X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:52:48 -0500 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from qmta01.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net ([76.96.30.16] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.4.3) with ESMTP id 5366247 for lml@lancaironline.net; Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:41:45 -0500 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=76.96.30.16; envelope-from=ijheizer@comcast.net Received: from omta17.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net ([76.96.30.73]) by qmta01.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net with comcast id SRB31i0061afHeLA1Rh99d; Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:41:09 +0000 Received: from sz0109.ev.mail.comcast.net ([76.96.26.169]) by omta17.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net with comcast id SRh91i00V3eudEs8dRh95t; Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:41:09 +0000 X-Original-Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:41:09 +0000 (UTC) From: Isaac Heizer X-Original-To: lml@lancaironline.net X-Original-Message-ID: <1467961439.151108.1327628469528.JavaMail.root@sz0109a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> In-Reply-To: <1216269583.151068.1327628415315.JavaMail.root@sz0109a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Subject: Re: [LML] Re: Champion Spark Plug Resisters MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_Part_151107_1504488631.1327628469527" X-Originating-IP: [50.47.42.170] X-Mailer: Zimbra 6.0.13_GA_2944 (ZimbraWebClient - FF3.0 (Win)/6.0.13_GA_2944) ------=_Part_151107_1504488631.1327628469527 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit John Schroeder said: This is a new thread for me. I have a Continental IO-550N2B on an ES. Where are these resistors located? What do they look like? We currently have Tempest Iridium plugs installed. Here is the start of the saga, so far as I know: From: Isaac Heizer Sender: Subject: Slick Magneto and Spark Plugs Date: Sun, 10 Oct 2010 10:57:35 -0400 To: lml@lancaironline.net Message Header Undecoded Message I had a very interesting telephone conversation Friday with a fellow from "Aircraft Magneto Service" of Bainbridge Island, Washington (www.aircraftmagnetoservice.calls.net). It was prompted by the 350 hour inspection of the dual pressurized Slick magnetos on my TSIO-550E. ....... Then we started talking about spark plugs: I mentioned my plane has Champion fine wire plugs. He said all plugs have an internal resistor, and for some reason the resistance of many Champion plugs seems to increase as the plug ages. Once the plug has been cleaned, the resistance can be measured with a standard ohm meter between the center electrode and the connection inside the plug barrel -- all new plugs should have a resistance somewhere around 800 - 1200 ohms. If the resistance ever measures above 5000 ohms, the plug should not be used. The fellow told me plugs having too high of a resistance can/will cause misfiring and potential problems with the magneto coil and or plug harness. A spark plug bomb tester might show this plug as good, so the ohm meter test should always be performed every time the plugs are serviced. Unlike an Autolite plug, a Champion spark plug resistor can be changed. Look inside the barrel of a Champion plug and notice the slotted screw. Remove the screw and the resistor will fall out: it looks like a slug of carbon about 1/2 inch long and maybe 1/8 inch diameter. You can put the ohm meter on either end of this slug and measure the resistance -- this is the element that needs to measure from about 800 to 5000 ohms. The resistor is apparently common among all Champion plugs so he recommended visiting your pile of old plugs; removing the resistors; and saving the resistors that measure "good". When you run across an otherwise servicable plug whose resistance is too high you can change its resistor for one from the "good" pile. He says this can cure a host of otherwise mysterious "rough running" problems and forestall future problems. He said some Reno racers remove the resistor and replace it with a piece of copper wire to get a much hotter spark for racing. Says it wears out the spark plugs very quickly -- but does make a performance difference. Is this true? -isaac ES-P N7842K ------=_Part_151107_1504488631.1327628469527 Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
John Schroeder said:

This is a new thread for me. I have a Continental IO-550N2B on an ES. Where are these resistors located? What do they look like? We currently have Tempest Iridium plugs installed.

Here is the start of the saga, so far as I know:

From: Isaac Heizer <ijheizer@comcast.net>
Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Slick Magneto and Spark Plugs
Date: Sun, 10 Oct 2010 10:57:35 -0400
To: lml@lancaironline.net
 Message Header

Undecoded Message
I had a very interesting telephone conversation Friday with a fellow from "Aircraft Magneto Service" of Bainbridge Island, Washington (www.aircraftmagnetoservice.calls.net).  It was prompted by the 350 hour inspection of the dual pressurized Slick magnetos on my TSIO-550E.

.......

Then we started talking about spark plugs:  I mentioned my plane has Champion fine wire plugs.  He said all plugs have an internal resistor, and for some reason the resistance of many Champion plugs seems to increase as the plug ages.  Once the plug has been cleaned, the resistance can be measured with a standard ohm meter between the center electrode and the connection inside the plug barrel -- all new plugs should have a resistance somewhere around 800 - 1200 ohms.  If the resistance ever measures above 5000 ohms, the plug should not be used.  The fellow told me plugs having too high of a resistance can/will cause misfiring and potential problems with the magneto coil and or plug harness.  A spark plug bomb tester might show this plug as good, so the ohm meter test should always be performed every time the plugs are serviced.

Unlike an Autolite plug, a Champion spark plug resistor can be changed.  Look inside the barrel of a Champion plug and notice the slotted screw.  Remove the screw and the resistor will fall out:  it looks like a slug of carbon about 1/2 inch long and maybe 1/8 inch diameter.  You can put the ohm meter on either end of this slug and measure the resistance -- this is the element that needs to measure from about 800 to 5000 ohms.  The resistor is apparently common among all Champion plugs so he recommended visiting your pile of old plugs; removing the resistors; and saving the resistors that measure "good".  When you run across an otherwise servicable plug whose resistance is too high you can change its resistor for one from the "good" pile.  He says this can cure a host of otherwise mysterious "rough running" problems and forestall future problems.

He said some Reno racers remove the resistor and replace it with a piece of copper wire to get a much hotter spark for racing.  Says it wears out the spark plugs very quickly -- but does make a performance difference.  Is this true?

-isaac
ES-P N7842K

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