issues.
for one, plugs are glued together for lack of a better word. the center electrode is inserted into the ceramic holders and a adhesive is used to make the seal and the shell is done the same way.
the issue is that media will erode the adhesive since it is softer than the ceramic and that leads to a void where the media can become trapped. two things: the media can dislodge into the chamber, and second the media can melt forming a conductive coating especially so if you are using a leaded glass media. this is a concern also if the blast pressures are high and over time micro particles embedded into the ceramic become conductive. with today's engines and controls, this can cause problems.
another issue is if you erode the sharp surfaces as electricity performs better from a point and not a rounded surface.
I don't think I've ever put more than a couple thousand miles on any of my plugs but now that I have a cleaner they might see more miles.. Yes edges are very sharp not rounded..
I remember while I was still in high school. One gas station where a a bud worked at pumping gas, had a plug cleaner. The interesting thing about it was that it had a plug tester also. You attached a plug wire presses a button.. It blew air at the plug and through a window, you could observe the spark.. It was a good place to clean and test 2 stroke plug..
The 40s HDs had plugs you could take apart the plug, pull the porcelain and clean..
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Spark Plug Cleaner...
