Plug caps

[florence]

I'm just in the process of putting on my new coils and looking at the very sorry state of the plug caps at the other end.  They are a really mixed bunch and the ones on cylinder 2,3 don't reach properly and only just hang on.  Currently, from left to right sitting in the bike, I have three right angle NGK and one straight long NGK caps.  Before I order new ones I wonder if anyone can enlighten me regarding the correct configuration.

Many thanks,
Steve

[Bryanj]

Graham will probably put me right but i remember long right angle on the outside and long straight in the middle

[deltarider]

Just for the record, what resistance do you read in each individual plugcap? The history of CB500/550 plugcaps is interesting to say the least. NGK is a good choice. I know a German who was determined (for looks) to have the original metal shielded caps (see pic below) but later had to admit they were not very good.  If you want to spend more money than on regular NGK's you could turn to the closest to the originals as offered by CMSNL, but they'll cost you and IIRC Nichiwa is just a daughter of NGK. I seem to remember the somewhat shorter angled on the outside and the somewhat longer angled on 2 and 3, but eventually most end up with the straight ones on 2 and 3 as they have shorted the plugwires a bit to ensure good contact.

[Nurse Julie]

If it's a 550, I have 2 long angled on 1 and 4 and 2 short angled on 2 and 3.
Edit...i have just looked at our 500 and they are the same as the 550

[florence]

Brian, you are brilliant, that sounds good.  Of course, previously, I may have been restricted by what was left of the cable on each of those old coils, whereas now I can do it properly.

Thanks very much everyone, NGK will do, never been worried about originality, just want it not to misfire in the rain.

Steve

[deltarider]

Caps and wiring should be routinely checked at least every 10.000 km. If you ever have misfires, the first thing to check is if there's any arcing between wires/plugcaps and the head. The CB500/550s were known for that.

[florence]

you are right, it is a pain.  when I rebuild the machine in 1995, as a temporary measure, I put on the original coils which had HT cables that were a little too short and I have been meaning to change them ever since.  I couldn't afford to do anything else and needed the bike to go on holiday.  If it ever got caught out in the rain for a while everything would short out like mad, very annoying.  Over the years I have tried all sorts of things such as silicon grease, WD40, silicon sealant on the caps but now I have given up and treated the bike to new coils/leads.  Hopefully, it will be a lot better.

[florence]

Very nice!

[Bryanj]

Were they Tower?

[Bryanj]

Tower did some bars i can remember selling then, wholesaled by W E Wassell burtonwood as i remember. Its been a long time and you know what Hondas, Guiness and age do to the brain!!

[jon stead]

I put a set like these on my 500 earlier this year

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-HONDA-CB500-K1-K3-F-75-77-CB550-F-F1-F2-K3-NGK-SPARK-PLUG-CAPS-FREE-POST/173678205636?fits=UKM_Submodel%3AF%7CUKM_Make%3AHonda&epid=1545059474&hash=item2870071ac4:g:p5sAAOSw0GNbIPk~

[SteveW]

This is where I got my plug caps from:

http://www.gsparkplug.com

   
    XD05F-B-GS - 1x NGK Resistor Spark Plug Cap XD05F black (8072)
    VD05F-B-GS - 1x NGK Resistor Spark Plug Cap VD05F black (8052)