do u have to remove the tank to remove the spark plug? might be a stupid question but i'm just wondering!

serowbot, i somehow feel we're related! lol

i was snoopin around her and thought, if these friggin things weren't there it'd be easy! lol!!!

i am in the process of either painting or tossing them, i think i'm goin to do the ammo box saddle bags first =]

Serowbot wrote on 09/21/09 at 09:47:50:


Whattttttt! Once you remove it for the very first time, don't reinstall the rear bolt. You only need the front one to keep the cover stay-put. Mine havn't come loose in the last 5,000 miles. In addition, if you want to remove the spark plug using the tool that comes with the bike, cut off 1/2 " on the top. You should be able to remove that spark plug w/o ever have to remove the tank

[quote author=6B747275686F5E6E5E66747833010 link=1253549866/0#5 date=1253560486 ... Now why didn IIIII Think of that?? [/quote]

Likewise.

Good idea. I've got the chrome covers off of mine and I still can't get to the plug. I think 1" off might make it even easier though.

I made the "door mod" in order to remove the sparkplug w/o having to take off the gas tank
...but guess what, there's still not enough space!  (well at least not for MY tools)

So I just perfected the "pull tank to the left then pull up" trick, still
kinda annoying but gets easier every time, it takes me 2 minutes
to remove seat, hoses, speedo cable, tank and spark plug now.


** in the business we call this: "the Japanese engineer syndrome"
in which japanese designers and engineers assume we all have
fine little japanese hands with perfect slim little fingers and a
complete assortment of space aged flexible tools to work on
our bikes with, so they just pack everything in impossibly small
spaces with no remorse whatsoever, go figure!

BurnPgh wrote on 09/21/09 at 13:23:06:


Likewise.

Good idea. I've got the chrome covers off of mine and I still can't get to the plug. I think 1" off might make it even easier though. [/quote]

That's even better! I was too chicken to cut off that much. I wanted to make sure that the wrench which come with the kit can grab firmly on the plug's tool.   I had to do a few wierd movements (up this way then down that way) to get the darn tool on the plug. I guess that I'm used to working on things this way because as a aircraft mechanic, I often have to work on stuffs that you don't have the luxury of space and actually see what's you're doing. So over the years, I learned to take thing slowly and approach it from different angles

Rocco wrote on 09/21/09 at 09:17:46:


While I realize that there are differences from bike to bike, I've never had to remove the tank from mine (see signature) to get to the spark plug.....even when I still had the OEM petcock on there.

Here's what I do:

1.  Remove the seat.

2.  Remove the two bolts from the rear of the fuel tank.

3.  Remove all lines (fuel and vacuum (if you still have one)) from the petcock.

4.  Move the fuel tank back and up.  Prop up the rear of the tank with a short section of 4" X 4".  This will keep the tank out of your way.

5.  Remove the left beauty cover.

Slap a wobble adapter on your 3/8" drive ratchet.  Pop an 18mm deep-well socket on the adapter and you've now got access to the spark plug.

IHTH!