Increased Plug Gap Post WG mod?

I did Wired George's coil re-power mod. It's all true. If you haven't done it you'll be happier when you do...


Question: Has anyone taken advantage of the increased spark energy by increasing spark plug gap beyond factory recommended?

On my '80 KZ1000 LTD it is .028 to .032. Wouldn't something like .035 to .040 take full advantage of the mod?

Of course the ideal gap would depend on various factors with each individual engine (coil/wire age and condition, carburation, engine age/compression, etc.).

Just curious if anyone has played with increased plug gap with success.

Question: Has anyone taken advantage of the increased spark energy by increasing spark plug gap beyond factory recommended?
Idle curiousity, why do you assume that increasing spark plug gap would result in an "advantage"? I ask because I've noticed high voltage output coils are available, but I'm unsure as to the wisdom of going balls out for the biggest longest hottest spark. Seems to me there should be a natural limit with any "ideal"bike.:blink:

More gap literally puts the spark in contact with more combustible material. The more ignition the merrier: better flame front propigation which results specifically in better starting, smoother idling, and more complete combustion. (Why we started with the WG mod in the first place...)

Too much gap and the spark can't jump the gap, ie.: missfire. The same thing happens with very dirty or fouled plugs: too much resistance and the spark can't jump. As plugs wear with use, the gap widens and the erratic spark causes the opposite of what we want ie.: hard starting, poor idling, and incomplete combustion. Basically, the bike is telling us we need a tuneup...

I plan on increasing the gap and looking for the last little advantage I can from the mod. The gains should be too subtle to feel while riding, But I expect to get a few more mpg. I started this thread cuz I was curious if any fellow riders had already been down this road.

Increasing the gap is ok as long as the coils are designed for it. A bigger gap puts more stress on the coil's internal insulation. Also, a bigger gap puts a bigger voltage spike on the primary device, whether it's points or electronic ignition.