APRILIA RSV 1000 R - 2003 Manual page 129

12
7
5
8
6
9
Place the special spark plug socket wrench
(2) completely over the spark plug (3).
Place the 11– 13 mm open-end wrench (4)
over the hexagonal seat of the special
spark plug wrench (2).
CAUTION
Make sure that no dirt falls into the
cylinder through the spark plug hole.
Unscrew the spark plug and extract it from
its seat.
TO CHECK AND CLEAN THE SPARK
PLUG
CAUTION
This vehicle is fitted with spark plugs
featuring platinum-type electrodes.
When cleaning, do not use wire brushes
and/or abrasive products. Use a jet of
compressed air only.
Key:
5) center electrode;
6) ceramic nose;
7) side electrode.
10
Inspect the spark plug, and make sure that
there are neither carbon deposits, nor
corrosion marks on the electrodes (5) and (7)
and on the ceramic nose (6); if necessary,
clean them with a jet of compressed air.
If the spark plug ceramic nose is cracked, or if
the electrodes are corroded, or there are
excessive deposits on the electrodes of the
11
nose, or the tip (8) of the central electrode (5)
is rounded, the spark plug must be replaced.
When replacing a spark plug, always
check the pitch (9) and length (10) of the
thread.
The use of a spark plug with too short a
threaded portion will result in carbon
deposits building up on the internal thread
of the head. This can result in damage to
the engine when the appropriate spark
plug is installed.
The use of the spark plug with too long a
threaded portion can cause the plug to
strike the piston, with consequent
irreparable damage.
Use only the recommended spark plug
type, see p. 145 (TECHNICAL DATA).
Failure to observe this caution will result in
reduction in the service life and
performance of the engine.
Use a round wire feeler gauge (11) to
check the spark plug gap, in order to avoid
damaging the platinum coating.
Using a round wire feeler gauge (11), check
the spark plug gap.
CAUTION
use and maintenance RSV 1000 R
CAUTION
Do not try to adjust the spark plug gap in
any way.
The gap must be 0.024 – 0.028 in (0.6 –
0.7 mm), otherwise it is necessary to replace
the spark plug.
Make sure the gasket (12) is in good
condition.
TO INSTALL THE SPARK PLUG
With the gasket (12) in place, screw the
spark plug into the head finger tight.
Tighten the spark plug with the special
spark plug wrench, approximately one-half
turn after it first snugly contacts the cylinder
head.
Spark plug tightening torque:
14.47 ftlb (20 Nm).
CAUTION
The spark plug must be properly
tightened, otherwise the engine may
overheat and be seriously damaged.
CAUTION
Do not mix up the spark plug caps (1)
position.
Install the spark plug cap (1) properly, so
that it does not come off due to the
vibrations of the engine.
NOTE
Repeat the operations described to
remove, check and clean the other (second)
spark plug of the same cylinder and the other
two spark plugs of the second cylinder.
Replace the fuel tank, see p. 117 (LIFTING
THE FUEL TANK).
- RSV 1000 RFACT
USA
129
USA