Post by: daz-j on December 26, 2020, 05:58:22 PM
Also I've never had to make HT leads before (1st bike project, it's a lot easier with cars!) - the coils on the bike have what I would call a male conductor fitting:
[attach=1]
but so does all the HT cable I can find for sale, eg:
[attach=2]
Again, are they compatible? Is there a thread that covers best practice for making leads please?
Apologies for the newbie questions!
Darren.
Post by: Johnwebley on December 26, 2020, 06:02:49 PM
Don't use any plug with R in its description.
Caps will be listed as 5k ohm.
Go for those
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Post by: mike the bike on December 26, 2020, 06:18:02 PM
Post by: Bryanj on December 26, 2020, 08:13:16 PM
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on December 26, 2020, 09:24:35 PM
I sourced a set of four NGK D8EA plugs for just under £11 - I've used angled connector ends on the HT leads fitted using a HD Automotive crimping tool. There was enough HT lead in the kit to make a spare set of leads - I think they are 6mm Silicone from memory. That said I was looking for reliability not a purist concourse look. The coil connections /leads came with decent well fitting shrouds to keep the water out.
Post by: mike the bike on December 26, 2020, 10:54:24 PM
Post by: daz-j on December 27, 2020, 05:54:35 PM
I've stripped and rebuilt the engine & carbs, and it's now running but it's not 100% happy. The ignition system mostly appears to be in good order, but the plugs and leads have all seen better days so are obvious candidates to be replaced first, hence my initial questions. The coils are TEC ZC006 which I believe are working ok, so I would prefer to keep them provided I can make compatible leads. The suggestion to remount them facing backwards sounds like a good tip thank you.
So D8EA plugs appear to be the consensus so far? It looks to me that the 2 types of caps available from DS are actually just the same thing in different colours, both 5K ohm resistance, which seems strange when the only plugs they stock are 'R' type?
Post by: Johnwebley on December 27, 2020, 08:27:18 PM
Lower cost prices. Higher profit.
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Post by: Bryanj on December 27, 2020, 08:53:12 PM
Post by: mike the bike on December 27, 2020, 11:17:06 PM
Post by: DaveN on December 29, 2020, 11:05:36 PM
[attach=1]
https://www.gsparkplug.com/ignition/spark-plugs
There are two different pattern plug-caps used, 2 90° and two at about 45°
Post by: daz-j on December 30, 2020, 06:42:05 PM
Post by: smoothoperator on December 30, 2020, 06:49:00 PM
Post by: mike the bike on December 30, 2020, 08:47:33 PM
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on December 31, 2020, 01:11:14 AM
I mounted the Dyna coils with the HT leads to the rear for added reliability.
Good idea - then I'm not sure if the water blows away easier if facing forwards but when facing backwards the water sits longer with osmosis pulling it into the seal?
Post by: mike the bike on December 31, 2020, 08:52:59 AM
Fit them forward if you want but I wouldn't. I had to call the RAC out once for that reason. Luckily, it was close to a very good pub. It took the breakdown guy 3 pints to show up.
Post by: Bryanj on December 31, 2020, 09:10:19 AM
Post by: taysidedragon on December 31, 2020, 11:00:23 AM
Hi and happy Xmas everyone, I'm going to treat the 400F to a set of new spark plugs, caps & HT leads - not as straightforward as I imagined! I've read several posts about plug types, 'R' plugs, resistor caps, don't mix them, etc, but I can't track down an accepted best solution - is there one please? I notice DS stocks only NGK DR8ESL 'R' plugs, but 2 types of NGK caps - are they all compatible?
Also I've never had to make HT leads before (1st bike project, it's a lot easier with cars!) - the coils on the bike have what I would call a male conductor fitting:
(Attachment Link)
but so does all the HT cable I can find for sale, eg:
(Attachment Link)
Again, are they compatible? Is there a thread that covers best practice for making leads please?
Apologies for the newbie questions!
Darren.
Back to original post... those HT leads aren't male connectors, that's the copper wire left sticking out. Cut the HT lead straight across the end and then screw it into the coil fitting. The coil screw should line up with the copper core to make the connection.
Just out of interest, how old are you Darren? 🤔
Post by: K2-K6 on December 31, 2020, 11:41:33 AM
Particularly good on anything like this on cars as well for abs sensors, ignition, and any other underside exposed electrical on old classic vehicles.
Post by: mike the bike on December 31, 2020, 12:09:51 PM
SLS actually adheres to things, unlike silicon.
Post by: daz-j on January 01, 2021, 04:29:22 PM
Back to original post... those HT leads aren't male connectors, that's the copper wire left sticking out. Cut the HT lead straight across the end and then screw it into the coil fitting. The coil screw should line up with the copper core to make the connection.
Just out of interest, how old are you Darren? 🤔
Hi thanks, I'd dug a bit deeper and come to that conclusion, I'm 54 next month but new to motorcycles.
Post by: taysidedragon on January 02, 2021, 12:51:45 PM
Back to original post... those HT leads aren't male connectors, that's the copper wire left sticking out. Cut the HT lead straight across the end and then screw it into the coil fitting. The coil screw should line up with the copper core to make the connection.
Just out of interest, how old are you Darren? 🤔
Hi thanks, I'd dug a bit deeper and come to that conclusion, I'm 54 next month but new to motorcycles.
Just wondered. That fitting was pretty standard in 60s and 70s on British cars and bikes with Lucas type coils.
Post by: daz-j on January 02, 2021, 06:49:29 PM
Just wondered. That fitting was pretty standard in 60s and 70s on British cars and bikes with Lucas type coils.
Had a few late 70's Fords and Minis back in the day (wish I still had them!) but don't recall ever having to make up HT leads.
Post by: TrickyMicky on January 04, 2021, 12:50:16 PM
Just wondered. That fitting was pretty standard in 60s and 70s on British cars and bikes with Lucas type coils.
Had a few late 70's Fords and Minis back in the day (wish I still had them!) but don't recall ever having to make up HT leads.
I remember in the early 70's I used to work part time in a car accessory shop, and if you didn't feel like making up your own HT leads, then we stocked a nice display rack of most of the popular leads already made up. You just looked through a flip chart to find the code letter and number for the lead you needed. I think that was the beginning of the end for making your own leads. Great days for owning cars and bikes, there were so many accessories and gadgets that could be purchased, nowadays it's all fitted as standard.
Post by: Erwin83 on January 04, 2021, 01:29:26 PM
I got the correct plugs and caps from here:
(Attachment Link)
https://www.gsparkplug.com/ignition/spark-plugs
There are two different pattern plug-caps used, 2 90° and two at about 45°
To my experience, the straight caps work better for Cyl 2 and 3. I get a weird bend in the plugwire when using an angled cap.
Those are SD05F (instead of the XD05F).
Cyl 1 and 4 take the VD05F.
Post by: daz-j on January 05, 2021, 06:16:25 PM
To my experience, the straight caps work better for Cyl 2 and 3. I get a weird bend in the plugwire when using an angled cap.
Those are SD05F (instead of the XD05F).
Cyl 1 and 4 take the VD05F.
Hi thank you, I did wonder about that - even though the Honda routing diagrams show all the caps to be angled, whether straight would be better for 2&3. In the end I ordered the angled ones, and 2m of HT lead to play with, aiming to remount the coils backwards as previously discussed.