Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Spark Plug Torque

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 19, 2011 | 07:33 AM
  #1  
Terrabella's Avatar
Terrabella
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 903
Likes: 8
From: California
Default Spark Plug Torque

Need some help here; The correct torque for spark plugs according to the book is between
12\18 foot pounds. My torque wrench starts out at 25 foot pounds so I need to convert 12\18 foot pounds to inch pounds. According to the torque conversion I should multiply foot pounds by 12 in order to get the correct inch pounds so; 12 x 15 (middle of the road between 12 and 18 foot pounds) would be 180 inch pounds. Am I correct???
 
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2011 | 07:37 AM
  #2  
kingkingking's Avatar
kingkingking
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,639
Likes: 2
From: Australia
Default

Yeah, thats right. 180.
 
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2011 | 07:38 AM
  #3  
Ronp42's Avatar
Ronp42
Account Retired
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 12
From: Here
Default

Correct!
 
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2011 | 07:41 AM
  #4  
Copyless's Avatar
Copyless
Supporter
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 587
Likes: 1
From: Ga.
Default

That's the conversion I've always known, so that is what I would do to, but actually I would just use my wrist torque, but with a real wrench you have it right.
 
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2011 | 07:44 AM
  #5  
Terrabella's Avatar
Terrabella
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 903
Likes: 8
From: California
Default

Boy, that seems like a lot of torque for a spark plug. I usually just hand tighten and then give her a bit of a good snug on my 5/8'" ratchet. I torqued her to 150 inch pounds and it really tightens the plug well beyond what I normally do. Sure don't want to brake off a spark plug.
 
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2011 | 07:45 AM
  #6  
1flhtk4me's Avatar
1flhtk4me
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
Likes: 95
From: Billings,Mt.
Default

Originally Posted by Terrabella
My torque wrench starts out at 25 foot pounds
Do you mean 25 Inch lbs. ?
 
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2011 | 07:49 AM
  #7  
Terrabella's Avatar
Terrabella
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 903
Likes: 8
From: California
Default

Originally Posted by 1flhtk4me
Do you mean 25 Inch lbs. ?
I have two torque wrenches, one is for foot pounds ( which starts out at 25 foot pounds and goes up to 250 foot pounds) and a smaller torque wrench which is for inch pounds. The larger wrench will not go as low as 12 foot pounds therefore the reason for asking for the correct conversion from foot pounds to inch pounds.
 
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2011 | 07:57 AM
  #8  
Ronp42's Avatar
Ronp42
Account Retired
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 12
From: Here
Default

You are right with your calculations. The book calls for 12 to 18 ft pounds. I always use the lower number. I also put some anti sieze on the threads. Where did you find a 5/8 Ratchet???
 

Last edited by Ronp42; Jun 19, 2011 at 07:59 AM.
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 19, 2011 | 07:59 AM
  #9  
speakerfritz's Avatar
speakerfritz
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 3
From: NYC
Default

wrist tight plus 1/8 of a turn with a wrench works too.
 
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2011 | 08:06 AM
  #10  
Terrabella's Avatar
Terrabella
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 903
Likes: 8
From: California
Default

Originally Posted by Ronp42
You are right with your calculations. The book calls for 12 to 18 ft pounds. I always use the lower number. I also put some anti sieze on the threads. Where did you find a 5/8 Ratchet???
You don't have a 5/8 ratchet?? I though everyone had one.
I meant to say 5/8 socket! Picky picky!
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:19 AM.

story-0
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:18:58


VIEW MORE
story-1
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-2
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-5
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-7
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-8
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE