MTFCA Forum

Any new tips or advice on setting the gap on Champion X spark plugs? Just received a set and the gap is way too closed and the curved electrode wants to bend away from the center electrode and not sit across properly. Does one attempt to bend the center electrode instead? I just don’t want to break anything and have to float a loan on more!

The curved electrode never does sit across the center one. It's a weird plug. You never want to bend the center one.
I use one of those round "gap setters" that's a bit bigger than a quarter and it bends the electrode to where you want it alongside the center one nicely.

Good morning Michael I use short tip pliers to move that side electrode and set Gap to 0.025". .... center electrode stays put.

NEVER, EVER bend the center electrode! The less the ground electrode is bent, the better, but it must be (carefully) bent to adjust the gap. Spark plug tools used to be widely available. These typically included a narrow notch which could be used to bend electrodes. You can use a small screwdriver, needle nose pliers, or gently tapping on a hard surface to align and adjust the electrode. Take your time and check the gap frequently as you work. If you get within .001 of specification, that's good. Badly worn plugs can benefit from careful filing of the electrodes, but in most cases, cleaning and adjustment is sufficient. If you sandblast plugs, do NOT sandblast the porcelain insulator above the plug body and below the plug wire terminal.

The spark can jump more easily from a sharp point or square edge than from a rounded surface or radiused edge. Offsetting the ground electrode somehwhat may take advantage of that. I think the offset ground electrode is sometimes used with a round ground electrode. Most ground electrodes are nearly square in section, and are meant to be centered over the center electrode. The end of the ground electode over the center electrode is usually cut off square, and can be lightly filed to restore a clean, square end if it is eroded or damaged. Do not file any part of a plug any more than necessary to restore the original profile. Filing is not to be used to set the gap.

I do not use wire brushes on spark plugs. You can take a brand new spark plug and a brand new wire brush, and brush the cylinder end of the plug. Doing so will dis-color the white insulator wherever the brush bristles touch it. The discoloration is metal deposited from the brush bristles into the hard, porous surface of the insulator. This will happen with any unglazed porcelain insulator, and it degrades the performance of the insulator. This will happen with a steel bristle brush, and a brass bristle brush would be even worse.

I use this tool for setting gaps. Depending on where you buy it, it is usually less than a dollar.

Most ground electrodes...are meant to be centered over the center electrode.

Not on Champion X plugs. The ground electrode should be bent upward with the end beside the center electrode. The center is not to be bent. Ford recommended a gap measured by "one thin dime" (about .032"). Many people use .025", .028", or .030".

#2 has the best preserved ground electrode and shows the correct configuration.

MichaelPawelek wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 18, 2021 10:09 am

Any new tips or advice on setting the gap on Champion X spark plugs? Just received a set and the gap is way too closed and the curved electrode wants to bend away from the center electrode and not sit across properly. Does one attempt to bend the center electrode instead? I just don’t want to break anything and have to float a loan on more!

You might need to specify the "set" you just received, 1-6 or new manufactured. As they have said, never bend the center electrode, the curved one is intended for gap setting.

These are new production and bending the side electrode at the base makes the tip move up too much and bending the tip back to where it belongs at the side of the center electrode makes the gap way too small. The side electrodes feels much stiffer than those I have gapped in the past.

With that style electrode, I believe you'd gently pry upward on the side electrode at the end nearest the center electrode to widen the gap. Don't try to bend the electrode near its base.

Yep...that's the tool I was trying to describe that I use that Perry Kete showed! Handy little devil.

Prefer this gap tool as the outer lever tabs can fit under the outer electrode at different spots. Makes tweaking that electrode easy. Just use real gentle pressure by rotating the disc with the tab edge on the rim of the plug to lift the electrode up or down , depending on where you place the tab.

The loops indicate the gap as they just clear the center and outer electrodes.


The one pictured isn’t useable on the T, get one with smaller dia. loops.