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solid top versus thread top spark plugs

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Dennis Thate

Joined: 18 Nov 2010
Posts: 362

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 11:23 am Post subject: solid top versus thread top spark plugs

I'm told there is no safety benefit to using solid top spark plugs Br8es  versus threaded top in my 503 DCDI Rotax engine on my Kolb Firestar. Is this correct ? Why or Why not ?

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bob(at)fly-ul.com
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Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 12:06 pm Post subject: solid top versus thread top spark plugs

 	  Quote: 	
		  

I'm told there is no safety benefit to using solid top spark plugs Br8es  versus threaded top in my 503 DCDI Rotax engine on my Kolb Firestar. Is this correct ? Why or Why not ?   


	


I personally do believe there is a benefit to using the solid top plugs. I have personally had several of the other "screw on" ones become loose (even when using various methods to try to secure the threaded top to the plug). With the solid top, there is no worries.

--

Bob Comperini

e-mail: bob(at)fly-ul.com

WWW: http://www.fly-ul.com

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BARRY CHECK 6

Joined: 15 Mar 2011
Posts: 738

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:12 pm Post subject: solid top versus thread top spark plugs

Dennis:



Good question.

The solid top does not unscrew.

The solid top has good heat transfer.

The screw on top has a poor wire attachment system since there are no locking mechanisms for the threaded top/nut.  Of course you could add your own star washer.  Or replace the supplied top with two nuts and lock washers. 

 



Back to the solid top - They can also be an attachment problem after a long time of  inspection use.  I have NEVER seen a builder/pilot use dielectric grease on the plug boot.  Failure to use it causes the boot to dry out and stick to the tower of the spark plug.  THEN when you pull and jerk on the boot as you remove it you distort the snap connection where the boot makes electrical connection to the spark plug top.

 



So, in either case there is a lesson to be learned:  Do it right or either case will have its own failure mode.

And, if you use the screw top in a solid top configuration - Make sure you use a pair of pliers to tighten on the top.  

 



I prefer Solid Top.  But that is my opinion.  And opinions are like ass-holes; Everybody has one and they all stink.

Barry

On Mon, Sep 3, 2012 at 3:23 PM, Dennis Thate <retroman(at)frontier.com (retroman(at)frontier.com)> wrote:

 [quote]--> RotaxEngines-List message posted by: "Dennis Thate" <retroman(at)frontier.com (retroman(at)frontier.com)>

  

 I'm told there is no safety benefit to using solid top spark plugs Br8es  versus threaded top in my 503 DCDI Rotax engine on my Kolb Firestar. Is this correct ? Why or Why not ?   

 

 --------

 Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society.  The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute.  ~Gil Stern

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=382336#382336

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Guy Buchanan

Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 1204
Location: Ramona, CA

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 6:22 pm Post subject: solid top versus thread top spark plugs

On 9/3/2012 12:23 PM, Dennis Thate wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   I'm told there is no safety benefit to using solid top spark plugs Br8es  versus threaded top in my 503 DCDI Rotax engine on my Kolb Firestar. Is this correct ? Why or Why not ?   

    

It always appeared to me that the material of the solid top was much 
	


harder than the screw top. The screw on tops were made of incredibly 

soft aluminum which my caps would chew through. Never had that problem 

with the solid tops. However I never had a screw top unscrew, which is 

the usual caution.



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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