How can my generator still run when the spark plug gap is way off?!

[boohoo222]

onan 6.5 nh gen--running fair,  checked sparkplugs during maint. and gap was (#1-.044) (#2-.045), book says they should be set at  .025------how could it be running at that gap and if i set it at .025 would i need to reset the point gap D:oH!

[MotorPro]

Changing plug gap has no affect on the point gap

[Rickf1985]

It will run at that gap but it is really stressing the coil! Goes to prove you have a strong coil.

[boohoo222]

i regaped to .025 and will install tomorrow, i would hate to get a zap from that coil

[CapnDirk]

I just last month was working on a 6.5 genset.  I did not recognise the plug number but later confirmed they were the correct plugs.  One problem was a hard start.  Checked gap and found they were set to .036 and found the same thing that they should be .025.  My thoughts were that if the coil was intended to jump .025 then that is what it should be.  I re-gapped the plugs, cleaned the points and it fired right up.

[boohoo222]

installed the plugs and it purrs like a kitten

[CapnDirk]

I wonder if people are throwing plugs into their gensets right out of the box

[Rickf1985]

Probably considering most plugs nowadays are designed not to be regapped. I just today changed the plugs in my wife's Ford Escape, We bought it used and it now has 140,000 on it. I will bet the plugs had never been done. Considering the intake manifold has to come off to change them it is not a simple job. I measured the gap at between .075 and .089! It calls for .053- .056. Yea, it had an intermittent miss and ran like crap. Hm? W%