Spark Plug Gaps?

[ivany]

So, the past week or two, my bike has been having trouble starting. Cold mornings especially, I might have to crank for 5-10 seconds before it fires. I did the valves less than 2,000 ago and ran the exhausts quite wide so I doubt its those tightening up. For fun, I pulled the plugs. They looked normal, but when I gapped them they were way wide, something like 1.2mm rather than the 0.7 - 0.8mm spec. So, I tightened them up, and the bike appears to fire right up now. I really didn't expect plug gap to make any difference. Has anyone else had this experience? Or is there another latent problem, and the gaps are just a placebo?

[gsJack]

That used to work with cars years ago to make the gaps a bit closer than std spec for winters.  I had one VW Bettle I had to do that too, it helped.  That was before electronic ignitions so the sparks were much weaker than now.

[Pelikan]

Hey, for what it's worth, I switched to the NGK iridiums they speak of in the wiki, and I seem to be experiencing faster start-ups/warmup, requiring less choke.  And they don't need to be gapped from what I read.  $20 upgrade, 5 min install.

[ojstinson]

What is the part number on those iridium plugs for the GS?

[gsJack]

Right from the Wiki:

[norcalbarney]

I also upgraded to the NGK DPR8EIX-9 Iridum plugs.  I gapped mine towards the tighter side of the spec, and it's running great.  It used to need to choke for a couple minutes when cold, now it'll ride after about 30 seconds.

[mach1]

Are you saying you gapped the iridium plugs . your not supposed to touch the gaps on those plugs youll end up breaking the plug..