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Paul A. Franz, P.E.
Joined: 02 Dec 2008
Posts: 280
Location: Bellevue WA
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 Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 3:14 am Post subject: spark plug life |
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How many hours would you expect to get on the spark plugs in a 582 that was operated
at a very high power setting for most of its hours?
I'm about to look at some that have been in service for 82 trouble free engine hours.
What would you expect to see?
--
Paul A. Franz, P.E.
PAF Consulting Engineers
Office 425.440.9505
Cell 425.241.1618
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_________________
Paul A. Franz, P.E.
Registration/Aircraft - N14UW/Merlin GT
Engine/Prop - Rotax 914/NSI CAP
Bellevue WA
425.241.1618 Cell
425.440.9505 Office |
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msm_9949(at)yahoo.com
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| Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 8:14 am Post subject: spark plug life |
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Paul.
This depends entirely upon how well tuned the fuel/oil-air mixture was for those 82 hours. Rotax gurus all say that the color of plugs is the most accurate indicator of engine performance. Depending on whether it ran hot (white - too lean) or cool (black - too rich), plugs might vary from fried to sooty in appearance. 82 hours seems like a pretty long time to run one set of plugs though. Check out Mike Stratman's 1988 article on plug wear. http://www.800-airwolf.com/pdffiles/ARTICLES/part9.pdf
Marco Menezes N99KX
Model 2 582-90 C-Box 3:1 w/clutch
Hersey, MI
From: "Paul A. Franz, P.E." <paul(at)eucleides.com>
To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2011 7:11 AM
Subject: Kitfox-List: spark plug life
--> Kitfox-List message posted by: "Paul A. Franz, P.E." <paul(at)eucleides.com (paul(at)eucleides.com)>
How many hours would you expect to get on the spark plugs in a 582 that was operated
at a very high power setting for most of its hours?
I'm about to look at some that have been in service for 82 trouble free engine hours.
What would you expect to see?
--
Paul A. Franz, P.E.
PAF Consulting Engineerscs.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List" target=_blank>http://www.matronics.com/Navi - MATRONICS WEB FORUMS -http://forums.matronics.comsp; -Matt Dr/contribution" target=_blank>http://www.matronics.com/contribution
[quote][b]
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Guy Buchanan
Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 1204
Location: Ramona, CA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 9:00 am Post subject: spark plug life |
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On 9/29/2011 4:11 AM, Paul A. Franz, P.E. wrote:
| Quote: | How many hours would you expect to get on the spark plugs in a 582 that was operated
at a very high power setting for most of its hours?
I'm about to look at some that have been in service for 82 trouble free engine hours.
What would you expect to see?
Paul,
|
I ran some sets of iridium plugs for a long, long, time. (> 100
hrs.?) I never tracked replacement so I can't be sure, but I seldom
replaced plugs, and certainly not on any kind of regular basis. I also
ran much larger gaps than Rotax recommended, basically as large as I
could without missing. (Meaning, I'd put the iridiums in with stock gap,
which was, I think, .03", and then bring them down if I detected missing
over their lifetime.) I'd clean the plugs occasionally, but seldom
replaced them over 500 hours.
Guy Buchanan
Ramona, CA
Kitfox IV-1200 / 912-S / Warp 3cs / 500 hrs. and grounded
Now a glider pilot, too.
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Guy Buchanan
Deceased K-IV 1200
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Roger Lee
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1464
Location: Tucson, Az.
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| Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 12:07 pm Post subject: Re: spark plug life |
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Hi Paul,
Plugs can be harder than most think to judge if everything is okay. Only it is an obvious issue can you always see. When you pull yours out you may not be able to discern anything with the human eye. As Guy stated that some running conditions can be observed like too rich, too lean or just right at slightly light tan. Your gap should be slightly wider than whe you first installed them, the edges of the electrode may be slightly rounded and not a nice clean sharp edge, the porcelain may have deposits or even cracked in sever cases. You only see the outside and can't possibly know for sure what's going on inside. You should change them when scheduled and should gap them as per the Mfg. The gap is determined on the bore, stoke and firing. Changing to an inappropriate gap doesn't usually mean an engine won't run it just won't be efficient and may not burn the fuel correctly. You should always use the Mgf's plug gap recommendation. Usually use the wider gaps for the summer months and the narrower gaps for the winter. Yes some plugs can be re-gaped and cleaned. The plugs in the 2 stroke do not get any lube and should be torqued cold.
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_________________
Roger Lee
Tucson, Az.
Rotax Instructor & Rotax IRC
Light Sport Repairman
Home 520-574-1080 TRY HOME FIRST
Cell 520-349-7056 |
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dave
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382
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| Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 5:44 pm Post subject: Re: spark plug life |
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a Few links to explain it all.
http://www.cfisher.com/152hournkg.html
http://www.cfisher.com/ngk/
http://www.cfisher.com/ngk/ngk.htm
Maybe Roger could comments on my findings?
I will say once you get over 100 hours they seem to operate fine but a little slower to start. Especially in the winter.
I never change in less than 100 to 150 hours-- on my own.
I use only NGK from Rotax
Guy -- Iridiums -- never found them to be anything but more expensive
Cheers,
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Pat Reilly
Joined: 06 Aug 2009
Posts: 345
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| Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 6:29 pm Post subject: spark plug life |
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Kitfoxers, The NGK steel one piece plugs were available at my Farm and Fleet for $2 apiece. I bought 2 sets. Last time I was there they only had the 2 piece aluminum topped plugs Dave recommended against. I only have 6 hours on the current set and another set waiting. I only put 30 hours on the last set. They certainly were still sevicable, but at $8 a set it's hardly worth putting them back in. Just wish I'd have kept the 30 hour plugs in case I can't find the steel 1 piecers. I'd rather run a 100 hr 1 piece plug that looks good, than the 2 piecers now that I know the difference. I ran the aluminum 2 piecers successfully after my rebuild.
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 Rebuilt
Rockford, IL
On Thu, Sep 29, 2011 at 3:07 PM, Roger Lee <ssadiver1(at)yahoo.com (ssadiver1(at)yahoo.com)> wrote:
| Quote: | --> Kitfox-List message posted by: "Roger Lee" <ssadiver1(at)yahoo.com (ssadiver1(at)yahoo.com)>
Hi Paul,
Plugs can be harder than most think to judge if everything is okay. Only it is an obvious issue can you always see. When you pull yours out you may not be able to discern anything with the human eye. As Guy stated that some running conditions can be observed like too rich, too lean or just right at slightly light tan. Your gap should be slightly wider than whe you first installed them, the edges of the electrode may be slightly rounded and not a nice clean sharp edge, the porcelain may have deposits or even cracked in sever cases. You only see the outside and can't possibly know for sure what's going on inside. You should change them when scheduled and should gap them as per the Mfg. The gap is determined on the bore, stoke and firing. Changing to an inappropriate gap doesn't usually mean an engine won't run it just won't be efficient and may not burn the fuel correctly. You should always use the Mgf's plug gap recommendation. Usually use the wider gaps for the summer months!
and the narrower gaps for the winter. Yes some plugs can be re-gaped and cleaned. The plugs in the 2 stroke do not get any lube and should be torqued cold.
--------
Roger Lee
Tucson, Az.
Light Sport Repairman - Maintenance Rated
Rotax Repair Center - Heavy Maint. Rated
Home [url=tel:520-574-1080]520-574-1080[/url] TRY HOME FIRST
Cell [url=tel:520-349-7056]520-349-7056[/url]
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Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
[quote][b]
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