How on earth do you get the plugs out of this thing?!?!?! I have removed the 2 outside plugs with the use of socket wrench adapters and magnets but the two middle ones are about 2 inches from the air intake. Do I have to remove that and how? I understand on the F4 you have to take off the tank, please tell me I don't have to remove my tank. What a crazy place for spark plugs...

Thanks,
Nathan

 

Nah, you don't have to remove anything. They are in a tight position but with a little bit of maneuvering, you can get them out. What i did was drop the spark plug socket down in there first (make sure the little rubber ring is in the socket so you can pull the plug out) then I dropped an extension in and pushed it into place, then I attached the wrench. I know for one of them, #3 I believe, I had to use that little swivel adapter thingy (can't for the life of me remember what they call it. It's that little two piece adapter that has the hinge in the middle for when you have to turn the socket from a weird angle). Other than that, that's it.

Good luck!

 

use the swivel thingy (I can't think of the name of it either!) with the bikes toolkit. you may need an extension for #3. It's a bit of a pain but you should be able to do it as long as you are patient. make sure that the socket connects before twisting or you could make a mess of things.

when putting them back, make sure they pop in. some of them don't seem to pop in unless you swivel them about a bit.

 

Yea check your tool kit. It has the wrench that swivels right again in there. Then just put a wrench on the end of that and you got it.

 

Like everyone said, with the right tools it's pretty easy. Here is how I do it:

It's actually quite easy. I can do the plugs on the F3 in about 30 minutes to an hour now. First off, I have the side fairings off the bike and I go in that way. I don't have to pull the tank or air box. You will need a ratchet, a spark plug socket, a magnetic retriever tool (long flexible wand with a magnet on the end), and some small extensions. I pull the spark plug wires and get them out of the way. Then take the spark plug socket and drop it into the spark plug hole in the head. Then take the small extension and stick that in the hole till it connects with the spark plug socket. Use your hand and feel around till you have the socket over the spark plug. Then connect the ratchet and unscrew the spark plug. It won't come out with the ratchet & extension though. Not enough room. So once it's unscrewed, unhook the ratchet & pull out the extension. So all you will have left in the head is the spark plug & socket. Then take the magnetic retriever tool and pull the socket and spark plug up. Then reach in with your hand and grab the spark plug & socket & take them out. I do the reverse to install the new plugs. It takes alittle playing with it to get it right. But once you get it down, you can change the plugs quick.

 

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!! MY husbandandIhave been arguing all night over this one.

He keeps saying "you gotta take off the gas tank tochange the plugs"

I keep saying "That is the most retarded thing I've ever heard....you mean to tell me you have to take off the gas tank to do a basic tune up? That doesn't make sense!!!"

So now I'm headed downto the garage to try it again.

Thanks again!!!!

 

I dropped the radiator down a little in order to enter from the front.
Pretty easy job (taking the tank off doesn't help the least bit, I think).

 

That was my option too....I keep saying "undo the bolts and move the radiator forward" and it's just he says vs. my say, and we're both frustrated and cold and annoyed and all that.

Oh well, round 3.

 

ive got an f-2, not sure how different f-2 from f-3, just did mine yesterday, removing the tank made it easyer to run a socket ext down thru the top and unbolting the radiator at the bottom to let it swing forward a bit helps on the #4 plug on the throttle side, small hands help alot!!!!!!!!