New spark plug gap
Anyone have any info on why new line Maintenance manual specifies plug gap .031-.035 in. vs old spec of .023-.027 in.?
Anyone have any info on why new line Maintenance manual specifies plug gap .031-.035 in. vs old spec of .023-.027 in.?
by Bill Hertzel » 5 years ago
Look at the drawing of the spark plug in the Old LMM and the drawing in the New one.
They are two different spark pug designs.
The Old single electrode plug has been replaced by the newer dual, non-adjustable electrode spark plugs.
You can't compare Oranges to Grapefruits.
Bill Hertzel
Rotax 912is
North Ridgeville, OH, USA
Clicking the "Thank You" is Always Appreciated by Everyone.
by Tyler Hathaway » 5 years ago
The next question, of course, is: "Why does new line maintenance manual specify new spark plugs?"
by Ken Ryan » 5 years ago
NGK told Rotax that it no longer wants to be associated with airplanes. Rotax responded by going to a whole different (expensive) spark plug. The NGK plugs still work and there are still two of them per cylinder for reliability.
by Tyler Hathaway » 5 years ago
Yes, I guess NGK is somehow worried about liability, but why does Rotax (or anyone) have to acquiesce to the wishes of the manufacturer of something that is freely sold and available to anyone?
Is Rotax actually making the new ones in house? Is there some special patent on the old plugs? Perhaps some legal minds can weigh in on all this...
by Bill Hertzel » 5 years ago
Tyler asked:
... why does Rotax (or anyone) have to acquiesce to the wishes of the manufacturer of something that is freely sold and available to anyone?
NGK is free to sell or withhold its products from anyone it wishes.
When the Rotax purchasing agent wanted a thousand spark plugs, I am sure that they bought them directly from NGK at wholesale prices.
Now that NGK is refusing the sale, their option would either to find another manufacturer or go under the table and deplete the stock of 50 auto parts stores and pay retail prices or find a retail distributor and make a bulk purchase.
When NGK sees their retail distributor suddenly selling 5 times the normal amount of one very specific plug, they smell a rat and threaten to cut off the distributor from all products unless they stop supplying Rotax under the table.
Thousands of engine owners all over the world buying 8 plugs a year is something they can't control and is still an option for everyone.
So a new plug was designed and branded ROTAX with all the liability now transferred to Rotax.
The new plug might very well still be produced by NGK, but as long as their name is not on the body, they are happy because the testing, acceptance, and certification is now on Rotax.
Corporate politics at its finest!!!
Bill Hertzel
Rotax 912is
North Ridgeville, OH, USA
Clicking the "Thank You" is Always Appreciated by Everyone.
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