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Fake NGK Plug Cap?
Blog Date - 11 January 2016
Blog Date 11-1-16
Almost a year ago I had problems with the CBF 125's tickover (see CBF 125 Wet Tickover Problem - SOLVED!) It transpired to be an expiring spark plug cap. Ever since replacing the original equipment cap with a shiny new NGK one the bike has been running just fine. Until recently.
From around October the bike has, on just 3 or 4 occasions, cut out. Not at tickover, quite the opposite actually. At high speed (for a 125) on the motorway and in the wet it has coughed and spluttered for a few moments then recovered. Only one time did this bring me to a full stop on the hard shoulder. Each time the bike got going again and the rest of the journey was completely uneventfully.
We have suffered the wettest December since time immemorial, apparently. Around Christmas I waded through a big puddle and the bike coughed once more. Over the next couple of days the various floods and rivers running across the road would kill the motor until finally nearly all hope was lost on a particularly soggy ride. Never-the-less the dogged determination of the Honda still managed to see me home each time.
With the aid of a hosepipe I once again diagnosed a leaking spark plug cap (sic). The distinctive "click click click" could be heard and a small spark observed between the cap and the cylinder head. Curiously not at tickover this time but when the throttle was first applied. Why the symptoms are different is baffling, these are the curiosities of the mechanical world. If someone has an explanation I'd be more than willing to listen.
So I duly ordered and received delivery of a new spark plug cap. Another LB05F but this time it is the LB05F R which means it is red. As far as I am aware the ONLY difference should be the colour, that is all. But upon closer inspection there are some subtle differences.
The black ridges are rounded compared to the red ones.
The writing on the plugs looks remarkably similar though.
They do look similar but not the same.
This has got me asking a question. Was the black spark plug cap I purchased less than 12 months ago and has started to fail - a fake? NGK is considered a quality brand and as such I would expect a spark plug cap to last more than 1 year and 15,000 miles. The differences above could be NGK upgrading and developing their designs or perhaps there are minor differences between the black and the red caps. If the black cap is indeed a genuine NGK then I am appalled at the lack of longevity.
In fairness to NGK or even the rip-off fakers the spark plug and cap on the CBF 125 does rather sit out in the elements. Many motorcycles hide their coils, leads, caps and plugs deep within the bowels of the engine and behind fairings or under tanks. On my Honda the plug and cap sail freely out to the side of the unprotected motor. As such it catches every substance the fabulous UK weather can throw at it.
Perhaps I should expect the cap to start leaking electricity when I take the exposed parts through a Scottish winter(Scotland In Winter 2015), Lancashire floods(Boxing Day 2015 Washout) and Southern downpours (It Never Rains Down South)?
Why does this remind me of a dog sticking its head out of a car window...?
Reader's Comments
Ian Soady said :-
I've never heard of fake plug caps but this NGK site warns about fake plugs: http://www.ngk-sparkplugs.jp/english/techinfo/fake/index.html.
Have you tried ACF50 on it?
13/01/2016 10:39:25 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Hi Ian. No I haven't tried ACF 50 because I've just replaced the plug caps. It might be worth it. Wouldn't the ACF50 just burn off in such a place though?
13/01/2016 18:30:07 UTC
Ian Soady said :-
You might get a bit of smoke but it would probably help.
In the bad old days (which you're probably fed up of hearing about!) we used WD40 as there was nothing else (and surprisingly good it was too) but now there are better alternatives. Another I like is GT85 which is a proper lubricant unlike WD40.
14/01/2016 14:15:48 UTC
Borsuk said :-
Riding along today and the engine started faltering, been on it several times this week and it has run fine so far. Initially assumed full problem but tank shows half full on the gauge and same on the trip meter. Hmmm, what's changed, it's piddling down. Racked brain and remembered this thread. Quick look at spark plug cap and yes it has perished. Quick squirt with WD 40, yes I carry a tin in my top box tool kit sad B that I am, and off we trundled.
Glad I read this.
16/06/2018 20:08:37 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Gerra new one when you can, WD40 ain't a permanent fix.
16/06/2018 23:00:25 UTC
Borsuk said :-
Way ahead of you boss.
Also ordered new wheel bearings. Took the hit to the wallet and replaced my tyres with Michelin City Pro's ( £64 total from Pneus online and £30 fitting), and was shown the front wheel bearing was on its way out so I will replace It next week. Will do the aft one next leave as it is okay and I was faffing about enough getting the wheel back on after changing the tyres. I was losing confidence in the originals,the amount that the tread extended to the side wall was minimal and the cross section was nowhere near the profile of most motorbike tyres. Looked more like a thin car tyre, Model T Ford type. The actual wear since new is not a lot over 5000 km, would probably last forever.
17/06/2018 20:52:17 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
I've been happy with the City Pro on the front of the CBF125 and I'll stick one on the rear when the present one has worn out. That is if the bike lasts that long.
17/06/2018 21:23:23 UTC
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