Motorcycle Spark Plugs
Motorcycle Spark Plugs Explained
What should a motorcycle spark plug look like?
A motorcycle spark plug consists of a few key parts. There is a terminal for your spark plug wire to connect to. There is a central electrode with a resistor that transfers the current to the grounded electrode. Finally, there is an insulator that keeps the charge encompassed in the spark plug.
How do motorcycle spark plugs work?
When your motorcycle coil produces a charge, it is delivered through the ignition system to the terminal of the spark plug. The charge travels through the motorcycle spark plug’s central electrode. When the charge reaches the gap between the central electrode and the grounded electrode of the spark plug, it produces a spark which ignites the gas and air compressed in your cylinder. This is what produces the power in the engine. Motorcycle mechanics 101.
A motorcycle spark plug may seem like a simple item, but it is actually pretty complex. This little part has to be able to transfer high amounts of electrical current and withstand high temperatures and significant amounts of vibration.
Development of the Motorcycle Spark Plug
The original motorcycle spark plugs came directly from the automotive market. In 1860 a guy name Étienne Lenoir created the first real spark plug. Back in the 1860s there were no spark plug manufacturers because there was no real need for them. The automotive market had to make all of their spark plugs in-house. Since then there have been developments for the motorcycle spark plug, but the design is basically the same. These days there are many motorcycle spark plug manufacturers.