Hum. Got out the Heynes to check over spark plugs on my 1998 CBR600F. Looks easy enough. Picture here --> http://www.dundonsoft.com/dscn0698.jpg (80k). Take access side panel off of fairing, remove rubber caps, unscrew spark plugs. Strange then that when I actually take off the rubber cap from one of the spark plugs that I see no spark plug to unscrew and therefore I can only assume what I can see inside the cap is a spark plug. I tried the two outermost spark plugs (one from either side of the bike - the inside two are more difficult to reach and pull out) and both were the same. Pictures here --> http://www.dundonsoft.com/dscn0699.jpg (40k) shows no spark plug inside cylinder. http://www.dundonsoft.com/dscn0700.jpg (35k) shows what I can only assume is the spark plug inside. What's going on here, do I really have two spark plugs not correctly connected? Is the Heynes manual wrong? How you get the spark plug from the cap without cutting the cap? What am I missing? Cheers.
Did you take a good look down that hole? Er, no. You're missing sparkplugs. Did you actually try putting the socket down the hole? Oh, and it's "Haynes".
Lol! But what's confused me is the picture 5.3b from dscn0698.jpg shows what I thought to be the spark plug being unscrewed and is what seems immediately visible once the rubber caps have been removed. Does that have any particular function? What kind of a newbie spanner head do I sound like?
That looks like the top of the spark plug socket to me. I don't think that would have been there once you took the plug cap off. You haven't unscrewed the rocker cover bolts have you? Good grief, why do you think it's there? " " It sounds like you should have taken the bike to the shop...
What does, the picture 5.3b? If so then yes that's what I was saying. Can you clarify what you mean by 'that'? If you're referring to the spark plug then that's what I'm saying is confusing about picture 5.3b. The picture shows something being unscrewed once the caps are pulled out. When I pull the cap out I see an empty cylinder. I know the current goes down to the spark plug through the brass connection inside the rubber cap. I said in jest mate. Come on give me a break please, everyone has to learn from somewhere the first time around. If I don't try and venture in to the unknown how am I to learn? Can't learn by taking it to a bike shop and having them do the work for me.
If you are fitting new plugs, which you prolly should, then use one to find a long box spanner or spark plug socket of the right size and extension o fthe right length to get under the frame rails to the centre plugs. This is a non trivial task in itself usually...
Aye the only problem I can see will be reaching through the access section of the fairing to the two inner most spark plugs and pulling the caps out. I don't have the biggest hands but it's still awkward. Thanks to the both of you for replying. At least my worries have now been settled somewhat, i.e. with what I thought to be a spark plug coming out in the cap!
