How to Replace Harley Spark Plugs & Properly Set Gap

We'll show you how to replace the spark plugs on your Harley and how to set the appropriate gap in this completely free tutorial video. There is no reason to pay a Harley dealership to do this very simple maintenance. There are an array of spark plugs out there on the market. As long as it's a well-known brand name, you'll be just fine. For this project, we purchased the two spark plugs needed directly from the Harley dealership because they were in stock and cost us around $10. 

GET HARLEY SPARK PLUGS HERE (affiliate links):

Check your Harley owner's manual, but it's usually recommended that you replace the spark plugs on your Harley at 30,000miles or every two years. I will personally tell you from experience that you can get many more miles than 30k out of a set of spark plugs on your Harley and we currently have a set were testing at 50k miles right now and doing fine (not recommended).

HELP SUPPORT US! JOIN THE BIKER REVOLUTION! #BikerRevolution

🛒SHOP IN THE LAW ABIDING BIKER STORE 🛒

😎BECOME A MEMBER AND GET BENEFITS 😎

📹GET PREMIUM MOTORCYCLE TUTORIAL VIDEOS 📹

💰LEAVE A FLAT DONATION 💰

📺 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL 📺

🎙CHECK OUT THE WEEKLY PODCAST 🎙

ⓕ FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK ⓕ

🐦 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER 🐦

[steveross]

Couple of points: set the gap to the minimum as the centre electrode wears during use, opening the gap. As others have said use anti-seize. When tightening use a torque wrench and keep checking until you get consistent torque several times due to the crush washer on the plug seating itself under load. To open the gap use the proper lever (usually on the plug gap gauge), don’t lever against the electrode as it can be damaged.

Great, simple video! Cheers from Australia! 👍🇦🇺🇺🇸

[dejonsmall]

Before removing the plugs, use an air compressor to blow the dirt from around the plugs as a precaution.

[xedder]

Thanks Ryan for continuing to produce videos related to the 2014 Mt. Rushmore Harley Davidson bikes. I have the 2014 Limited and your videos and instructions are always helpful. Safe Journey to you, your staff, and all my other bike-a-holics!!!

[emerybarg]

Harley wants you to use Champion plugs. I tried a different brand and ended up with problems. It missed or spit/sputtered. Took it in and they went right to the plugs and put the champion back in it and I have never had troubles since. 88.6k miles and still riding. :)

[mcbainhvac]

Copper anti-seize will help prevent any gulling of the aluminum threads in your head the steel and aluminum don't like each other if you happen to over tighten or over heat this will help they have a high temperature anti-seize. Also always keep an extra plug on your bike and the a spark plug wrench just by a cheap one.

[lisar]

I just bough a 98 FLSTF that d had been in storage in a climate control building since 2014. It was a one owner bike with 27K on it. It had the original factory plugs in it and were fine. I did a full service and of course and changed them out but I kept them as back ups in my tool bag.

[justanotherviewer]

Thanks Ryan. Replaced my plugs (and battery) following the owners manual at the start of the 2020 season. Used plugs from the Harley dealer and near enough the same price as a discount auto parts retailer. This was right before installing the Ciro 3D Spark Plug Hut (which they don't seem to stock anymore?).

[DodgerDude]

1. Harley pre-gaps at .035" and you are fine installing with that gap. A Texas-based well known racing and performance shop that tuned 268 bikes last year gave me that advice while i was tuning my bike the ol' skool way!

[freebird]

Dude Love your Videos I'm no novice been riding my whole life and working on them.. but at 52 I Finally bought an Ultra Classic Mostly for my Wife's Sake .. Damn those plug wires are a bitch but I got em without pulling the tank ! Your videos make things a lot easier than just the Service manual .. Love your Documentary's as well.. Keep up the Great work !

[chrisphilhower]

Hey Ryan. My 2018 Sportster 1200 has Accel Plugs in it now. Weird 18mm size. Runs fine with them. When I did my plugs, Used Silicon Grease on the Boot Contact. Have about 12k on the bike now. He probably should have Twisted them first. I have seen people Pull and Rip out the innards or the Boot. Cleaned out my T-Body and AF today.

[LarryWard-sx]

I got 110 thousand on factory plugs and wires. I'm blessed on this bike with no problems.

[DeafStunts]

Hi Ryan, Merry Christmas 🎄 and thanks for continuing your channel. 💯🙂👍🏽

[RobertDorsey]

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas from our family to you and your's... from Alberta Canada... love your videos and all you do for the biker community... I hope you are having a wonderful and blessed day!!

[garryeuler]

Nice video....Like to see ya do the same for an M-8 engine(4

[Lacko]

Hey Ryan! Thanks for your videos! You are inspiring me to start doing the basic maintenance on my 2018 road king! I do not have a mechanic background, but with the service manual and your videos i am confident that i can do it right!
In the recent weeks i am looking for a good torque wrench, can you recommend me one with both ft and inch pound settings?
Than you and Marry Christmas!

[carlossojo]

I always take off the tender before warming the bike for 0:00 at least 5 minutes. After warming it, I place back the tender if I'm not running the bike for a while.
Thanks!

[davidsantibanez]

Just bought an 11 Electra glide and is losing power while riding then regains it. I’m hoping that by changing the spark plugs it would be fix if not i guess it could be the intake maybe that needs to be changed? Fuel pump? Carburetor?

[sulimanothman]

Should the battery be disabled before starting the process of changing the spark plugs?

[olSta]

Could you a video On how to change the fork oil on a 2013 Dyna switch or similar bike ?

[gloryland]

Thanks for the simple video without all the hoopla.