This is why you put Anti-Seize on your spark plugs!

[Ron Seida]

Listen up kids! Always put Anti-Seize, or any other high temperature non-seizing compound on your sparkplugs so you can avoid the three hours of nervousness i endured today removing a seized sparkplug from a /2 cylinder head. In the end i prevailed... Boo-Yah!

[Steve G.]

Agree totally. Very much overlooked, more so in the automotive area where cars run for years on 1 set of plugs, most with aluminium heads.
Copper never seize is better imo, not aluminium.

[bmwhacker]

Ya good point. I'm gonna do it.
I had a "rough" feel removing one R100S plug yesterday. Threads looked ok though.
I'll follow up with some anti sieze tomorrow!

[Ron Seida]

This one was pretty scary! The metal insert is only pressed into the head. The moment it broke loose, i wasn't sure if i was spinning the plug, or the insert out of the aluminum. i soaked it with liquid wrench for 4 days and it did nothing, drilling out the spark plug was the only option. These heads are in really good shape, i feel very fortunate i got the plug out and didn't screw it up!

[boxerboy81]

Copper verses the silver stuff..

Which is the best application for each of these on our bikes? If I had to have one, I'd buy the copper stuff for the exhaust nuts and sparks plugs, but does the silver stuff have a specific use?

[ritetwist]

Without mentioning brand names, the kopr-kote I have says rated to 1500 deg.F,,contains copper and graphite.
The never-seez (silver) is rated to 2400 deg.F.,contains nickel, graphite,and aluminum.Both contain other petroleum
additives, etc. Both meet a military spec MIL-PRF-907E,For what its worth.
Use whatever makes you feel good.
I believe in using something,not too much.

[Paul_Rochdale]

Surely this is what EVERYBODY does? No? 45yrs tinkering with bikes and I've done it since day one. And I didn't need to know what bloomin' Military Spec it was.

[ME 109]

Anti-seize?

I use natural airhead technique..
It's never together long enough for anything to seize.

[chollo9]

Originally Posted by ME 109

Anti-seize?

I use natural airhead technique..
It's never together long enough for anything to seize.

Ya, a schmeer of oil on the threads, they will be out again soon enough.

[JonnyCash]

^seriously, I must have mine out 2 or 3 times a season. I don't use a torque wrench, but I am very light handed when tightening them up. I only put never-seize on stuff that's going to stay together for a long time, or highly seize-prone things like exhaust header nuts.

[Bill Harris]

I've used the Loctite nickel-based Anti-Sieze since Istarted working on VWs in the 1960s.

One problem with aluminum heads is over-tightening. Use a light touch or a torque wrench. If the plug goes in with resistance, run a sparkplug thread chaser into it-- carbon can sometimes build up on the threads.

On some years of the /2 series there was a problem with the aluminum alloy being too soft and strip-prone. Called "butterheads". I disremember which year(s); I think Vech (Benchmarkworks) has something at his website.

--Bill

[Airhead Wrangler]

Originally Posted by Steve G.

Copper never seize is better imo, not aluminium.

I don't think they make aluminum anti-seize, do they? The silver stuff you're probably thinking of is nickel anti-seize. Regardless, you're right, copper is better in hot applications like this.

[danedg]

If the heat of any part of a /2 exceeds 275F you're in deep doodoo. I'd not be too worried about 1400 vs. 2400 heat resistance. I don't think my plugs have been in the bike longer than a month without being checked for something or another. And they get changed just about every year....
You DO change your spark plugs often, DON'T YOU????????

[Multiplicity]

Originally Posted by Steve G.

Agree totally. Very much overlooked, more so in the automotive area where cars run for years on 1 set of plugs, most with aluminium heads.
Copper never seize is better imo, not aluminium.

Exactly

[Multiplicity]

Originally Posted by danedg

If the heat of any part of a /2 exceeds 275F you're in deep doodoo. I'd not be too worried about 1400 vs. 2400 heat resistance. I don't think my plugs have been in the bike longer than a month without being checked for something or another. And they get changed just about every year....
You DO change your spark plugs often, DON'T YOU????????

No! If it's not a 2 stroke. Today's spark plug technology is far superior to the old copper core of yesteryear.

Platinum, Double Platinum and Iridium plugs will run for much longer and don't require frequent replacement

They also don't require as much coil saturation to get a higher KV discharge from the ignition system Today's technology has made many great changes and advancements.
The biggest benefit is better MPG and less maintenance costs.
Good high quality plugs cost more, but they run much longer. Denso plugs are marine grade. They're also coated, but I still use copper anti-seize on all spark plugs, wheel bolts and
anywhere dissimilar metals are used or has the ability to corrode from the elements.