Spark Plugs - how often to change?

[birkdale10]

Always seems to happen.

I'm going off on a 1400 mile drive this weekend. And, suddenly, my bike is hard to start. Grinds for a 2-5 seconds before starting. Usually - hit the button, starts instantly.

I don't have time to run for a quick tune-up. I charged the battery (less than a year old, gel-type) this weekend and it still grinds. I'm rather worried about going for a long ride and not being able to get restarted.

So, I'm asking and hoping for a quick answer.

One thing I'm thinking about: Spark Plugs are more than two years old, and have about 15000 miles on them.

I'm grasping as straws. Would a quick plug change help? I've got 2 evenings to make it right. Taking suggestions!

2005 FJr. 64000 miles.

 

[TomInPA]

It can't hurt, but slow cranking is usually a battery or terminal connectors. Try sanding and securing the connectors first. Do you have a volt meter to read what happens to voltage as you crank the starter?

 

[AlleyCat]

Common issue is a loose battery terminal... check them to make sure they are tight.

 

[Denver_FJR]

I can only add my own recent anecdote. My '07 was starting ok, but rough at idle and herky-jerky transitions between acceleration and deceleration. It progressively got worse over the last month until it finally would not start and appeared to be flooded. I ran through all the onboard diagnostics, checked hoses and wires and all was fine. Out of frustration I replaced the NGK CR8EIX which had about 15k miles and it now runs great. (During troubleshooting, I made one change to satisfy my OCD, I set the idle TPS value from 17 to 16.) The old plugs showed normal wear, but I wouldn't have guessed they would caused the drive-ability problems I was experiencing.

 

[Bustanut joker]

Well the owners manual says..........

 

[SkooterG]

Well, I can't understand Denver_FJR's experience. This isn't magic, voodoo, or rocket science. They are just spark plugs. A VERY simple part that costs a whopping $6-$8.

I've gotten to the point now that I only replace mine during valve checks, or every 30,000-33,000 miles. With no degradation of power, starting, drivability, or fuel economy. I would think that the plugs are the LEAST of your concerns. As others mentioned, I would be looking for battery or cable connections issues.

As for a long trip, you can always push start your FJR.

 

[Fred W]

When you first turn the key switch on, are you hearing the normal 1-2 seconds of fuel pump whirring and then shutting off? If the fuel rail isn't up to pressure it might take a bit longer to start.

I've noticed on my '05 that there is a regular rhythm to the starts. It's like this: rur-rur-rur-voom. Each of the "rurs" is the back pressure of a cylinder cming to TDC. and the "voom" is the engine taking off and starting, all of the above happening in about 1 second elapsed time. Seldom any more turns than that, and never any less unless the bike is fully warmed up, in which case it sometimes surprises me and fires up on the first cylinder.

I would suspect the battery or cables if the speed of rotation seems slow.

 

[mcatrophy]

If you want to listen to a "normal" start, I have an experimental video https://atrophy.lock.net/pi/20121004/DSCF5373_streamclip.mp4 .

You can't hear the fuel pump (video started after ignition turned on), and there's a background noise from a 3-year-old helper, but it's a typical FJR start. But not a typical FJR view

.

 

[odot]

I change my spark plugs at every oil change.

 

[SouthernCruizer]

i change mine every other oil change (i change oil every 5K,or about every 2 1/2 months)

 

[RadioHowie]

According to the Yamaha Owner's Manual, every 12,000 miles. At least for a 2004.

 

[odot]

Ok, I lied. I have never changed my spark plugs. They've worked fine for sixty thousand miles. I'll let y'all know when the stockers go tits up.

 

[SkooterG]

According to the Yamaha Owner's Manual, every 12,000 miles. At least for a 2004.

Are you sure about that babs? Me thinks Yammie recommends changing every 8,000 miles.

 

[RadioHowie]

According to the Yamaha Owner's Manual, every 12,000 miles. At least for a 2004.

Are you sure about that babs? Me thinks Yammie recommends changing every 8,000 miles.

Yep...pretty sure...page 6-2 of my Owner's Manual

 

[SkooterG]

According to the Yamaha Owner's Manual, every 12,000 miles. At least for a 2004.

Are you sure about that babs? Me thinks Yammie recommends changing every 8,000 miles.

Yep...pretty sure...page 6-2 of my Owner's Manual

Yo Babs! This is the U.S. of A. We use 'miles' here so far, not 'kilometers'. You got a Ruskie FJR or sumptin?

For those of us who are still in this country the specified change interval is 8,000 miles as is shown in both my 2004 and 2009 FJR service manuals:

Edit: I can't find my 2004 'Owner's' manual, but my 2009 Owner's manual reads the same as I showed above. Replace at 8,000 miles. On page 7-3.

 

[RadioHowie]

According to the Yamaha Owner's Manual, every 12,000 miles. At least for a 2004.

Are you sure about that babs? Me thinks Yammie recommends changing every 8,000 miles.

Yep...pretty sure...page 6-2 of my Owner's Manual

Yo Babs! This is the U.S. of A. We use 'miles' here so far, not 'kilometers'. You got a Ruskie FJR or sumptin?

For those of us who are still in this country the specified change interval is 8,000 miles as is shown in both my 2004 and 2009 FJR service manuals:

Edit: I can't find my 2004 'Owner's' manual, but my 2009 Owner's manual reads the same as I showed above. Replace at 8,000 miles. On page 7-3.

An error by Yamaha??? Perhaps similar to leaving out any mention of the airbleed screw on the thermostat???

:finger: :lol:

 

[wheatonFJR]

According to the Yamaha Owner's Manual, every 12,000 miles. At least for a 2004.

Are you sure about that babs? Me thinks Yammie recommends changing every 8,000 miles.

Yep...pretty sure...page 6-2 of my Owner's Manual

Yo Babs! This is the U.S. of A. We use 'miles' here so far, not 'kilometers'. You got a Ruskie FJR or sumptin?

For those of us who are still in this country the specified change interval is 8,000 miles as is shown in both my 2004 and 2009 FJR service manuals:

Edit: I can't find my 2004 'Owner's' manual, but my 2009 Owner's manual reads the same as I showed above. Replace at 8,000 miles. On page 7-3.

That is so fooked by Mama Yamaha...they don't even know the conversion properly between kilometers and miles.

 

[SkooterG]

That is so fooked by Mama Yamaha...they don't even know the conversion properly between kilometers and miles.

The conversions in the photo I posted look spot on to me????

 

[wheatonFJR]

That is so fooked by Mama Yamaha...they don't even know the conversion properly between kilometers and miles.

The conversions in the photo I posted look spot on to me????

Not between a Euro/Canadian bike and a USA bike...