Alez
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| posted on 18/5/04 at 08:26 PM |
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Set of spark plug cables, length?
Hi guys,
I was about to order a set of brand new spark plug wires for my Blade '97. This is because I changed the 4 spark plugs with great results and,
since I know the coils are working fine, I thought I'd renew the whole thing nicely to make sure it works smoothly before I adjust the idle speed
(seems just a bit "under", maybe it's just the slight difference in atmosferic pressure between England and Spain?).
Apparently, if you go original Honda (which is pretty much the only option here), you pay a price for 3 of the cables and slightly more for a 4th one,
I suppose the 4th one is longer? I'm now worried that the full set of 4 won't be suitable because I've just seen that the location of
the coils in my Locost is rather different from that of the bike. Good news is, if I know what I need from Honda, they are happy to sell cables
separately, so I can get a couple of the long ones for instance if need be. The problem is they don't have the cables in stock (they just order
them for me), so I can't ask them to give me the length to compare with the ones currently in the car.
Here is a pic I took of the Haynes manual showing the location of the coils on the bike:
Image deleted by owner
Here is my Blade:
Image deleted by owner
What is my best bet? Will a normal set work or I need a different arrangement?
Many thanks.
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Hellfire
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| posted on 18/5/04 at 11:04 PM |
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We got some 7mm "Hotwires" and made them up ourselves to whatever length we wanted. Our coils are however in a different place:
Image deleted by owner
HTH
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Alez
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| posted on 19/5/04 at 06:35 AM |
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Hmm, that's interesting but you still need the bit that plugs into the spark plug plus the bit that goes into the coil in order to terminate the
wires you've cut to length, where do you get them from? Maybe you take a set of original cables and just change the wire? Can you do that at all
with these?
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Hellfire
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| posted on 19/5/04 at 07:34 AM |
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Alez,
yes. Just screw the cable out of the ends and place these on longer lengths of HT leads. Most places will supply specific lengths, you just need to
measure each individual lead. Make sure you get 7mm dia leads though 
Try Merlin Motorsport.
HTH
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Alez
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| posted on 19/5/04 at 12:12 PM |
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Excellent, thanks a lot!
quote:
Try Merlin Motorsport.
Will need something else, I'm based in Spain 
..But surely will try what you advise.
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Brooky
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| posted on 20/5/04 at 09:37 AM |
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Alez, that is where Stuart Taylor mount all the blade coils and they are using the original leads so length isnt an issue.
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Alez
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| posted on 21/5/04 at 07:22 AM |
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That is great news, Brookie, the whole issue is over then and yes, it's a Stuart Taylor indeed 
Yesterday I took a spare to see the way the cable is attached to the ends (as in principle I wanted to follow Hellfire's advice) and still
don't quite get the way the coil makes electrical contact with the lead. All of it looks isolating material to me!!, including the bit that is
inserted in the coil. Is it similar to the other end, which has that sharp metallic threaded insert (screw end?) which goes inside the hollow cable?
It doesn't look so to me because the coil end gets in really smoothly while the other one normally needs some turns and pressure.
Image deleted by owner
I'm glad that I don't need to do anything but if you could clarify, I'd really like to satisfy my curiosity as I was quite puzzled
yesterday when inspecting the cable end.
Cheers,
Alex
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Hellfire
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| posted on 21/5/04 at 04:39 PM |
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Probably as you have removed the Lead the core has slid back inside the insulator. If it's copper cored it should be copper, if like ours High
Peformance they will be carbon strands.
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