Different bike (loose leads)

[redjay]

Hi All, I was out on the bike today and it just did not feel "normal". It seemed noisier than usual, did not have the usaul pep, vibrated more and stalled a few times when starting from a standstill. When I stopped for gas I tried pushing on the spark plug caps and sure enough one (the front left side cylinder as you sit on the bike) was not pushed on the plug all the way.
I figure it was at least a half an inch from being "home". Afterwards the bike ran as it should and was like a different bike.

I have been on a couple of long rides lately and the spark plug cap must have worked its way off the plug and was only firing on one plug on one of the cylinders. Something you might want to check from time to time, especially if your bike is not running as it should. Another observation was the bike got way more on a tank of gas before the low fuel level light came on.

I've had a sparkplug work loose before, but I've never had the cap pop loose on a bike.

What has happened to me is that once somebody unplugged two of my caps as a joke, and I found myself running on two cylinders (It was a 4 cyl. bike) That didn't work well. Fortunately I figured it out right away, as soon as I started the bike. After that I decided never to park my Kawasaki outside of a Harley bar, in a spot I couldn't see it.

Are you sure some scoundrel didn't try to sabotage you? As you see, it's been known to happen.

[doctorgski]

Just how tight do those plug caps have to be on the spark plug ? I have one on the left front cylinder that I think should be a bit tighter. ???

You should have to pull it off with a little force. Maybe 5 lbs force.

[misunderstood]

Originally Posted by caddmannq

I've had a sparkplug work loose before, but I've never had the cap pop loose on a bike.

What has happened to me is that once somebody unplugged two of my caps as a joke, and I found myself running on two cylinders (It was a 4 cyl. bike) That didn't work well. Fortunately I figured it out right away, as soon as I started the bike. After that I decided never to park my Kawasaki outside of a Harley bar, in a spot I couldn't see it.

Are you sure some scoundrel didn't try to sabotage you? As you see, it's been known to happen.

I was thinking the same thing.......................... prankster involvment !!