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Spark pklug cleaning

in General Tech Discussion 13 years ago
I'm doing my first 100 hour on the engine. When I pulled the plugs they look normal for 100 hours. The manual says nothing about cleaning them with a spark plug cleaner before reinstalling them. What is your thoughts on cleaning the plugs. It doesn't seem right to reinstall them without first cleaning them.

  • Re: Spark pklug cleaning

    by » 13 years ago

    If an engine is running correctly then the plugs are self cleaning. It is pointless cleaning them unless they are visibly clogged with lead. The gaps should not require adjustment after 100 hrs. Rotax have now doubled the replacement interval to 200 hrs but I have found that if I use plugs more than about 120 hrs old I get increased interference on the radio. They are relatively cheap (unlike the plug lead ends!) and so I will probably be changing mine every 100 hrs.
      
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  • Re: Spark pklug cleaning

    by » 13 years ago

    Thanks for your input. They look good and don't have any lead build up. I hated to install them without cleaning and your comment about the cost of the plugs is well taken. When we had our Lance it was costing $240 to replace them; so cleaning was a consideration. I think as cheap as they are I'll install new plugs. I'm sure I will feel better replacing them even if it is every 100 hours.
      
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  • Re: Spark pklug cleaning

    by » 13 years ago

    Rotax did increase there plug replacement to 200 hr. which I and many others find just way too long. Most of us change them at 75-100 hrs. They cost $2.75 - $3 each. At 200 hrs. the gap has changed. Make sure you do not use anti seize on plugs like others have done and I still find some A&P's doing because that is what they do Continental and Lycoming. Use heat conducting / thermal conducting paste. Apply the paste no further than 1/2 - 2/3 of the way down the plug threads. The paste is silicone based and if you get it on the tip won't burn off and will interfere with the spark. The use of thermal conducting paste is per Rotax.

    p.s.
    The thermal conducting paste is for the 912's not the 2 strokes.

    Roger Lee
    LSRM-A & Rotax Instructor & Rotax IRC
    Tucson, AZ Ryan Airfield (KRYN)
    520-349-7056 Cell

    Thank you said by: Richard Russ
      
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  • Re: Spark pklug cleaning

    by » 13 years ago

    Hi Kevin - I just bought a Kitfox with a Valcom transciever and I am getting reports of engine noise when transmitting. I was thinking the capacitor that runs from the Battery to ground may have failed but I may also try replacing/cleaning the plugs as you mention and see if that helps.

    Any other thoughts?

    thanks
    John
      
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  • Re: Spark pklug cleaning

    by » 13 years ago

    Hi John,

    I just had a friend with that noise. He did several things to the engine and what took care of it was changing head sets. You may want to give a good quality headset a test. Should be someone close to you that would let you plug it into your plane's system.

    Roger Lee
    LSRM-A & Rotax Instructor & Rotax IRC
    Tucson, AZ Ryan Airfield (KRYN)
    520-349-7056 Cell

      
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