SPARKS 400ex timing advance key, with spark boost mods?

[07RedRider400]

I have an 07 400ex, and was looking at getting the Sparks racing timing advance key. Has anyone had success with these? Ive heard good things but also of them causing problems because of how it changes the combustion in the cylinder.

i run 91/93 octane pump gas
my quad has stock internals
uni air filter
vented airbox
fmf powercore 4 muffler
iBooster spark booster
(Honda's recommended) cold spark plug
jets dialed in spot on by a guy i know who drag races motorcycles

by the time i get the key i (might) have a more opened up airbox, and a Powerbomb header
and of course re-jetted

also soon, I am custom making an oversized oil cooler where it will get more air as these are supposed to lower temps around 35 degrees F

my worry is the timing advance with the spark booster and colder spark plug
Does anyone think this will cause me any issues?

[CJM]

Friend of mine put one in a mostly stock machine, wasnt much to write home about.

Id spend your money on a stage 1 or stage 2 hotcam instead.

The spark booster is snake oil, trust me when I tell you it does zilch.

[07RedRider400]

the fact that its $20 is what caught my eye.
U don think whatever the booster may do, and the cold spark plug, will have a negative effect in the combustion chamber with the timing advance?

[CJM]

Probably not. No idea why anyone would recommend running a cooler plug, Ive always ran the hotter plug with no issues ever as have many of my friends.

[07RedRider400]

A race team recomends it from back in the day of the 400 saying it lowers the temp of the head by five degrees. I would get a cam but its much more pricey

[CJM]

Well all I gotta say is opinions are like ... everyone has one. 5 degrees is nothing to write home about on a 400ex, im modified to the hilt and NEVER have had issues, its cause its jetted perfect.

You would get MUCH more benefit from the cam. Try finding a used one on the forums here or ebay if you cant want to spend. 120 bucks tho isnt that $$$

[07RedRider400]

yea thats not bad, i only want a stage one tho, who makes a good quality one for a good price? if i get one it will be new

[chevymanrick]

Hot cams

[07RedRider400]

^^ive heard they are good

[Drfat400ex]

Don't bother with one, they make it run hotter and doesn't sound like they do much at all. The spark booster also does nothing, just a roost boost. Don't bother with the head pipe either the 400ex headpipe is designed good enough that an aftermarket one wont improve anything unless I think heavy built engines it will give better power. Grind the stock headpipe welds down though that does a little bit.

[07RedRider400]

so, if a headerpipe and a timing key wont do much, what will?

[fearlessfred]

there are others on the forum that beleive the advance key is worth doing .do a search on the suject. as far as running a colder plug goes, you have not done any mods that would require needing a colder plug. keep in mind that the engine heats the plug and not the other way around .if you raise the compression a lot.than you might concider a colder plug ,but you should read the plug after a wide open pass to know for sure.you do this by looking at the blueing on the ground strap on the spark plug. the color change shoud be in the middle between the end and the base of the plug.only when grandma ride the bike would you even think about running a hotter plug

[Drfat400ex]

Slip-on, hotcam, airbox lid, filter, 450r carb, high comp piston.

[Wheelie]

From my experience high(er) compression EX's respond very well to added timing.

IIRC in 1998 Honda de-tuned the XR powerplant for emissions reasons. They retarded the ignition timing 4 degrees and leaned out the jetting. Advancing the timing brings the engine back to where it was originally designed to run.

[CJM]

Make some +2 keys so I can run 93 octane w/11:1 :blah:

[Wheelie]

I might have to do that.

[CJM]

Originally posted by Wheelie
I might have to do that.

Im honestly curious if it would matter all that much. I know steve ran a +3 with a 10:1 setup fine, but 11:1 like me is pushing it on 93. 100+ octane is over 8 bucks/gal, 93 is still only 4/gal.

[07RedRider400]

where can you find different sized timing advance keys

[CJM]

Originally posted by 07RedRider400
where can you find different sized timing advance keys

Wheelie makes them himself in batches every few months usually.

[quadmanw]

I'd prob buy one, wheelie. As of now I am going to run the sparks +6 key with an 11:1 wiseco piston..

[Wheelie]

The +6 with 11:1 will be too much. Staving off detonation will be tough.

I'm going to order a batch of OE keys again within the next couple weeks. I'll have more keys available mid-late April.

[quadmanw]

alright man let me know, Ill run stock for now

[07RedRider400]

Wheelie how much for a +6 key? think that will be fine with a stock motor and oversized custom oil cooler?

[chevymanrick]

Originally posted by quadmanw
I'd prob buy one, wheelie. As of now I am going to run the sparks +6 key with an 11:1 wiseco piston..
Thought you couldn't run that key with a high comp. Piston?

[Stickman400]

I'd prolly buy a +2 key if you made a few of them Wheelie. Us 11:1 guys want just that little bit extra to put on top of everything else, lol:D

[quadmanw]

You can run the key with it.. It's just the matter of when it's gonna blow. I've heard both good and bad but it's not recommended so I probably won't risk it!