p200e spark plug life

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haroldp
noob
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2011 7:23 pm
Main scooter: 1979 vespa p200e
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Ok, gang, I'm looking for ideas to increase spark plug life on my '79 p200e. I'm currently getting 2 - 3 hundred kms out of a plug. The engine has been rebuilt, new carb, cyl head shaved .080". Bike runs like a champ with a new plug, then slowly gets harder to start as the plug ages. Cold starting is good - 2 or 3 kicks. If I start it soon after shutting it off when warm, 1 kick works. If I leave it for 1/2 an hour or more, it tends to take a lot of kicks until it eventually won't fire. Put in a new plug & it's a one kick starter again. I went so far as to send the flywheel off to Scooterworks, in Chicago, to have it remagnetized - no real difference. Visually, the spark looks quite weak when kicking the engine over with the plug out. Plug colour is excellent - no visible fouling and a lovely cocoa brown colour. I'm using NGK B7ES.

I understand this to be a common problem but not ready to give in yet. Any thoughts on how to get a hotter spark? Upgraded stators or ??

Thanks!
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