How to: Replace your sparkplugs in 20 minutes

[Foxbass]

Thanks Jeep.
Just did the change this morning. Took the old plugs out and they were clearly gone. The center electrode was worn badly. I agree with others here that the #1 plug lead is a real swine to remove. I don't have big hands but I ended up taking the lower rad bolt out and swinging it forward to get my other hand up past it to help out. The lead deffo fouls on the underside of the air box and the effort required to get the cap out the hole puts a lot of stress on the cap itself and the HT lead going into it to my mind. Sure don't fancy doing this twice a year so next time I will look at the idea of loosening or even removing the airbox. That must surely take less time to do than struggling with tired fingers for 30 mins for just that lead.
Still, it was an hour well spent and made me get in there and clean up the head some.

[jayvee1958]

I got my yamaha 600R running now. However as soon as I pop it into gear it stalls?

[markgm]

Originally Posted by jayvee1958

I got my yamaha 600R running now. However as soon as I pop it into gear it stalls?

Sounds like you might have a bad kickstand switch.

[biker1]

Originally Posted by FIZZER6

Did this last weekend.

My tips: plugs 2-4 are easy. Plug #1 requires small, strong hands. I was able to get it loose using a screw driver as extra upward leverage to pop it loose, but that is the easy part. The tough part of plug #1 is getting the boot out...it wants to hit the air box, there is only one small gap between the air box and frame where it will go to provide the clearance you need to get it out without snapping it off! If you don't have small hands, find someone who does for getting to #1.

The best tip I've found in years was in an Haynes Manual.

Get a small length of plastic tubing about the length of the spark plug tool that is a tight push fit on the porcelain end of the plug, once you loosen the plug sufficiently you push the tubing over the end and undo it and pull it out from the well.

The best part comes when reinstalling, you put the tubing on the plug and you can easily feed it in and line it up with the hole. Do the plug up as much as you can by hand this way you can feel if it is cross threaded.

Once you feel it bottom, remove the tube and use the tool to tighten to the correct specification.

Cheers