Teach me about plug wires
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- BikeMaine
- Gold Member
- Posts: 1105
- Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2016 7:57 pm
- Location: Maine, U.S.A.
Teach me about plug wires
Please. I have new plug boots.
What kind of wire? 7mm?
How do I trim/fit?
What kind of wire? 7mm?
How do I trim/fit?
Kevin
1982 GL1100A
1982 GL1100A
- elwood440
- Silver Member
- Posts: 501
- Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2015 12:51 pm
- Location: Huntsville, AL
Re: Teach me about plug wires
I can't speak about 1100, but the 1000 caps/boots just screw into the center of the wire. It looks like a wood screw in the end of the boot.
The stock 1000 coils have non-replaceable wires so the best you can do is trim about 1/4 - 1/2" off the end and install the new caps. Again, not sure about 1100, someone will be here soon to straighten me out I'm sure. Dyna or Accel coils (or neon or others) have standard connectors and you CAN replace the wires. Get 7mm copper core wire, not the carbon/resistor wire, and some crimp connectors.
The stock 1000 coils have non-replaceable wires so the best you can do is trim about 1/4 - 1/2" off the end and install the new caps. Again, not sure about 1100, someone will be here soon to straighten me out I'm sure. Dyna or Accel coils (or neon or others) have standard connectors and you CAN replace the wires. Get 7mm copper core wire, not the carbon/resistor wire, and some crimp connectors.
83 GL650i parked for maintenance
79 GL1000 "Bad Idea" current ride
I do all my spannering myself
"There's no excuse for the things I'm about to do"
79 GL1000 "Bad Idea" current ride
I do all my spannering myself
"There's no excuse for the things I'm about to do"
- Steve81GL1100
- Silver Member
- Posts: 522
- Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 12:01 am
- Location: West Chicago, IL
Re: Teach me about plug wires
There's a good write-up in Shop Talk, under Ignition. It's pretty straightforward. Get solid wires, not the resistor kind. If you got the NGK ends, the plug end may not want to jam into the OEM boots by the plugs. If not, trim the NGK logo off flush with the cap. Also, the coil end just unscrews off of the coils. This is an easy and effective job and everyone should do it. Mine would miss a lot in wet weather conditions (raining or just rained) with the OEM wires. No more with the new wire.
Steve
Steve
Steve
1981 GL 1100 Standard, 81 Interstate bags, 84 GL1200 pegs, sometime National Cycle PlexiStar windshield
1996 BMW R1100R
2007 Piaggio X9 Evo500, wife's ride so she can keep up with the GL
1980 Vespa P200 (also wife's), restored, with custom paint, custom trim
1981 GL 1100 Standard, 81 Interstate bags, 84 GL1200 pegs, sometime National Cycle PlexiStar windshield
1996 BMW R1100R
2007 Piaggio X9 Evo500, wife's ride so she can keep up with the GL
1980 Vespa P200 (also wife's), restored, with custom paint, custom trim
- brianinpa
- Silver Member
- Posts: 852
- Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 4:52 pm
- Location: Lebanon, PA
Re: Teach me about plug wires
I am going through the same thing with my '87, so here is the link that Steve mentioned...
viewtopic.php?t=20898
viewtopic.php?t=20898
Brian
ADC(AW) - US Navy Retired 1983-2003
If you aren't having fun doing it, find something else to do.
1984 Standard - 18,000 miles - Naked... the way it should be
1987 Interstate - 62,000 miles - Resurrected from the rust bucket
ADC(AW) - US Navy Retired 1983-2003
If you aren't having fun doing it, find something else to do.
1984 Standard - 18,000 miles - Naked... the way it should be
1987 Interstate - 62,000 miles - Resurrected from the rust bucket
- chewy999
- SUPER BIKER!!!!
- Posts: 3214
- Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2012 11:21 am
- Location: Haddenham, Cambs, UK
Re: Teach me about plug wires
I bought some red spark plug cable off Flea-bay, and on my 1980 1100, each end simply screws in, one end into the coils and the other into the plug cap.
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
- ericheath
- Honored Life Member
- Posts: 9580
- Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 11:20 am
- Location: Winnipeg, Manituba
Re: Teach me about plug wires
Fire engine red.
Whatever I suggest here should be given ample time for a moderator to delicately correct. I apologize in advance.
