Easier (cheaper) way to gap plugs to .028 !!

[eclipsegsx1736]

I just discovered this at school and thought I would share it, and it's kinda funny too. This type of mechanical pencil lead (0.7mm size) is perfect for gapping plugs to .028. I tried it out on my plugs just after gapping them with a true .028 gapper, and the lead fits perfect. Close the gap on the plug until a piece of 0.7 lead barely squeezes thru the gap. There shouldnt be any free play, but it shouldnt get stuck either. It's a perfect gap every time! You're welcome.

 

[Coup D E'Tat]

Gapping tools are 99 cents. Are you serious?

 

[kottyking]

The lead doesn't break?

 

[eclipsegsx1736]

Umm you're not supposed to use the cheap 99 cent coin type ones. Theres a post by Defiant on why not to, I think it has to do with the fact that it ends up bending the tip sideways but I'm not sure. Always use the blade type ones. They're hard to find, and cost about 5 bucks if you can find them.

 

[1993eclipseGS]

I haven't had a problem for 6 years now... Go figure, Guess i'm just lucky huh. Dsmer's are getting cheaper and finding more and more ways to give the scene the "cheap" name.

 

[kottyking]

Hell yea they are. Thats crazy. I never would have thought of that but leave it someone that owns a dsm to do that.

 

[a_scobel]

Umm you're not supposed to use the cheap 99 cent coin type ones. Theres a post by Defiant on why not to, I think it has to do with the fact that it ends up bending the tip sideways but I'm not sure. Always use the blade type ones. They're hard to find, and cost about 5 bucks if you can find them.

Straight from one of his posts:

Originally posted by Defiant

Don't get the disk with the ramp around the edge, you can't get a true reading off of them: get either the "pocketknife" type, or the "life preserver" type with wire feelers. Run the wire in so that it's perpendicular to the way the side electrode comes up and over the center electrode, or so that the wire is parallel with the flat end of the side electrode. If you get the pocketknife design, it'll have L-shaped hooks, while the lifesaver has squarish-U's coming out of the rim. If you use the L-shaped ones, do _not_ hook them behind the center electrode and drag them out, push them in from the open side of the plug. When using the notched adjuster included on either of these, try to bend the side electrode at the corner, _not_ where it's welded to the body. Get the bottom of the side electrode as parallel to the center electrode as you can.
It's very likely that you'll find new NGK's are already just about spot-on out of the box. I have no idea how they do it, but it's just another example of the kind of work they do.

I don't know if the $20 plier-type adjusters are much good or not, I've never gotten around to using a pair.

 

[staticbrainwash]

Are you Effing serious? Dude, spend the 1-5 bucks and get a feeler gauge or just a wire style gauge. Not to mention it will last you just about forever. I can't believe this is on the main page here. And people wonder why we have bad reps. This is rediculous.

 

[fourreGsixty3]

He already did the gapping with a real gapping tool, but then saw the .028" on the lead, and fit it through exactly. He didnt use the lead to gap them, just posting it out here so people would know it.

 

[staticbrainwash]

I just discovered this at school and thought I would share it, and it's kinda funny too. This type of mechanical pencil lead (0.7mm size) is perfect for gapping plugs to .028.

He may have done the gapping already yes, but read that quote.

 

[eclipsegsx1736]

Sorry for causing so much drama I had a little trouble finding the right type of gapper tool, and maybe some people don't have a store nearby that has one that's convienent.

 

[staticbrainwash]

meijer, wal-mart, gas stations, most mechanics shops, auto zone, advanced auto. . . thats just a few i can think of. It wouldn't be such a bad idea if it wasn't lead. It's just so brittle there would be no accurate way to close the gap to make sure.

 

[blcknspo0ln]

Sorry for causing so much drama I had a little trouble finding the right type of gapper tool, and maybe some people don't have a store nearby that has one that's convienent.

eh, it's not drama. People are just concerned with getting the right info out there. Using the lead is actually a pretty funny (and ironic) idea and I'm sure that was what you were aiming at. Anyway, a feeler gauge was 9 dollars at autozone and it works wonders. It's funny because I used to use the ramp style and I measured with my gauge and I had my plugs gapped from .028 - .031

 

[Coup D E'Tat]

Umm you're not supposed to use the cheap 99 cent coin type ones.

Says the man who uses pencil lead

 

[1stGenRocks]

Says the man who uses pencil lead

Your missing the point. Pencil lead is a even diameter the whole way around. The ramp style make the side electrode twist and be higher on one side then the other.

 

[JiveMasterT]

your missing the point. pencil lead is a even diamter the whole way around. the ra,mp style make the side eletrode twist and be higher on one side then the other.

I can vouch for this as well... Last time I did my plugs I used one of those ####ing things and now I KNOW the gap on my plugs is wrong because I couldn't be bothered to find my feeler gauge and do it the right way. I didn't realize it at the time, but now my car miss fires all the time and I know it's because of that damn gauge.

 

[1993eclipseGS]

I never thought gapping a sparkplug would get so complicated. But then again, Only on dsmtuners.

 

[Coup D E'Tat]

Your missing the point. Pencil lead is a even diameter the whole way around. The ramp style make the side electrode twist and be higher on one side then the other.

I tried real hard to come up with an explanation as to why this thread gives me a brain hemmorhage, but I'll just quote someone else.

But then again, Only on dsmtuners.

 

[SikRacing97GST]

Some people don't have a sense of humor please excuse them, I on the under hand thought it was outright hilarious

 

[1993eclipseGS]

I can't say anything else in this thread because I got negative reputation points for stating my opinion, Although.. I'm sure i'll get more just for typing this.

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

Sheesh no way. You can find the feeler type/pocket knife style gappers at kragen. Thats where I bought mine. So if kragen has it, there hsould be no excuse for anybody. It was only a dollar or 2 if I can remember. One of those purchases that were so cheap you forget about it because you know your not going to need another one unless you lose it.

I guess you can look at this thread in a positive way, if its an emergency and absolutely all your stores are closed, (even your 24hour walmarts and super k marts ) we now have an alternative thanks to the OP.

 

[JiveMasterT]

actually... i got an idea where this would be good...

if you get the BPR6KES (the plugs for the 2g dizzums), then you can just use the lead in your pencil to see if they are gapped ok. It's harder to get an acurate reading off a blade type gauge and that's the only kind I have around here.

I'm going to check this out when my new plugs come in.