Spark Plug Cleaning

[bikerbob]

 I bought couple of new spark plugs from a dealer and just happened to remark that I don't think plugs last as long as they used to and it is not confined to one particular make. He asked if I cleaned them at all to which I replied yes I clean them like I have always done after a service or if I have them out for any reason I give them a brush with a wire brush and check the gaps then refit. He says that could be the reason why plugs are not lasting long, modern plugs because of the modern materials used in their manufacture they should not be cleaned with a wire brush in fact they should not be cleaned at all but replaced. This is the first time that I have heard anything like this and wonder if he has a point as in recent years I have had problems with  plugs causing misfiring and it is not confined to one particular make either even though the plugs in question have only done a few hundred miles. Anybody else heard of this or is he just trying to get people to buy new plugs more often.

[bsa-bill]

It has been writ (somewhere) that the  ( internal) insulator on modern manufactured plugs are no longer glazed, which is why they wet so easily and can't be dried off as in days of old, this would concur with it not being a good idea to wire brush them as the wire bristles would leave conductive tracks on the non glazed insulator.
Yep things aren't what they used to be (still got frothy coffee tho)

[morris]

Nowadays plugs are made for nowadays vehicles which are running very much leaner than our engines. Sooty plugs are no issue anymore, so why bother glazing the insulator...?
And modern ignitions throw a spark over a one inch gap if necessary, so why bother about the quality of plug manufacturing...?
Modern bikes have a service interval of 20000 miles. Changing the oil, replace filter and plugs, pump up the tyres and you're back on the road for another 20000.

(still got frothy coffee tho)

Wouldn't read the ingredients list though. May get you off drinking it...!

[Topdad]

Could never drink frothy coffee after seeing Baldrick make it in Black Adder goes forth,  *lol*Bob

[bsa-bill]

Could never drink frothy coffee after seeing Baldrick make it in Black Adder goes forth

saw most of them but must have missed that episode, however several possibility's come to mind - all of them to be discarded with speed 

[morris]

Could never drink frothy coffee after seeing Baldrick make it in Black Adder goes forth,  *lol*Bob

Now that was funny...!

[Topdad]

Bill , watch it , apart from that bit , re the coffee ,you'll be hit between the eyes by the last scene ,as I. Suspect you may have had a grandad who fought in the trenches,like min e did, not seen for over 10 yrs but so sad , Bob

[BSA_54A10]

You clean modern plugs with a blow torch or more accurately an oxy torch set to a very lean soft flame.
I had one buring off the deposits for better than 15 minutes.
BE careful not the melt the insulator or central electrode and you will spend more on gas then a new plug is worth.

[Butch (cb)]

So just to be clear here - our considered opinion is that we can no longer use mechanical cleaning methods on our plugs, right?

(And I'm pretty sure that there was a gag from the Not The Nine o'clock News Team along similar lines).

[Ted_Flash]

No one's mentioned the old sand-blasting method - one on ebay at £1.24 at the moment:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Spark-Plug-12v-cleaner-Compression-Tester-/281566519791?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item418eac21ef

[bsa-bill]

I had one of those, was my dads, think it went in a shed clearout (not good things shed clearouts, within days you always want what went - no the answer is build another shed!!)

[Butch (cb)]

I'd heard they were rougher on a plug than wire brushing - rounding the edges off on the electrodes. But then I've never actually used one.

[Bikergrandad]

Hi to all. I use fine sand paper that's ok for me. Bob

[muskrat]

I use one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AIR-Pneumatic-Plug-Cleaner-Works-on-all-SPARK-PLUGS-/191479298846?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c950e3b1e
Always give them a blast with air/carb clean/air after sand blasting. I cleaned 50 plugs the day it arrived.
Cheers

[Rgs-Bill]

I use one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AIR-Pneumatic-Plug-Cleaner-Works-on-all-SPARK-PLUGS-/191479298846?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c950e3b1e
Always give them a blast with air/carb clean/air after sand blasting. I cleaned 50 plugs the day it arrived.
Cheers

 If any of you have a Harbor Freight tool store they have these spark plug cleaners for $9.99
 U S D.  No post and no waiting for bids .They Also have one pound extra cleaning abrasive. package.