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Spark Plug Wires

Discussion in 'Motorcycle Tech Talk' started by Tommyc, Apr 27, 2011.

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  1. Tommyc

    Tommyc Active Member

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    Hi, I have seen on the market now 10 mm wires.
    I think my shovelhead motor uses 8 mm.
    But, I have 2 hi-po coils, 4 plugs and a hi-po Dyna 2000i ignition running in signle fire mode. Will 10 mm wires improve performance for me or no?
    Should I try them?
    Why are there 10mm wires now, what changed to need 10mm instead of 8mm?
    do the TC motors have a hotter ignition system therefor requiring thicker wires??
    Any real knowledge as what caused the changed would be greatly appreciated.
    Thanks guys!
    Tommyc, Apr 27, 2011
    #1
  3. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    JMO I doubt you'd see much if any real
    difference other than a lighter wallet.

    Unless you are going racing
    or something is wrong with
    the wires you have
    I'd leave it alone..
    hotroadking, Apr 27, 2011
    #2
  4. Tommyc

    Tommyc Active Member

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    They are the same price. I am replacing the wires I have.
    My coils are 40,000 volts each. The thicker wires may tranfer voltage better, no?
    Tommyc, Apr 27, 2011
    #3
  5. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    From Magnacor Race Wires FAQMagnecor Race Wires

    11. What gain, if any, will I get using 10mm size wires — compared to 8.5mm size wires ?

    Our R-100 (10mm) cable has a thicker insulating jacket, designed for extreme heat situations or where extra insulation is needed for extreme-output ignition systems and where it's not easy to space the wires from one another and/or the engine. Our KV85 (8.5mm) and R-100 (10mm) cables both use the same conductors and provide the same spark energy output, and, as most street and modified production engines don't really need a cable size larger than 8.5mm, using our 10mm size cable is usually overkill (or for appearance). Please understand our 10mm cables, due to their large diameter and bulk, will take more room, and a little longer to fit and loom correctly.
    hotroadking, Apr 27, 2011
    #4
  6. Tommyc

    Tommyc Active Member

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    Thank you sir.
    That's what I like, an exact answer to a specific question! Exactly!
    You rock sir!
    When is your birthday? Remind me to get you a gift!! HaHa!
    If you weren't so dam ugly I would give you a kiss!
    Tommyc, Apr 27, 2011
    #5
  7. Fatboy128

    Fatboy128 Well-Known Member

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    Gee HRK, was there an insult in that one?!
    :confused:
    Fatboy128, Apr 27, 2011
    #6
  8. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    I'm thinking it's a godsend....
    hotroadking, Apr 27, 2011
    #7
  9. Fatboy128

    Fatboy128 Well-Known Member

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    :roflmao::roflmao:
    Fatboy128, Apr 27, 2011
    #8
  10. Tommyc

    Tommyc Active Member

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    Hey, are you guys making fun of me?
    Tommyc, Apr 27, 2011
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  11. Tommyc

    Tommyc Active Member

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    HRK, on my 1970 shovelhead I have 3 wires going to my coil. I think 1 is from the kill switch and the other 2 are from the igniton module? Deos this sound correct?
    Tommyc, Apr 27, 2011
    #10
  12. JohnnyBiker

    JohnnyBiker Well-Known Member

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    Hey TommyC, I think that you need to check these plug wires out. I have the 10 MM ThunderVolts on mine scooter. I got them from Sumax but I got mine for free. BTW, my scoot is on this site. If you are interested, click the Glass Composite fenders link, scroll down to the Hugger series and scroll down the page and you will see my scoot. :cool:

    http://www.sumax.com/plug_wire_overview.html

    BTW, I have a Screaming Eagle Single/Duel fire coil and and SE selectable ignition. I switched out my thundervolt with the ones that came on the bike when I bought it. I did notice a difference.
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2011
    JohnnyBiker, Apr 27, 2011
    #11
  13. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    wallet lighter?????????:D
    chucktx, Apr 27, 2011
    #12
  14. Tommyc

    Tommyc Active Member

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    I will check it out JB, thanks.
    Chuck: How do I find the other end of a wire on my bike. I see one end and I think I know where the other end is but I'm not sure 'cause the wires have been spliced and are different colors.
    I think I want to do a continuity check? How is this done using a multimeter?
    Thanks!
    Tommyc, Apr 28, 2011
    #13
  15. Tommyc

    Tommyc Active Member

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    JohnnyBiker, Cool looking bike JB~! Not my style but "to each his own"!
    Those pipes look loud!
    I have been on the Sumax site before, how did you get your wires for free?
    I think I am going to stick with the H-D Screaming eagle wires. You can find them on e-bay.
    Tommyc, Apr 28, 2011
    #14
  16. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    yes, a ohm meter is the safest way....put the meter to ohms, use one ohm meter lead on one end of the wire....it needs to be disconnected and by itself.....then go searching with the other lead until you find it.........
    chucktx, Apr 28, 2011
    #15
  17. Tommyc

    Tommyc Active Member

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    What will happen when I find the other end? The ohm meter will jump?
    Tommyc, Apr 28, 2011
    #16
  18. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    if you have a meter type with an indicator arm it will go to "0".........if it is digital...much better....it should read somthing like 00.0 or 000.0, depending on the type meter. if it reads numbers, such as 380.6 or sum such, that wire is bleeding to the wire you have the lead attached to. this can happen if the wire is frayed, and a strand or two are touching the wire.
    chucktx, Apr 28, 2011
    #17
  19. Tommyc

    Tommyc Active Member

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    I got the one with the arm. So it will go to zero.
    Thanks.
    Tommyc, Apr 28, 2011
    #18
  20. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    a good purchase would be a digital one....very inexpensive.....3 bucks at harbor freight to about 10 bucks at wally world or autoparts store...... the needle should move from it's idle position to the opposite side of the scale. before testing, put the meter to ohms, then touch the two meter leads together.....that is how it should read when you find the two ends of the wire.....
    chucktx, Apr 28, 2011
    #19
  21. Tommyc

    Tommyc Active Member

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    Ah, ha, thanks !!!! That is good to know.
    I just put new gas tanks on my 1970 and some wire is shorting out and flipping the circuit breaker. It's somewhere under the tanks (of course) so I want to try and track it down first before having to remove the gas tank, again, for the third time!! The first 2 times it was to install a new petcock. For some reason the top motor mount interferes when trying to spin on the new petcock, so off the tanks came, twice, to get it right.
    What a apin in the butt that new petcock was. It has to be seated just right so it faces forward and it doesn't leak. Not as easy to do as one might think.
    Anyway it's done but now I dropped some washer in between the tanks and either the washer are sorting or a wire got crimped.
    :gah:
    Tommyc, Apr 28, 2011
    #20
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