77 WING, 1200 engine with 77 heads, cams, gl1100 foot pegs, Magna V65 front end, 764A carbs, [-gone Suzuki M109 monoshock--, replaced with gl1100 shocks] gl 1200 swing arm, gl1500 final drive, wheel and rear brakes Valkyrie seat, Meanstreak tank, Sportster pipes, Power Arc ignition off crank.
77 Wing. black
83 Wing, in pieces
"Continuing education is important even if the subject matter is fairly useless (as in this case)."---Greg Foresi
77 WING, 1200 engine with 77 heads, cams, gl1100 foot pegs, Magna V65 front end, 764A carbs, [-gone Suzuki M109 monoshock--, replaced with gl1100 shocks] gl 1200 swing arm, gl1500 final drive, wheel and rear brakes Valkyrie seat, Meanstreak tank, Sportster pipes, Power Arc ignition off crank.
77 Wing. black
83 Wing, in pieces
"Continuing education is important even if the subject matter is fairly useless (as in this case)."---Greg Foresi
- chewy999
- SUPER BIKER!!!!
- Posts: 3214
- Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2012 11:21 am
- Location: Haddenham, Cambs, UK
Re: Teach me about plug wires
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
- BikeMaine
- Gold Member
- Posts: 1105
- Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2016 7:57 pm
- Location: Maine, U.S.A.
Re: Teach me about plug wires
Excellent, thank you all.
Question about copper center vs resistor tour wires. Will my radio get feedback or whatever you call it if I don't use the resistor toe plug wires?
Question about copper center vs resistor tour wires. Will my radio get feedback or whatever you call it if I don't use the resistor toe plug wires?
Kevin
1982 GL1100A
1982 GL1100A
- BikeMaine
- Gold Member
- Posts: 1105
- Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2016 7:57 pm
- Location: Maine, U.S.A.
Re: Teach me about plug wires
Another question, when buying new coils , let's say I went with Dynas, what size/model/etc?
Kevin
1982 GL1100A
1982 GL1100A
- wingrider
- SUPER BIKER!!!!
- Posts: 3724
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 12:15 pm
- Location: Maple Lake, MN USA
Re: Teach me about plug wires
I would guess you would want these ones for your bike...
2002 1800 Wing
2001 Valkyrie Interstate
1978 1200 EFI Wing with Motorvation Coupe Royale sidecar
1977 1200 Wing cafe/bobber project
1974 Suzuki GT550
2001 Valkyrie Interstate
1978 1200 EFI Wing with Motorvation Coupe Royale sidecar
1977 1200 Wing cafe/bobber project
1974 Suzuki GT550
- BikeMaine
- Gold Member
- Posts: 1105
- Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2016 7:57 pm
- Location: Maine, U.S.A.
- chewy999
- SUPER BIKER!!!!
- Posts: 3214
- Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2012 11:21 am
- Location: Haddenham, Cambs, UK
Re: Teach me about plug wires
That's well spotted!BikeMaine wrote:Chewy, You left your gas on.
To be honest I normally do. I know some advise to turn it off, especially if on the side stand, but I find I have no adverse effects by leaving it on.
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
- robin1731
- Membership Admin
- Posts: 21724
- Joined: Mon May 29, 2006 8:31 am
- Location: Decatur, Indiana
Re: Teach me about plug wires
chewy999 wrote:That's well spotted!BikeMaine wrote:Chewy, You left your gas on.
To be honest I normally do. I know some advise to turn it off, especially if on the side stand, but I find I have no adverse effects by leaving it on.
The with the CBX that I had to put a new rod in said the same thing. Rode home from work. Went to leave the next morning and it wouldn't start. About 2-3 seconds of turning the fuel valve off cost him over $1000.00.
.
1976 Goldwing Super Sport
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
Randakk approved Carb Rebuilder
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
Randakk approved Carb Rebuilder
- BikeMaine
- Gold Member
- Posts: 1105
- Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2016 7:57 pm
- Location: Maine, U.S.A.
Re: Teach me about plug wires
I'm just bustin' your bullocks Mate.chewy999 wrote:That's well spotted!BikeMaine wrote:Chewy, You left your gas on.
To be honest I normally do. I know some advise to turn it off, especially if on the side stand, but I find I have no adverse effects by leaving it on.
Kevin
1982 GL1100A
1982 GL1100A
- chewy999
- SUPER BIKER!!!!
- Posts: 3214
- Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2012 11:21 am
- Location: Haddenham, Cambs, UK
Re: Teach me about plug wires
Funnily enough I get that a lot!
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
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