revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Ok, bear with me on this, or call me crazy, i don't care.

Has anyone ever seen/heard of a tool/device for the following situation.

You own a classic bike,
You would like to check the sparks are working.
You remove the plug from the head, reattach the HT lead, then attempt to hold the threaded portion of the plug against the head, while at the same time trying to kick the bike over hard enough to get the magneto spinning fast enough.

Wouldn't it be far easier to have some sort of metal "double-ended-crocodile-clamp" that would hold the plug, and clamp to a fin so that the plug was held firmly off to one side, easily visible, well-distanced from the plug hole (thus reducing the chances of accidentally igniting any fuel/air mix), and with a guaranteed earth connection?

Does this exist?

Would an in-line spark checker not work for you, or do you actually want to see the spark from the end of the plug?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334893590691 ... RoQAvD_BwE

or
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256053239266 ... BM6pDZxepj

Anything which can clamp, can clamp the plug in place? The only requirement is that it doesn't damage something and can fit around things?

Big bulldog clip? Jump lead clamp (don't hold the other end )?

Random thought - can you do it with a cunningly twisted bit of 230V solid core wire stripped and wrapped around the plug?

ChrisW wrote: Tue May 07, 2024 7:13 pm Would an in-line spark checker not work for you, or do you actually want to see the spark from the end of the plug?

I want to see the spark on the plug.

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Tue May 07, 2024 7:45 pm Anything which can clamp, can clamp the plug in place? The only requirement is that it doesn't damage something and can fit around things?

Big bulldog clip? Jump lead clamp (don't hold the other end )?

Well, yes, but that doesn't bring the plug away from the head to be easier to see.

Big Red wrote: Tue May 07, 2024 7:40 pm https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334893590691 ... RoQAvD_BwE

That's nearly what I was looking for! Thanks!

Looks like that replaces the plug, but ideally I'm looking for something that holds the plug you've got.

Rockburner wrote: Tue May 07, 2024 7:49 pm

Big Red wrote: Tue May 07, 2024 7:40 pm https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334893590691 ... RoQAvD_BwE

That's pretty much what I was looking for! Thanks!

I have made something that soundes exactly what you're looking for and it's very handy. And didn't cost me a tenner.

Carpeted garage is nice, not sure I'd have gone floral myself though.

Is the HT lead long enough to reach the petrol cap? You'd get both audible and visual indication if it sparked

iansoady wrote: Wed May 08, 2024 9:55 am I have made something that soundes exactly what you're looking for and it's very handy. And didn't cost me a tenner.

That is exactly what I had in mind. Got any more?

Not got an unloved set of old jump leads you can cut the clamps off?

Can you use a car jumplead to acheive the same as iansoady pic ?

Couldn't find anything about the old R&R spark plug caps, but the internet provided me with........
https://speed-line.com/spark-plug-caps/ ... light-blue

I know it's not what you want, but I can't believe they still make this shit!

MrLongbeard wrote: Wed May 08, 2024 11:21 am Not got an unloved set of old jump leads you can cut the clamps off?

no - but just found the bits I need so will be making myself one of these when they turn up.

Sadlonelygit wrote: Wed May 08, 2024 11:51 am I know it's not what you want, but I can't believe they still make this shit!

They still make color* tunes!

https://www.gunson.co.uk/products/Colortune

*that's right, no 'u'

Rockburner wrote: Wed May 08, 2024 10:50 am
That is exactly what I had in mind. Got any more?

I just made it out of a couple of crocodile clips I had in my extensive scrap bin(s)....

As for carpet, it was there when we bought the house. The previous owner kept a couple of old Austin 7s in there. I ditched it when I realised that, kind to my knees as it was, it was impossible to find dropped screws etc....

I have one i used to use on small plant , i think it was made by Briggs Stratton .
You can adjust the spark gap to test the strength of ignition.

Twist a bit of wire round the plug body make a hook on the end stick the HT lead on, hook it onto a convenient point