imported post
Vic - exactly, itsbeen done since the 1930's in airplane engines and it works.
Plug gap is not just a distance.
The SAE papercited proves that gap position is veryimportant in getting a good, repeatable spark - kernel. If guys werent out to improve the spark plug performance, they wouldnt be trying these expensive new spark plugs (like the Splitfire, whichwas a Patent gimmick) to see whathappens. Moving the gap to the side (so sharp edges align,) has the effect of shortening the electrical gap, while maintaing the physical one - sparkjumps more reliably.
33zip - The "recommended plug gap" is the proverbial "dog chasing its tail". Heres how it goes.
The vehicle manufacturer telephones the spark plug manufacturerto make a spark plug for a (Goldwing, whatever engine). The vehicle manufacturer contracts out the design and production of the ignition system. Now we got 3 mega corporations involved.
All 3 corporations need to have the spark plug work as reliably as possible for as many customers (you and I) as possible, or warranty claims go through the roof and the blame game starts ( all 3 blaming each other for poor engine performance, sort of like the blame game going on in this thread).
The spark plug mfgr and engine mfgr set the typical gap at 0.035 because thats a setting thats been used for many years, and it works on all engines, including the older ones with crappy ignition systems like Honda put on the Goldwings.
Its a matter of statistics, not individual performance.
Recently, state of the art in spark plugs is a narrow center, recessed ground, catalyst tip plug with wide gap for the new lean burn, stratified charge engines being developed for low emissions and high performance.
Fortunately, any spark plug can be made to do much of that if its modified as per the drawing above, at much less cost. Any except Champions, that is.
Bart,I did look carefully at the spark plugs and didnt notice what purge valves had to do with them. Missed that on the NGK website. Sorry, I must not be looking well.

If youve any evidence as to whats wrong with your purge valve, Id recommend posting it in the purge valve thread. I looked, its not there.
Cant you just feel the love?/