Dealing with spark plugs

[Lukich]

Hi.

Recently, I experienced a problem with my bike. As I was riding, I felt it started loosing power in the lower range, and soon after it just died and refused to start back up. I had it towed home and when I tried to start it up a couple of days later, the bike started up without any issues.

Before taking it for test runs to see if dies again, I decided to do a couple of pieces of maintenance that were due (bike's at around 25000 miles). One of them is spark plugs. I bought new spark plugs and installed them as per the shop manual/youtube videos - I have magnetic spark plug socket to guide it in properly and once in place, I torqued them to spec with a torque wrench.

However, when I tried to start the bike, it just didn't. The starter is turning, but plugs don't seem to be firing. Did I miss some standard step in installing them? The only thing I can think of is that I didn't do anything to the gap between the electrodes on the plug, assuming it to be correct since the plug came straight from the box. Was this an incorrect assumption? What else can it be in your experience?

Thank you!
Luka

 

[Junkie]

I doubt spark plugs were your problem

what year SV?

 

[Lukich]

it's 2005. I doubted that either, but they were due for replacement, and I figured I'd try and eliminate the spark/air issues first.

 

[Biga]

Check the if it's grounded properly.
Than start checking with the voltmeter the battery, stator an rectifier.

 

[ST Guy]

Kill switch?

 

[Junkie]

does it have oil in it?

did it throw an FI light when it started having problems?

 

[spdt509]

did that yr. SV switched to the dual plug heads? maybe its the infamous green connector issue....

 

[295566]

did that yr. SV switched to the dual plug heads? maybe its the infamous green connector issue....

Dual plugs were 07+

All ICE's need 3 things to run: fuel, spark, and compression. Can you smell fuel in the exhaust? If so, check that off the list. Do you have spark? Pull the plug out, and while it's connected to the wire still, ground it to the frame. Are you able to see a bright blue spark?

My bet is bad/failing battery and/or bad ground somewhere.

 

[augustiron]

^^ or pull the plug lead off the spark plug, leave the new plug in place, and stick another (old, new, whatever) plug in the boot and ground that to metal and look for spark.

 

[Biga]

Also, please check the kickstand switch if perhaps it is dirty and not working as it should.
Could be as simple as that...

 

[Tom G]

If you don't ground the plug properly you will get zapped. Just saying not everyone here is an electrical engineer.

 

[295566]

If you don't ground the plug properly you will get zapped. Just saying not everyone here is an electrical engineer.

Best way to learn!

 

[rob linders]

Best way to learn!

:laughing

When I was a kid, I rode my neighbors mini bike with a broken throttle cable. One time while reaching down to give it gas, I accidently grabbed the connector to the spark plug, what a nice zap.

 

[stangmx13]

make sure u push rly hard on the coil to seat it onto the plug. itll prob click some and should be tight against the valve cover.

 

[dravnx]

:laughing

When I was a kid, I rode my neighbors mini bike with a broken throttle cable. One time while reaching down to give it gas, I accidently grabbed the connector to the spark plug, what a nice zap.

Anyone that's ever been drunk in Cabo knows the feeling.

 

[295566]

Anyone that's ever been drunk in Cabo knows the feeling.

... are you referencing Entoptic's signature ? :rofl

 

[Lukich]

Kill switch?

No, I can hear the starter turning. Wouldn't happen with kill switch on.

 

[Lukich]

does it have oil in it?

did it throw an FI light when it started having problems?

It does have oil in it, but is due for an oil change. It did throw the red light on the dash when it started having problems.

 

[Lukich]

Thank you for your replies. I'm going to proceed with oil change along with checking for sparks in the spark plug/checking battery, starter, rectifier with a voltmeter. God help me.

 

[Maddevill]

My friend has an 05 SV650. Would sometimes just not start. Crank but no fire. After chasing our tails we looked at the "green plug" under the tank. From the outside it looked fine. Unplugged it and found the connectors burned and melted. Hard wired the connections and no problems since.

Mad