Accessing SV spark plugs?

[Gary C]

Does anyone else have trouble getting to their spark plugs? I have done it as it says in manual, but i cant get the plug lead off the front cylinder. I managed to get lead off the back cylinder, but cant tell if i have plug socket on the plug to start undoing it. HELP!!!!!!

[maviczap]

Are you using the plug tool from the toolkit?

rear is easy, front is a pain.

Be careful with the front as they can get seized

You will get the front lead off, have you taken the bottom bolt off the raidiator to swing it out of the way?

[Gary C]

I am using the plug tool from the toolkit, but i am finding it hard to tell if it is on the plug or not.I have swung radiator out of way. Oh well just have to soldier on.

[maviczap]

Oh well just have to soldier on.

Unfortunately the only way

[Razor]

i use the socket from my 3/8" socket set, better than the toolkit one

[kd80]

Have you put a block of wood between the radiator and the engine? It partially helps with not having to keep moving the radiator.

I'm not sure about you, but I found that my radiator didn't swing much after removing the lower bolt :-/. Once you get the socket in there, swivel it around a little until feel it "click" into place. Then you know the socket is in place. Then keep turning. Probably the best advice :). It doesn't help with the fact you're unable to see bugger all!

Best of luck

[Razor]

you can also shoot wd40 up your drain hole...

ohhh matron

[bigchris]

I had to completley remove the radiator, was much easier after that, handy to do it this way if your coolant needs changing,

[Sly]

I couldn't get my front plug off with the tool-kit wrench - it had been done up too tight by a bike shop mechanic - I could tell that I was going to round off the end of the tool-kit wrench with my tool-kit 12mm spanner before it would undo. So, I used the 10mm plug socket from my cheap socket set. Problem was that the socket (standard 10mm plug socket) isn't long enough to appear above the level of the top of the cylinder head without an extender, and when I tried to pull it out, the extender disconnected from the socket, leaving both socket and sparkplug in the hole. I eventually managed to get it out, by using another extender with a tighter fit into the socket, but am now looking for an extended 10mm plug socket - anyone know of a good place to get one? I guess the alternative would be to weld a short extender on the back of a standard 10mm plug socket, but I'd rather get a proper tool for the job.
I made sure to replace the plug using the tool-kit wrench so it wasn't done up too tight for the same tool to remove next time. It's good to know I can get the damned thing out but disconcerting to think that I'd not have managed if I'd had to do it at the roadside, without access to my full toolbox. :(

If anyone can suggest a supplier for an extra-long 10mm plug socket I'd be grateful.

[alfa.rbt]

^^^ :smt024 there you go

click (http://www.ap-tech.co.uk/products/details/405.html)
click (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SNAP-10MM-3-8-DRIVE-DEEP-SOCKET-/320572900281?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment#ht_500wt_1 149)
click (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SNAP-10MM-3-8-DRIVE-DEEP-SOCKET-/320572900281?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment#ht_500wt_1 149)

[Sly]

^^^ :smt024 there you go

click (http://www.ap-tech.co.uk/products/details/405.html)
click (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SNAP-10MM-3-8-DRIVE-DEEP-SOCKET-/320572900281?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment#ht_500wt_1 149)
click (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SNAP-10MM-3-8-DRIVE-DEEP-SOCKET-/320572900281?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment#ht_500wt_1 149)
Thanks for the links alfa, but those look like normal length for plug sockets (which I already have at least one of). I was looking for an extra long one that wouldn't get stuck in the hole if it came off the extender bar. I see that Sealey, Halfords and various other suppliers do "Long Reach Spark Plug Wrench 10mm with tommy bar (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_22 9905_langId_-1_categoryId_165469)" and there's a Triumph one that is 180mm long (http://www.triumph-online.co.uk/spark-plug-spanner-long-reach-7180mm-for-10mm-cr9e-plugs-3028-p.asp)but I'd rather get a long socket if I can.
I'm having a lot of damp plug issues, and as I do a daily 50 mile commute on my SV, I'm looking for the best tool for the job. The toolbox item fits the hole well but looks like it will fall to bits easily or round off with repeated use if the plug is a bit tight. I wish I'd paid more attention to what tool the bike shop mechanic used to get it out.
The bike was a nightmare during the winter last year, and though this summer's been great, the first proper rain led to me limping the last few miles to work on one cylinder and complete refusal to restart a few hours later. I've now vaselined the plugs and around the HT caps but there's still enough water getting in somewhere to cause a misfire by the end of my ride home in the rain this evening. I'm waiting impatiently for the fenda extenda that I ordered to come in, and am hoping that will make a real difference.

[fizzwheel]

i'm waiting impatiently for the fenda extenda that I ordered to come in, and am hoping that will make a real difference.

I should do, it made a difference to my curvey that I had repeated issues with cutting out in the rain.

The other trick is to seal the plug with some gloop, search for posts my Northwind on the subject as he recommended a product that will do the job.

[Sly]

I should do, it made a difference to my curvey that I had repeated issues with cutting out in the rain.

The other trick is to seal the plug with some gloop, search for posts my Northwind on the subject as he recommended a product that will do the job.

Thanks for the reply fizzwheel. This is the post I think you refer to (http://forums.sv650.org/showpost.php?p=1076369&postcount=6). I'll get some tomorrow. Lucky there's a Maplins right next to where I work :). I have already Vaseline'd around the cap seal in the way Northwind suggests, but maybe it isn't quite thick enough to keep everything out.

I think my SV is trying to persuade me to take it to somewhere like Morocco to really get 110% bone dry.