No, not yet , keep putting it off, I hate going up ladders these days. I’ve also got to finish daughter no2s bedroom before she comes to visit next month, which has had the first coat on for at least 3 weeks now (takes a long time to dry, that’s my excuse). Then there’s the grass which needs cutting continually this time of year, plus all the strimming in places the lawnmower can’t get to, which of course can only be done when it’s dry, but then when it’s dry I take a bike out, so it doesn’t get done, which of course makes the job twice as long when I do come to do it. Then there’s the weeding don’t start me on the weeding. I now understand why a lot of Irish houses are just Tarmaced all around. Then there’s some work needs doing on a rental property we have. Then SWMBO and I are supposed to be taking it easier in life and spending time together so there are days out. Then SWMBO always manages to find little jobs for me to do around the house. Then I even started back at work last week so am now working 2 days a week again ffs. I need some me time
So much for retirement malarky don't be disheartened, I have even less time than you to ride my 1 bike
I have a problem with an intermittent misfire which I traced to the front cylinder. I ordered more spark plugs and today’s job was to put a new one in the front cylinder to see if that cures it. New spark plug goes in no bother, while I’m down there I happen to notice the lead from the coil is stamped Fiat Lancia. Ehh? What’s going on here? Someone must have replaced it at some point and used a part from a car that’s cheaper for the same thing. I’ve no issues with that. However, I go to refit the plug cap in the cylinder and realise it’s all to easy to slide in there, doesn’t feel as though it’s really pushing down on the spark plug. Pull it out, push it back. Nah, that just doesn’t feel right. Pull the old plug out of the bin, push that into the plug cap, a nice tight fit, need to exert some pressure for it to go fully home. So what’s up? I get the tape measure out, measure the depth of the hole in the cylinder head to the top of the plug and check it with the length of the plug cap. WTF, it appears the plug cap isn’t deep enough, the top of the plug will only just kiss the socket for it inside the plug cap. Whip the tank off to check the vertical cylinder (thank goodness these bikes are easy to work on), it’s the original part, no Fiat logo, and sure enough the vertical one needs a firm push to get it to seat home, unlike the horizontal one. Out comes the tape measure again. Turns out the vertical cylinder plug cap is 10.5cm from base of the weather seal to the end whilst the Fiat part is 10cm. Horizontal cylinder - 10cm Vertical cylinder - 10.5cm The two side by side I’m now thinking the horizontal plug cap wasn’t making a good & firm connection to the plug. Now I’ve got to order up the correct part and wait a week or so for it to arrive. Bums.
But the thing that perplexed me is a) why was it changed in the first place, and b) how could it have been changed and then not noticed it didn’t quite reach? I went through the extensive paperwork file I got with the bike, bear in mind it’s 1 owner, 5800 miles, no mention of it anywhere. So either the previous owner did it for some reason or the servicing dealer did it and didn’t tell the owner. All very strange Anyway, part ordered, plus a couple of other small bits that were missing, and I await it’s arrival. Once fitted I can then turn my attention to the erratic injectors SWMBO and the ToDo list permitting
If it's only 5mm short have you considered backing out the spark plug by 5 turns (1 mm pitch thread) and sealing with a blob of 'painters mate' at the top
I’ve only just recovered from shock. I ordered the HT lead from a Ducati dealer and it was £95 fooking spondoolies. FFS. For one. If only I knew the correct car part that’s the equivalent ; a quick eBay check shows car ones (fiat/Lancia, similar looking) at anything from £12 to £50 for 4. I bet there’s one in use on a car out there that’s exactly the same. I bet @finm knows. Having got well and truly bummed on that part I then got charged £10 for an exhaust spring and a further £15 for a fuel tank breather pipe. FFS the last one is just a bit of petrol resistant tubing. Painters/Plumbers mates/tin foil are all good and more cost effective suggestions
