Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: So Cal Joe on May 20, 2011, 03:28:20 PM
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I was looking at the manual and it looks like you have to take almost everything off the bike to get to the plugs. Is there an easier way, I know sometimes the book goes a little overboard with stuff they say you need to remove
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I suppose you could drill holes in the tank.
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Wait till about 50k before you should even consider changing them.
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Thanks for the answer. I changed the ones on my wing at about 30,000 miles and they still looked new with no change in the gap. The new ones didn't make a difference.
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My valve adjustment was at 18000 miles. The tech came out and asked if I wanted new plugs, but showed me the almost brand new looking plugs that he took out. I will wait until next major maintenance.
BTW, no valves were out of spec.....
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My valve adjustment was at 18000 miles. The tech came out and asked if I wanted new plugs, but showed me the almost brand new looking plugs that he took out. I will wait until next major maintenance.
I did my valves at 18K too and the spark plugs that came out compared to the new ones I purchased were almost no difference. I changed them anyway since i had them but won't when I do the next valve service.
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That is just silly- take the tank off and drill holes in the frame.
Brian
I suppose you could drill holes in the tank.
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The holes would have to be big enough to get a grip on the stick coils. >:( Somebody please tell what is the advantage of having stick coils. ::)
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There are several advantages: the voltage rise rate of the spark from a stick coil is faster than from a remote coil because the high tension (spark plug) wire acts as a capacitor. There is no voltage loss in the secondary, high voltage, side of the ignition because there are no wires and no wire joints between the coil and the spark plug. The weakest component in ignition system secondaries, the spark plug wires, are eliminated thereby eliminating a potential (and realistic) failure point. There is much less high voltage 'spray' flying around the engine compartment and the vehicle in general making far less interference for electronic devices in general and radios specifically. 'Coil on plug' systems are virtually impervious to water.
The move to 'coil on plug' system is the result of a series of steps in the evolution of spark ignition and the most current system being used. Before COP systems, there were individual coils for pairs of cylinders used for years just to remove the rotating parts of the ignition system, and that in itself was a tremendous improvement in the reliability and function of ignition systems.
Finally, it compliments KiPass nicely. Well, not really but it was an opportunity to use the word 'KiPass' Sort of like how you can get the words 'when suddenly' into any sentence in the English language....'I was typing a response to your post 'when suddenly' I thought I could mention KiPass'. ;D
Brian
The holes would have to be big enough to get a grip on the stick coils. >:( Somebody please tell what is the advantage of having stick coils. ::)
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^Aside from all of that, routing standard high voltage spark plug lines is problematic in itself, as they can't be bent too sharply or kinked. It would take far more real estate to accomodate a set of high tension wires and a CD unit (or god forbid distributor or magneto) than it does to locate the COP coils, which sit flush with the top of the head anyway.
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O.K. so I guess the answer to my original post is NO!! There is no easy way to change the plugs. >:(
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Sorry if your question was not answered clearly but no, there is no easy way to change the spark plugs. The frame above the engine's head (and the spark plugs) is solid so they must be removed from the sides. A lot of fairings have to come off, along with the frame braces and a lot of miscellaneous 'stuff' (wires, hoses, rubber covers, etc.) on
both sides before the plugs can be removed.
It is a downside of the C-14 when compared with a lot of other bikes. The upside is that the plugs do not have to be accessed very often; that does not make it any easier but the labor (or cost) can be spread over many more miles than the manual's 7,500 intervals.
Brian
O.K. so I guess the answer to my original post is NO!! There is no easy way to change the plugs. >:(