For those with twin engines do you all remove the gas tank to reach your second spark plug on the left side (opposite gear shifter side)? Its that time again and last year when I did this I had to take off the belt housing and bend the snorkel to barely reach the spark plug a royal PITA!

I have seen a few here post and a friend from work, recommend the gas tank removal option while longer to do its much easier to reach the plug?

So whats involved? (for my tomorrow's maintenance TO DO's)

Thanks,

R'

 

you are replacing the plugs again? how many miles you got on that?

 

It's a 4 stroke. You shouldn't need to change plugs. I sold my 03 700 with 3000 miles on it and it still had original plugs.
To answer your ? I would say yes to removing the tank.

 

Shouldn't have to remove it. They are a pain but not impossible to get at. I remove the side panels, pull the wires, blow the holes out with compressed air, and use the tool in the kit. If you changed them last year they should still be good(if you used NGK's). Got almost two years on my 09 and will hold off on changing until Fall.

 

Yea, I want to try the NKG's and I need to get this shed queen out of her castle, lol..lol

R'

 

NGK's are the best plug to use on them. Only changed once in almost 4 years on my 05 800.

 

I just use the spark plug socket (Craftsman) and the newer craftsman ratchet box end wrench. Alot easier to get to no gas tank removal. And yes blow out the area after removing the plug wires.

 

Okay whats involved in removing the tank? Do I need to drain the tank or pinch the line etc.?

Thx,

R'

 

On my 2003 700-
1) Remove the seat
2) Remove the front rack
3) Remove the top of the speedo pod (three screws and two electrical connections, they can only go back the way they came, so this isn't too bad) loosen two screws fastening the lower half of the pod.
4) Remove side panels
5) Remove front plastics (by far this is the most awkward step).
6) Turn fuel valve to OFF, loosen screw and remove ****.
7) Remove large plastic nut holding fuel valve.
8) Remove snorkel from belt housing that goes over the tank(again a little awkward). Note that the fuel vent line goes into the speedo pod.
9) Disconnect the fuel line that runs from the valve to the fuel pump at the fuel pump (a very small amount of fuel is lost). No need to pinch the lines or anything. I would siphon or drain the tank so there's only a small amount of gas in it first.
10) Unbolt tank and remove. Everything is now easy to get at.

This is not a minor operation, but not difficult, except for awkward plastics removal, this takes a bit of trial and error and a few swearwords. Probably a half hour, maybe an hour, same thing going back on. Maybe faster if you're better than me, and you may very well be.

I might have missed a minor thing or two, but only minor.

 

you shouldn't have to remove the tank to change out your plugs, just gotta hold your tongue right.............