Spark Plug Wires
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Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 993
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From: Southern California
Spark Plug Wires
I searched here and both my Owners and Service Manuals and found nothing to tell me how often they should be changed. 06 Wide Glide 30,000 miles and runs great but I know that they can't last forever. Is it a good idea to replace them every once in a while? How often? Are stock wires OK? Screaming Eagle better? Aftermarket suggestions?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,926
Likes: 138
From: NE Ohio
The service manual tells you to check the resistance as part of the normal service. If they don't fall within the recommended range then replace them. A couple years ago I had problem with how the bike was running. Did some data runs with the SERT and found boat loads of timing being removed and the bike would surge and pop. It turned out to be a bad plug wire which was confirmed by checking its resistance.
Novice
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
-Stock are as good as it gets for almost all applications.
-Screamin eagle are better if they make you feel better.
-Frequency of change is a matter of opinion and actual mechanical and structural failure based on a simple ohms test and/or tearing, cracking, dry rot etc. If memory serves me right they should be less then 1.0 ohm end to end. If 1.0 ohm and over then replace. Keep the good wires for backup or a buddy. I could be wrong about the less then 1 ohm so anyone please feel free to correct me if im wrong.
-As far as after market goes... if ya want colors then sure... otherwise... no real need unless your saving a few bucks.
-In regards to your 30k on those wires... pull them off, inspect them for cracks..etc do an ohms test and if they're good to go then they're good to go.
-Screamin eagle are better if they make you feel better.
-Frequency of change is a matter of opinion and actual mechanical and structural failure based on a simple ohms test and/or tearing, cracking, dry rot etc. If memory serves me right they should be less then 1.0 ohm end to end. If 1.0 ohm and over then replace. Keep the good wires for backup or a buddy. I could be wrong about the less then 1 ohm so anyone please feel free to correct me if im wrong.
-As far as after market goes... if ya want colors then sure... otherwise... no real need unless your saving a few bucks.
-In regards to your 30k on those wires... pull them off, inspect them for cracks..etc do an ohms test and if they're good to go then they're good to go.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,926
Likes: 138
From: NE Ohio
Your 85 doesn't have ION sensing knock control so you can just ride it till it runs like **** then replace the wires. A bad wire on the modern bikes can raise all kinds of hell.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,984
Likes: 7
I have fooled around with ignition things since I was a kid.
My folks 54 Chevy and a J C Whitney catalog all the way to Jacobs amplifiers for 2005 Corvetts
For the street
Something I have to keep telling myself is, A Spark is a Spark. The engine doesn't care.
The only thing that ever helped was new sparkplugs every 5-8K back when they put lead in gas.
My folks 54 Chevy and a J C Whitney catalog all the way to Jacobs amplifiers for 2005 Corvetts
For the street
Something I have to keep telling myself is, A Spark is a Spark. The engine doesn't care.
The only thing that ever helped was new sparkplugs every 5-8K back when they put lead in gas.
Last edited by Old Gunny; May 25, 2010 at 01:31 PM.
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