Author Topic: Spark plug resistance  (Read 14838 times)

Offline woodgeek

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Spark plug resistance
« on: February 17, 2018, 02:44:02 AM »
I pulled the original plugs from my K and they looked pretty good after I cleaned them up. On a whim I measured their resistance. Three looked good, measuring between 5.2 and 5.8k ohms. But the number 2 wire measures 9.3k ohms. Guess I need new wires. Bummer. I had to order new coils because my original 2/3 coil measured bad. Wonder if the high resistance of the #2 wire helped kill it. 🤷‍♂️

As an aside, the previous owner was running X5DC with these wires. The equivalent of NGK D8EA. They look brand new after 18 years not being used. [emoji23].
  • Henderson, NV
  • 1985 K100RT

Offline Laitch

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #1 on: February 17, 2018, 08:09:51 AM »
They look brand new after 18 years not being used. .
What did the gaps measure?
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

Offline woodgeek

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #2 on: February 17, 2018, 01:02:49 PM »
What did the gaps measure?
I’ll check this evening
  • Henderson, NV
  • 1985 K100RT

Offline Filmcamera

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #3 on: February 17, 2018, 03:32:01 PM »
I just installed some of those Bosch X5DC's myself along with some new power leads from BSK Speedworks. I have not done any real miles yet but so far they both feel good.
  • San Jose, Costa Rica
  • 1991 K100RS 16v ABS1, 2022 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro
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Offline Inge K.

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2018, 06:14:33 AM »
I just installed some of those Bosch X5DC's

You should use spark plugs with resistor (XR5DC) on the 4V models.
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Offline Filmcamera

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2018, 06:41:13 AM »
Ah really? Good to know, thanks, I will get some. These 4v bikes really are very different animals to the 2vs aren't they?
  • San Jose, Costa Rica
  • 1991 K100RS 16v ABS1, 2022 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro
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Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2018, 09:19:31 AM »
Are the new spark plug wires resistor wires?  If they are you can probably use non-resistor plugs.  If not, you need the resistor plugs as Inge says.
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline Inge K.

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #7 on: February 18, 2018, 09:31:18 AM »
4V models have two resistors in the wires (5K + 1K ohm) and is also using resistor spark plugs.
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Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #8 on: February 18, 2018, 09:47:32 AM »
Thanks, Inge!  I didn't know that.  Aways thought that the 4V engines had straight wires with resistor plugs. 

Is there anything about these bikes you DON'T know???
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline Inge K.

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #9 on: February 18, 2018, 11:16:45 AM »
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Offline Filmcamera

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #10 on: February 18, 2018, 11:30:49 AM »
Honestly I am not sure if the  new leads are resistor leads or not. I do know that BSK speedworks ask you to specify 2v or 4v or K1100 when you order so they must be different leads.  They also come with nipples.


I just did a 90 mile ride to the beach and back just because it is Sunday morning and the bike felt great.  Still I have ordered and will fit the resistor plugs and report if I feel a difference.
  • San Jose, Costa Rica
  • 1991 K100RS 16v ABS1, 2022 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro
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Offline Inge K.

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #11 on: February 18, 2018, 12:01:37 PM »
and report if I feel a difference.


You won't.......but having a lower resistance than what the ignition system is designed for can damage
the coils and output transistors in front of the battery tray.....that is when using to low resistance
over a longer time.
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Offline Filmcamera

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #12 on: February 18, 2018, 01:11:49 PM »
I emailed BSK and to my surprise they have already answered me! 

They said

Quote
they have the required built in resistance and so you should use the recommended plugs for the bike.

So I will install the XR5DC plugs when I get them

  • San Jose, Costa Rica
  • 1991 K100RS 16v ABS1, 2022 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro
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Offline Filmcamera

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #13 on: February 18, 2018, 05:37:26 PM »
OK now I am just getting confused...


It seems that, according to Clymers, the 1991 K00 16v uses the X5DC not the XR5DC




  • San Jose, Costa Rica
  • 1991 K100RS 16v ABS1, 2022 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro
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Offline rbm

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #14 on: February 18, 2018, 05:58:35 PM »
Clymers might be wrong.  BMW OEM manual for the K1100 says otherwise:

  • Regards, Robert
Toronto, Ontario

1987 K75 - Build Blog @http://k75retro.blogspot.ca/

Offline Filmcamera

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #15 on: February 18, 2018, 06:00:36 PM »
Cylmers says the XR5 for the 1100 as well but the X5 for the K1 and K100 1990 on, I think I will put the XR's I ordered on when they arrive nonetheless.
  • San Jose, Costa Rica
  • 1991 K100RS 16v ABS1, 2022 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro
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Offline Inge K.

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #16 on: February 18, 2018, 06:04:17 PM »
Both the owners manual and ETK specifies Bosch XR5DC for the K1 and K100RS4V.
I put more trust in BMW than Clymer.
PS. K1100 using Bosch XR7LDC (double ground electrode).
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Offline Filmcamera

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #17 on: February 18, 2018, 06:06:02 PM »
XR5DC it is! Thanks
  • San Jose, Costa Rica
  • 1991 K100RS 16v ABS1, 2022 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro
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Offline rbm

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #18 on: February 18, 2018, 06:08:28 PM »
Probably too late to the party but I found a softcopy of my 4V OEM manual.  Inge is correct ... XR5DC.
  • Regards, Robert
Toronto, Ontario

1987 K75 - Build Blog @http://k75retro.blogspot.ca/

Offline Filmcamera

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #19 on: February 18, 2018, 06:12:13 PM »
Confirmation is always welcome RBM and hopefully  others in the future can be helped as well, thanks again to everyone.
  • San Jose, Costa Rica
  • 1991 K100RS 16v ABS1, 2022 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro
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Offline Inge K.

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #20 on: February 18, 2018, 06:16:52 PM »
A slightly better copy:

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Offline Laitch

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #21 on: February 18, 2018, 06:50:55 PM »
Both the owners manual and ETK specifies Bosch XR5DC for the K1 and K100RS4V.
They're even suitable for the little ones, bless their hearts.

  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

Offline Inge K.

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #22 on: February 18, 2018, 07:15:35 PM »
You can't trust anybody these days.
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Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #23 on: February 18, 2018, 10:00:45 PM »
They're even suitable for the little ones, bless their hearts.



That seems to agree with what I was told by the service tech at NGK, that is that a resistor plug can be used with no ill effect in place of a non-resistor plug, but that you can't go the other way.  Apparantly the only downside to the resistor plug is that a tiny bit less energy is available in the spark.  Makes me wonder why they even make non-resistor plugs.
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline Laitch

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Re: Spark plug resistance
« Reply #24 on: February 18, 2018, 10:15:25 PM »
Makes me wonder why they even make non-resistor plugs.
They're used when resistance is futile.
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

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