Spark Plug Change at 12K?

[ulflyer]

Within the next couple months at about 12K I plan on have some routine maint/inspection work done. Is it recommended to have the plugs changed at this time? If so, i'd use the iridiums.

I wouldn't think of doing it if it were something I felt competent doing myself, but from what I read, don't think I want to tackle that front plug.

Edited to add: How about having the exhaust "Y" gaskets done at this time also as a preventative measure?

[boborgera]

Within the next couple months at about 12K I plan on have some routine maint/inspection work done. Is it recommended to have the plugs changed at this time? If so, i'd use the iridiums.

I wouldn't think of doing it if it were something I felt competent doing myself, but from what I read, don't think I want to tackle that front plug.

Edited to add: How about having the exhaust "Y" gaskets done at this time also as a preventative measure?

If it's running good leave them alone, If you do change them BE very careful handling the spark plug wires they damage easily, With the Y gaskets at 12 thousand miles their due. Replace them with Honda gaskets,
# 18392-MAM-000 ; And then you won't have to mess with them again.

[Bob Denman]

If it's running good leave them alone, If you do change them BE very careful handling the spark plug wires they damage easily, With the Y gaskets at 12 thousand miles their due. Replace them with Honda gaskets,
# 18392-MAM-000 ; And then you won't have to mess with them again.

When changing the plugs, you might as well replace the stock; and easily-damaged wires, with some of BajaRon's beauties! He can also make sure that you have the correct plugs too!

[ThreeWheels]

When changing the plugs, you might as well replace the stock; and easily-damaged wires, with some of BajaRon's beauties! He can also make sure that you have the correct plugs too!

I absolutely second that.

[rider2554]

Within the next couple months at about 12K I plan on have some routine maint/inspection work done. Is it recommended to have the plugs changed at this time? If so, i'd use the iridiums.

I wouldn't think of doing it if it were something I felt competent doing myself, but from what I read, don't think I want to tackle that front plug.

Edited to add: How about having the exhaust "Y" gaskets done at this time also as a preventative measure?

I agree with "boborgera" about replacing the "Y" gaskets. Replaced mine at 7500 miles and they did not look good. Might want to also think about replacing your wires and plugs with "Bajarons". Thought mine was running good but pulled the plugs just to check them and they also did'nt look that great. In my mind, I thought it was running good, but in reality, it really wasn't.

[Sarge707]

If it's running good leave them alone, If you do change them BE very careful handling the spark plug wires they damage easily, With the Y gaskets at 12 thousand miles their due. Replace them with Honda gaskets,
# 18392-MAM-000 ; And then you won't have to mess with them again.

Looking at he plug area with that grooved path it looks as if your forced to Pull on the end of the wire? (Not Good)
Any special trick to get to the base of the wire cap to remove?

[boborgera]

Looking at he plug area with that grooved path it looks as if your forced to Pull on the end of the wire? (Not Good)
Any special trick to get to the base of the wire cap to remove?

I used a spring puller to loosen the booth a little [break the suction] Then pulled it out the rest of the way with a plastic booth puller [pliers] .

[BajaRon]

Looking at he plug area with that grooved path it looks as if your forced to Pull on the end of the wire? (Not Good)
Any special trick to get to the base of the wire cap to remove?

The OEM spark plug boots are pretty much recessed in the hole with not a lot of room to get a standard boot puller tool in there. I gave up and pulled on the wire. It is not a good idea but I didn't want to buy another special tool just to get the Spyder boots off. When Lamont his he got some bad miss in one cylinder so I expected the same. That is when I decided to see if I could make a custom set of wires.

I got lucky. I didn't get any problems with the old wires and new plugs. But I am finding that my case is probably not the norm. Speaking to dealer shop mechanics it sounds like, even with them, most of the time messing with the wires causes issues.

[Johnny-B]

how many gaskets are needed for exhaust?

[boborgera]

how many gaskets are needed for exhaust?

For the ''Y'' Gaskets; Two.

[DANNYB]

The Honda gaskets # 18392-MAM-000 that I got will not fit the RT exhaust. I got these and they are too small unless the ones I got were marked wrong.

[boborgera]

The Honda gaskets # 18392-MAM-000 that I got will not fit the RT exhaust. I got these and they are too small unless the ones I got were marked wrong.

Are you replacing the Y gaskets or the muffler gasket because they're larger then the Y's, Those [one] you'll have to get from BRP.

[NancysToy]

The Honda gaskets # 18392-MAM-000 that I got will not fit the RT exhaust. I got these and they are too small unless the ones I got were marked wrong.

The RT does use different gaskets. No cross reference that I know of, but nobody has reported that their RT gaskets had failed. The certainly last lots lionger than the early GS gaskets did.

[DANNYB]

When I pulled mine apart to change the gaskets at 8,000 miles they looked like new

[ulflyer]

Scotty, thats teriffic news. I won't have them mess with the Y gaskets and that will save me some money, along with leaving the spark plugs alone. Since I've always done my own oil changes, I'm thinking I need to have the shop look it over for things I haven't done, such as:

Inspect/Retorque drive belt pulley

Adj belt

Check motor mount clearance

Are there other things I should add to this list?

[NancysToy]

Scotty, thats teriffic news. I won't have them mess with the Y gaskets and that will save me some money, along with leaving the spark plugs alone. Since I've always done my own oil changes, I'm thinking I need to have the shop look it over for things I haven't done, such as:

Inspect/Retorque drive belt pulley

Adj belt

Check motor mount clearance

Are there other things I should add to this list?

There is a 12K maintenance schedule in your manual. Spark plugs are supposed to be inspected at that interval. If they are pulled to be inspected, they may as well be changed. The first valve check is ridiculously scheduled for 6K, but many dealers prefer to do it at 12,000...although that is still very early, IMO. With warranty considerations, I'd leave what to include on the 12K service to your dealer's discretion. If that is too costly, at least figure what you can do yourself, and talk frankly to a trusted dealer to see what they feel is important. The front sprocket should have been retorqued at 6K, so I'd do it now. It is less important with the redesigned front sprocket than with the original. The engine clearance issue does not apply to all Spyders, but if you have had an increasing vibration, it probably needs to be looked at. The dealer can advise about any other service bulletins that need to be addressed. If you haven't had the throttle body update done, it should be.

[ulflyer]

Good advice Scotty. Much appreciated.

[Campverdefela]

Looking at he plug area with that grooved path it looks as if your forced to Pull on the end of the wire? (Not Good)
Any special trick to get to the base of the wire cap to remove?

I like to use a large screwdriver positioned near the bottom of the boot, prying slightly upward while at the same time using two fingers on the upper part of the boot gently pulling upwards. Hasn't failed me in 40 years.

[fastfraser]

I like to use a large screwdriver positioned near the bottom of the boot, prying slightly upward while at the same time using two fingers on the upper part of the boot gently pulling upwards. Hasn't failed me in 40 years.

Try using that method on the front plug of a RT. There just isn't any room .

[IndySpyder]

Within the next couple months at about 12K I plan on have some routine maint/inspection work done. Is it recommended to have the plugs changed at this time? If so, i'd use the iridiums.

I wouldn't think of doing it if it were something I felt competent doing myself, but from what I read, don't think I want to tackle that front plug.

Edited to add: How about having the exhaust "Y" gaskets done at this time also as a preventative measure?

The front cyl in very hard to change, there is a trick to it but I don't think I can explain it in a message, would better done in a video... good idea for a "How to " video