spark plug wrestling
 

I have one for you long time hawk pilots, how in God's name do you change the front spark plug and torque it properly? My experience changing the front plug was a pain in the ass. Most plug changes are and should be a snap! I could get the front plug out and a new one in but tightening it and torquing it was a challenge. My extensions are either too long or too short. Is there a plug socket that will make this simple task a bit less of a PITA?

Should be a specific deep thin-walled plug socket in the Honda toolkit with the bike - Still needs a couple of extension bars to get at through the front forks!

http://www.ronayers.com/Fiche/TypeID...73/Group/TOOLS

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/LOOK-HONDA-VT...HEg~~60_12.JPG

its hard to get a torque wrench of any kind in there.just turn until it wont turn no more,than a light snug.thats what i do,and its not bad at all.never had a problem.

I am admittedly old school but I simply turn them by hand till snug then give them @ 1/4 turn more, been doing this for 45 years never had a problem yet.

Unscrewing oil rad helps, two or three long extensions and a u-joint will do the job perfectly. As saige & hrca said, once snug, just another 1/8 to tighten it, and voilà, you're done.

As has been said, hand tighten the thing and then turn it another 1/8 to 1/4 turn. You only need to torque a spark plug when you reinstall it (if you've removed it to do your valves, for example). I believe I was able to get at mine with two short extensions. A standard long was too long and one short was too short. Also, if I remember right, the front fender was the culprit for me. Or maybe it was that little panel under the headlight...

you guys make me feel better. I discovered I didn't have the proper plug socket so I used the one in the tool kit. I used a combination of extensions and ratchet with a strange bend and u joint to get it. I did get it torqued. I think the torque setting is only 10 ft lbs so it's hardly worth it. Thanks for the replies and information, tighten the old school way. 1/8 to 1/4 turn after tight. Yes simple.

Check it out man! I recently got that new Kobalt socket wrench where you just twist the handle like a throttle and attached it to the tool kit spark plug socket with an extension and it worked like a charm. So much easier. It has a sprung torque reciprocator for power. I use that wrench for everything now. I got the air box cover off with a phillips adaptor and barely lifted the tank to do it. Go get one at Lowe's.