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Collin
Unregistered
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 Posted Wednesday, February 18, 2009 @ 08:52 PM
Hello,
I am planing on converting to auto plugs. Here are two pictures of the plug wire ends I may try. They are made by BERU. The spark plug I will use is NGK Iridium fine wire BP7HIX.
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jb92563
Unregistered
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Posted Thursday, February 19, 2009 @ 03:25 AM
Great planes also sells a special aviation style autoplug converter.
I have the type you show on a Cuyuna Engine and some people advise against them because they say that the
clamping pressure of the boot around the plug can actually cause it to pop off the plug under vibration.
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Collin
Unregistered
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Posted Thursday, February 19, 2009 @ 01:11 PM
Hi Ray,
Thanks for your input.
Collin
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Jorgen
Unregistered
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Posted Thursday, February 19, 2009 @ 04:30 PM
Collin,
maybe a stupid question, but what advantages do see with auto spark plugs, apart from the price of spare plugs? Is the thread in the cylinder head the same and is it a part of your dual-ignition project?
Take 5(b) just 4 fun/ Jörgen
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Collin
Unregistered
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Posted Thursday, February 19, 2009 @ 08:45 PM
Hello,
The fine wire plug requires less voltage so larger plug gap maybe more power and easier starts? The cost is only $8.50.
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Bob Grimstead
Unregistered
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Posted Thursday, February 19, 2009 @ 10:12 PM
Hi Collin,
I think we would all be interested to hear how well you get on with the automotive plugs.
I have been using aviation Champion REL37B plugs, and they are awfully expensive.
Yours, Bob
[Edit by Bob Grimstead on Thursday, February 19, 2009 @ 10:13 PM]
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jb92563
Unregistered
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Posted Friday, February 20, 2009 @ 11:43 AM
Just noticed Great Planes has a downloadable catalog for 2009 out.
The spark plug boots they have in their catalog look very secure.
www.greatplainsas.com/2009.html
RevMaster has some of a different design as well.
www.revmasteraviation.com/products/auto_spark_plug_conversion_assembly/index.htm
I think like many things aviation related, people use the old mostly expensive stuff because
it is presumed they are getting the best available for their application.
But in the case of spark plus, I think all these irridium or platinum electrode, multiple post plugs now available
should be just as good if not better, and likely cheaper as well.
We are burning auto fuel in VW auto engines afterall.
Ray
[Edit by jb92563 on Friday, February 20, 2009 @ 11:56 AM]
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Collin
Unregistered
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Posted Friday, February 20, 2009 @ 12:55 PM
Hi Ray,
I did talked to Joe from Revmaster. He likes the auto plug and his engines now use NGK auto plugs.
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Mike-RM
Unregistered
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Posted Saturday, March 14, 2009 @ 10:23 AM
Hi Colin
I've just fitted Bosch W8AC plugs, Beru plug caps and carbon plug leads to our RF-5 and they work great! The plug caps feel a really tight fit. You've probably worked out that the plugs have to have the threaded top connection to work with the Beru caps, so you can't use NGK B6HS plugs because they have the furrule moulded in instead of a separate screw on ferrule. We already have B6HS plus with NGK plug caps on our RF-3 and they work fine too. We' ve never had any problem with plug caps comming off in flight. Also we get no radio interference with the carbon leads. That was my only worry when swapping from the Champion REL37B plugs and screened leads.
One interesting side effect is that the RF-5 engine now runs cooler. CHT's always worried me, particularly in the climb ( in quite moderate UK temperatures) as they quickly reached the limit. Now I'm only getting about 420-430 degreesF in the climb and 360 in the cruise. The RF-3 runs significantly cooler than that. I think this might be because VW's require cool plugs, which the W8AC and B6HS are. I can't find the heat range of the REL37B's but I'm guessing they are a hotter plug. However, I've just put new heads on so that might possibly have had some effect as well.
Apart from the dreadful price I dislike Champion plugs anyway. With every set I have bought, both car and aircraft plugs, one has been duff. Also there is an article in the latest LAA magazine (used to be PFA - UK homebuilders asssocation) showing a Champion REL37B which had burned through the side and would have caused a fire but for the quick reactions of the pilot - if you smell something hot, land quick!
Mike
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Collin
Unregistered
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Posted Monday, March 16, 2009 @ 08:36 PM
Hello Mike,
Thanks for your input. I hope to have auto plugs conversion in a few weeks. The twins have been taking up a lot of my spare time.
Collin
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Jorgen
Unregistered
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Posted Wednesday, March 18, 2009 @ 01:41 PM
Respect Collin,
my wife and I think Sofi (now 2) is a handful....
Take 5(b) just 4 fun/ Jörgen
[Edit by Jorgen on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 @ 01:42 PM]
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Collin
Unregistered
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Posted Friday, December 9, 2011 @ 01:46 PM
Hello,
I finally have the RF5B running with the auto plugs. I just changed two of them and ran it for 50 hours and it worked great I had to only clean and regap the two Limbach/bosch plugs. Now I have all 4 done.
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JamesB
Unregistered
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Posted Saturday, December 10, 2011 @ 11:47 AM
What is involved in replacing the aircraft plug fitting with the auto plug fitting on the wire?
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Collin
Unregistered
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Posted Monday, December 12, 2011 @ 01:29 AM
Hi James,
It is easy about 5-10 minutes a wire. Cut off the old screw on end. Then trim the shielding back about 3/8" (10mm). Cover with heat shrink. Side on the boot the then screw on the new Bosch or Beru spark plug wire end. I will post pictures later this week.
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Skyhawk 3
Unregistered
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Posted Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ 07:35 PM
Folks,
In the vintage motorbike world we shyed against some metal caps as they contained a small resistor ? which is used to cut down / eliminate ignition interference, mainly for car applications. There is no such thing as a free lunch! it was found to reduce the strength of the spark, just a thought.
I echo Mike (RM), my old bikes always suffered with failing champion plugs, NGK's were better and finally I fitted Densos and that was five years ago with no failures, you can get them with an iridium centre electrode which lasts for hours.
This web site has lots of useful info http://www.spark-plugs.co.uk/pages/technical/spark_plugs_technical.htm
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Collin
Unregistered
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Posted Saturday, December 17, 2011 @ 11:00 AM
Hello,
Yes the spark plug wire end has a resistor. Cars like the VW Bug or Golf have 5K-6K resistance. All cars today have resistance wires. One reason is radio noise, there is a other reason but I can't remember it has been almost 30 years since I was in school. So I am looking for my Bosch hand book. The ends I am using only have 1k resistance. I think using the fine wire plug helps make up for the loss. With the old plugs and wires ends I was gaping the plugs .020"(.5mm) now with the fine wire plugs I am gaping them to .028" (.7mm)
The ends I am using are good quality they mainly used on BMW motorcycles.
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Bob Grimstead
Unregistered
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Posted Monday, December 19, 2011 @ 00:02 AM
Hi Guys,
As I remember, not only does the resistor in the spark plug cap help to supress ignition noise on the radio (something I have been suffering a little with since I changed to auto spark plugs and leads with plastic/bakelite caps) but it also helps to give a fatter spark by delaying the spark pulse (infinitessimally) until it has built up a bit more. -- I think.
Yours, Bob
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