Spark Plugs Erosion

[Vlad]

Just an observation. Plugs are checked visually, cleaned and rotated every oil change. Carburetor, conventional magnetos.


Electrodes at 40 hours.





The same plug at 400 hours.

[Ironflight]

That looks about normal to me for 400 - 600 hours - I was always taught that when the ellipse is 2:1, the sparkplug has done its duty and should be retired....and I figure 500 hours as a nominal life.

[Radomir]

Every EI manufacturer should use these in their marketing material as a reminder what you won't see if you use Iridium auto plugs...

On a more serious note .. all looks normal there.. even if not exactly desired

[az_gila]

This may help...

http://www.championaerospace.com/***...-R-Nov2004.pdf

If you use the extended electrode REM37BY plugs the wear condition may be a bit different.

[Vlad]

Originally Posted by az_gila

This may help...

http://www.championaerospace.com/***...-R-Nov2004.pdf

If you use the extended electrode REM37BY plugs the wear condition may be a bit different.

Thanks Gil. Good read.

[turbo]

v, have you been regapping them?


my iridiums have over 1,000 hrs and plan on going beyond TBO. expensive to purchase but pay for themselves in YOU fly a lot. were you going next?


lookn forward to seeing your plane in paint some day.

[flyboy1963]

....so where did I read that you should Move the plugs (rotate to another cylinder) so that they are fired by the 'other' mag for 1/2 their life, thus the anode wears, then the cathode? coulda swore it was in the official documentation for Champion plugs or something.
If true, it wouldn't double the life, but just even out the wear a bit?

[RV10inOz]

Try gapping and rotating every 50 hours. 16-18 though.

Check resistance at the same time and replace any over 5000 ohms. Or buy Tempest.

Irridium is great, just do not drop them even once!

[az_gila]

Originally Posted by flyboy1963

....so where did I read that you should Move the plugs (rotate to another cylinder) so that they are fired by the 'other' mag for 1/2 their life, thus the anode wears, then the cathode? coulda swore it was in the official documentation for Champion plugs or something.
If true, it wouldn't double the life, but just even out the wear a bit?

Page 7 of the Champion link above... and here....

http://www.championaerospace.com/***...-R-Nov2004.pdf

[ccsmith51]

Interesting note from that document on the page Gil cited:

"Four cylinder engines equipped with single drive dual magneto fire with constant polarity, therefore, it is not necessary to rotate plugs to maintain even electrode wear. You may wish to rotate top to bottom to minimize deposit build up."