Spark plug cap resistor (SOLVED)

[Streetmedik]

you could remove the resistors in each plug boot and install a nail in its place.. i have found that my engines like this better then having the resistor in the boot.. the resistor is 5 ohms. plus 5 ohms with ap63's totals 10 ohms. which "I" do not like.. but that is me...
yes you want to see a nice bluish/white spark.........dan

Questions
1. Removing the resistor and replacing with a nail wont cause something to fry? (like my new TCI)
2. If it is not needed, why is it there in the first place?

[totallyredvirago]

stock plugs are non resistors. ap63's are a resistor plug.
factory put the resistor in for the non resistor plug. alot leave them in when they go to the ap63. red will not run with the resistor in and ap63's. so she still has the stock plugs. the bride i removed the resistors and running ap63's.. she runs very strong.. this resistor effects the secondary ohms and not the primary so its not going to hurt your TCI.......dan

[Streetmedik]

Is there any reason to not remove the resistors? BTW, I am running AP63s

[totallyredvirago]

to me ( this is just me) i remove the resistor if i am running ap63's. like i said the bride has ap63's without the resistor. red has the sock plugs with the resistor..
if you want.. remove a resistor from the boot. go to lowes and match it up to a nail. buy the .10 nail and take it home. cut the nail to the length of the resistor. stick it in the boot. do the same to the other side. (should be able to do 2 engines with 1 nail). fire her up and take her for a ride see if you notice a difference. see if she starts easier, better on gas, has a little more pip.. not going to hurt a thing in trying.. if you do not like it put the resistors back in and send me the nail........dan

[Streetmedik]

I may give that a try. The bike is running very strong now. But, the MPG's are still off. 33mpg mast time out. Better than 20MPG I was getting with my dieing TCI. However not 42 like she used to get.

[totallyredvirago]

lol.. i am getting about 11 mpg on the bride... i just cant seem to allow her to idle...lol man is she a blast to ride. makes it all worth the 11 mpg.. thank god for the 5 gallon tanks......dan

[Streetmedik]

How did you get a 5 gallon tank on it? That is the one thing I have wished from the day I bought her.. bigger gas tank.

[totallyredvirago]

i have 2- 2 1/2 gallon tanks on her 2.5+2.5= 5.0 gallons. i am currently working on better gas mileage. but if i lose power i am going back to the way she is....lol........dan

[Streetmedik]

Took the resistors out and replaced with nails. In first ride, it did feel a bit stronger. The real tell will be when I have a change to put a couple of tanks of gas through her. I just went for a short ride today while there was a break in the rain. I will let you know what the MPG's are after a couple of tanks of gas.

So I will go ahead and mark it solved.

[totallyredvirago]

did it seem to start quicker?....dan

[Streetmedik]

No, but then since replacing the TCI, she started with just a touch of the button as it was. So it is hard to tell if she started easier.

[Streetmedik]

Just an update. Last 2 fill ups, since removing the resistor, 42.9 MPG Thats a 3 banana dance number!!!

[totallyredvirago]

i am in!!!! me like banana dance.. .......dan

[Streetmedik]

Still improving. Yesterday mileage was 44.9 MPG.

[LongRoadHome]

I just now got around to taking a look at those things. Don't ask me why I never did before, I knew about them since the time this message thread was written because I remember reading it back then.

The little brass screws that hold the resistors in, and clasp the spark plug tops, were in two very different conditions. Front one looked like it was still new on the threads and contact point of the resistor, and I do mean pristine except for the part that holds onto the spark plug. Rear one looked like it had been outside on the ground for a year.

Checked resistors for Ohms and front was 5260, rear was 6670.

I filed down the end of the corroding brass screw, and both ends of that resistor. Left the other screw as it is but also filed the other resistor ends since they appeared pitted. Put it all back together with dielectric grease on them.

I didn't notice any change in starting or riding. Since I've got AP63's in mine again, which I swapped back and forth with non-resistor NGK's last year to see if any changes occurred, I think I will go ahead with this idea of removing those resistors altogether to see how that does. I've got new spark plug boots/caps with the resistors on the way to me right now but I'm going to test this idea first before replacing them. Probably will leave the new resistors in place when I do change them, and try going back to the NGK plugs once more, for no other reason than to remain stock for awhile.

Thought I better bring this topic up again because I doubt very many people actually check into their spark plug boots/caps.

[masonicwolf]

I am running ngk right now plugs have less than 3000miles on them. With the 700s do they have the resistor spark plug caps if i remove the resistors as well with the ngk will it hurt the tci if i remove it and nail it as well cause i had good mpg but i want great as well

[LongRoadHome]

if i remove the resistors as well with the ngk will it hurt the tci if i remove it

I don't think the TCI would have any trouble with this; however, the coils are where the energy gets applied and released from so that is of concern.

Although the main reason for these resistors is apparently to reduce radio interference, the resistors should also keep the spark from firing off sooner therefore letting the coils gain energy during each buildup to the next spark. Either that, or maybe help increase the length of time for each spark. Both good things, if so. I just don't really know the true workings enough to say for sure.

You could try a check for Ohms on your coils, easy to do if you have an Ohmmeter or Multimeter. That would let you know if the coils are in good shape. If they were then you might want to try going without resistors. I can't imagine it would hurt the coils just to try. The instructions are in manuals posted before, CLymers, Haynes, Yamaha... Probably even in one of the message threads.

Maybe one of the electronics guru's here at the VTF, like totallyredvirago could tell about this.

[Marvelicious]

Well, I'm no guru, but I have run the NGK's with no resistor (and no problems). I did open my plug gap up a bit though. Also a good thing...