7500 Mile Service

[skinny5216]

Why do the spark plugs need changing so soon (12 months old and 7500 miles)
This service interval is mainly a check only, with the added cost of oil and plugs only. Do the plugs really need to be changed if running fine. I will probably check plugs and change oil filter and oil.  

[mr_diver]

My last set of plugs were changed after 25k miles. Nothing wrong with them when I took them out, but I'd already bought new ones.

[Jacko]

It's 24 months or 7,500 isn't it? 12 months is the 4,000 mile service.

It's what they can get away with doing as early as possible I think. It seems a bit early but it keeps folk in work so it can't be a bad thing, right? ;)

[Juvecu]

Wouldn't change them myself, if they look good, just reset the gap and pop them back in.

[frez]

If they are platinum or iridium plugs be very careful about measuring and re-gapping as it is very easy to damage the electrode with a feeler gauge.

I figure the garages replace them for several reasons; it is easy for the heavy handed apprentice to damage them when checking/cleaning/gapping them, the crush washers deformed when fitting mean you have to be a little more careful putting them back in, and at a labour rate of £60 an hour if it takes more than 6 minutes to fuss over an old plug you might as well have fitted a new one.

[Jacko]

It's good practice to keep a check on them but in reality modern plugs rarely give trouble up to 16+k miles, I just leave mine alone until around then and then change them. If you're in there then sure, have them out for a quick wire brush, but if you're not taking the tank off anyway it's a time wasting exercise, which is fine if you have time to waste spannering, or the missus is giving you grief in the house.
 

[Andy M]

If the 7500 service didn't involve taking the tank off it would be shorter and the dealers would have an imbalance on their work schedules. Their ideal would be exactly equal time slots regardless of how many miles that owner did, just line up 6 bikes each day and do them in any order you like.

The price difference between services would frighten customers into DIY or not bothering if you moved the plug change, you want a bit of evenness and faux logic. You can rip off customers so long as they feel they got value for money.

The suppliers will give away the plugs that come with the bike if they know the bike manufacturer will specify lots are to be thrown away and replaced at service margins. A cleaned plug is lost profit to NGK.

Andy

[skinny5216]

Well I've done 7500 in 12 months and don't give a f@@k about the stealers. I'm more concerned with money in my pocket than theirs. Iridium plugs are good for at least 20k. Not checked the plugs yet, £32.00 for 4 iridium Plugs, £34.00 for 4L semi synthetic oil and original oil filter from M&P. so £66.00 and a better service and confidence knowing it as been done correctly. Everything else is check, inspect and tighten   how much do the stealers want  

[greywolf]

Ordinary plugs are good for 20k miles. Iridiums are good for closer to 100k miles. Don't wire blush electrodes. It rounds edges and a corner sparks better.

[Juvecu]

The spark plug wire brush I use can't brush the skin off my fingers, it's not going to do much to iridium. The bristles are too long and flexible to cause a problem, a normal wire brush is a whole different story. I guess you can use a nylon brush if you're that concerned about the difference it might make.

[greywolf]

I haven't cleaned a spark plug since the 1970s when I had a little self contained spark plug sandblaster. It never made a noticeable difference. If I feel a need to take a plug out, I'll replace it.

[Jacko]

Just had a price from my local independent for my 4,000 mile service, I was there today MOTing the other bike. He'll do it for £60, Suzuki want £154 and I have to travel to get there. Even so I'm still paying £60 for 2.4l of oil and enough ink to fill a small rubber stamp. Still better than £154 though, and it maintains the warranty.

[Juvecu]

Spark plug sand blaster, that's pretty overkill Sounds like an interesting gadget to have though

Even though the iridium electrode wears down at a very slow rate the same can't be said for the ground prong. I check them for wear on the gap side and if it hasn't made a noticeable hole I just regap them and stick them back in. I brush them if there are deposits on the insulator, most of the time a brush isn't even needed, but I might give it a brush or 5 just because If I'm going through the trouble of checking them I might as well give them some love.

[loggamatt]

Yeah, mine is in for the 7500 service tomorrow at an independent. Over the phone he said it was just an oil and filter service though, I hadn't read the book to double check what was needed yet (planning to do that in a minute) so didn't know the spark plugs supposedly need changing. Not sure whether to point this out to him or not... I probably won't bother. Hypothetically, are Suzuki really going to tell me that they're declining to fix a warranty issue should one arise because I didn't get the spark plugs changed?  

[Jacko]

I wouldn't have thought so, but I wouldn't put it past them either, especially as you were cheeky enough to take it to a place that doesn't fleece you. The oil filter isn't changed at 7,500 either, just the oil, it's not changed until the 11,500 service. Long time, but maybe that's down to the oil not actually getting that dirty because its only in the bike for 10 minutes before it needs changing again...

[loggamatt]

I decided against... Mechanic thought it was ridiculous too. He did confirm my suspicion that I need a new rear tyre and rear brake pad though. Bloody bikes, I'll always be poor!

They only had Tourances in stock though, not sure what the general opinion of them is? I'll have a nose around tyre threads...

[MartinW]

Seems like there are some potential problem reports with the Tourance Next at the moment Matt, so best to avoid them until we understand what is (or isn't) happening.

[loggamatt]

Ah nuts... Typical! Thanks for letting me know Martin!

Well, it's the only way I'll get the bike back today and I need it later, so I'll take the risk but be careful. It's only the rear that needs doing and the front (original Trailwing) should still last a fair while longer. So if I hate the Tourance, when I get the front done I'll change both to Anakees.

[Jacko]

I'd tell him to leave the TW on until he has something else in stock. Or take it elsewhere for the tyre if its illegal. I wouldn't let anyone fit a tyre I didn't want just because its all they have in stock. Ask him why it's all he has in stock. ;)

[loggamatt]

Hypothetically... If it was illegal (hypothetically!!) and I had something I needed the bike for tonight that I really couldn't miss, I would be stuck and may have to live with it though... Hypothetically!