---------------------------------------------------------- RotaxEngines-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Mon 09/03/12: 4 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 12:24 PM - solid top versus thread top spark plugs (Dennis Thate) 2. 01:06 PM - Re: solid top versus thread top spark plugs (Bob Comperini) 3. 02:12 PM - Re: solid top versus thread top spark plugs (FLYaDIVE) 4. 07:22 PM - Re: solid top versus thread top spark plugs (Guy Buchanan) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 12:24:28 PM PST US Subject: RotaxEngines-List: solid top versus thread top spark plugs From: "Dennis Thate" I'm told there is no safety benefit to using solid top spark plugs Br8es versus threaded top in my 503 DCDI Rotax engine on my Kolb Firestar. Is this correct ? Why or Why not ? :? -------- Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute. ~Gil Stern Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=382336#382336 ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 01:06:56 PM PST US From: Bob Comperini Subject: Re: RotaxEngines-List: solid top versus thread top spark plugs > >I'm told there is no safety benefit to using solid top spark plugs Br8es versus threaded top in my 503 DCDI Rotax engine on my Kolb Firestar. Is this correct ? Why or Why not ? :? I personally do believe there is a benefit to using the solid top plugs. I have personally had several of the other "screw on" ones become loose (even when using various methods to try to secure the threaded top to the plug). With the solid top, there is no worries. -- Bob Comperini e-mail: bob@fly-ul.com WWW: http://www.fly-ul.com ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 02:12:29 PM PST US Subject: Re: RotaxEngines-List: solid top versus thread top spark plugs From: FLYaDIVE Dennis: Good question. The solid top does not unscrew. The solid top has good heat transfer. The screw on top has a poor wire attachment system since there are no locking mechanisms for the threaded top/nut. Of course you could add your own star washer. Or replace the supplied top with two nuts and lock washers. Back to the solid top - They can also be an attachment problem after a long time of inspection use. I have NEVER seen a builder/pilot use dielectric grease on the plug boot. Failure to use it causes the boot to dry out and stick to the tower of the spark plug. THEN when you pull and jerk on the boot as you remove it you distort the snap connection where the boot makes electrical connection to the spark plug top. So, in either case there is a lesson to be learned: Do it right or either case will have its own failure mode. And, if you use the screw top in a solid top configuration - Make sure you use a pair of pliers to tighten on the top. I prefer Solid Top. But that is my opinion. And opinions are like ass-holes; Everybody has one and they all stink. Barry On Mon, Sep 3, 2012 at 3:23 PM, Dennis Thate wrote: > retroman@frontier.com> > > I'm told there is no safety benefit to using solid top spark plugs Br8es > versus threaded top in my 503 DCDI Rotax engine on my Kolb Firestar. Is > this correct ? Why or Why not ? :? > > -------- > Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist > invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute. ~Gil Stern > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=382336#382336 > > ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 07:22:23 PM PST US From: Guy Buchanan Subject: Re: RotaxEngines-List: solid top versus thread top spark plugs On 9/3/2012 12:23 PM, Dennis Thate wrote: > I'm told there is no safety benefit to using solid top spark plugs Br8es versus threaded top in my 503 DCDI Rotax engine on my Kolb Firestar. Is this correct ? Why or Why not ? :? > It always appeared to me that the material of the solid top was much harder than the screw top. The screw on tops were made of incredibly soft aluminum which my caps would chew through. Never had that problem with the solid tops. However I never had a screw top unscrew, which is the usual caution. Guy Buchanan Ramona, CA Kitfox IV-1200 / 912-S / Warp 3cs / 500 hrs. and grounded Now a glider pilot, too. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message rotaxengines-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/RotaxEngines-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/rotaxengines-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/rotaxengines-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.