| Author | Message | ||
     Ekass13 |
Ok, so I ended up just getting another pair of NGK Iridium from Al at American Sport Bike, do they need to be gapped? Do they already come .35? and is that the correct spacing? | ||
| 03worc9r |
I would check gap regardless. It is a good piece of mind knowing they are right. | ||
| Zoedogg1 |
.40 and yes they have to be gapped. Be very careful because you can break the Iridium piece off by just lookin at it wrong. If that does happen you can still use it...just regap it to .40 and put it in. It will however decrease the life of the plug to about 2/3 the proposed original life, but will work just as well for the time being. I've got a broken one in my bike now and it is just fine... This was also verified possible to use by NGK themselves. | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
Gap them at .035 like the manual says... If you break one, get a new one. Why take the chance or waist the time of doing it twice... | ||
| Moosestang |
Yes, be very careful gapping them. You can't touch the electrode at all or it will snap like a twig. I know how to use a gapping tool correctly and still ended up breaking one. | ||
| Zoedogg1 |
Sorry, is it .35? My bad..it is .35, Sorry again, I should have looked. BUT, you dont have to buy a new one if it breaks. You can ride it like it is for 20k if you want and will NEVER know or feel a difference. Dont believe me, just contact NGK like I did. No reason to turn around and buy a new one at 10 bucks right away unless you really wanted to. | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
Hahahaha...That is good and fine. But if I break a plug it goes in the trash.(or use as emergency spare) My bad for breaking it. I will learn to gap a $10.00 plug with some finesse. They can tell you what ever they want, You may not feel it, but that don't mean it is not happening. And your right you may never have a problem, But what if? For Ten Bucks? Nope no "ME"  | ||
| Moosestang |
And your right you may never have a problem, But what if? For Ten Bucks? Nope no "ME" What do you think is going to happen? the motor is not going to spontaneously combust.  The worst case scenario is a fouled plug, but that isn't even going to happen because we are talking about a tiny little piece of the tip, not the whole electrode. Do what you want, but please don't act like you know more about plugs than the manufacturers. NGK said 8,000 miles for standard plugs in a motorcycle, by the way. | ||
| Ourdee |
Does anyone here index the spark plugs so that the open side of the tip is pointed at the intake valve? | ||
| Petebueller |
The Iridium plugs should not be re-gapped. They are labeled as factory gapped. There is no guarantee that they should have the same gap spec as the Champion plugs for the XBs, and the electrode is brittle and likely to break is adjusted You just put them in. Make sure they heat range 9 - like the ones from American Sport Bike. The NGK cross reference may still be saying heat range 8 which was a spec Buell changed about 8 years ago. | ||
| Stevenc150 |
$10 bucks ?!? Mine were $6.50/ea. @ Oreilly's. | ||
| Boney95 |
Should not be regapped? Dude I pulled both of mine out the box, and both had different gaps. | ||
| Petebueller |
http://www.spark-plugs.co.uk/pages/technical/spark _plugs_faq.htm#gap_setting "Q14. Should I regap my Iridium spark plugs? A14. In most circumstances, no. The nature of Iridium spark plugs means that they are able to utilise a larger gap setting while actually requiring less voltage and straining the ignition system less. If you *have* to regap Iridium spark plugs (e.g if misfire occurs due to gap being too large) then do so with extreme care. Do not use a slide type gapping tool or put pressure on the brittle centre electrode in any way as it may become damaged." If you get two different gaps you should take it up from NGK. Ask what the gap should be. With a finer electrode you should run a wider gap than the Nickle electodes. They are not designed to be regapped and NGK voids the warranty on the plugs if they are. | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
The worst case scenario is a fouled plug, but that isn't even going to happen because we are talking about a tiny little piece of the tip, not the whole electrode.} Yea a fouled plug while out ridding sounds like fun! Out in the back roads, ridding and my motor craps a plug, That Aggrivation is not worth it TO ME. I guess the gap stays the same when it breaks also....or do you Re-Gap them AGAIN? according to the post above.....They are not designed to be regapped and NGK voids the warranty on the plugs if they are...they VOID the warrenty, yet tell you the plug is fine?.. Buell tells me my XBR lights are fine on my XB, Did for years, but That don't mean I believe them. Even if they are the "manufacturer" & I don't know as much as them...I use this thing called "Common Sence"....You may not have heard of this as it really is not so common..... You can do what YOU want but please don't try and convince me or others to run a broken plug in our rides.. That is just Poor Workmanship/practice when working on a bike. But then it is your bike and you can do what you want with it... I been working on bikes since a kid, I think I will take my chances from lessons learned in the past to make my own intelligent choice on what to use. Pissing match about to start...LOL (Message edited by Firebolteric_ma on January 31, 2009) | ||
| Ustorque |
please don't try and convince me or others to run a broken plug in our rides.. That is just Poor Workmanship/practice when working on a bike. this line makes me feel like i'm at the dealer, when they are trying to convince me they have a clue.  awaiting a good pissing match! | ||
| Chippy |
and by common sence, he means common sense... it's just logical, if you break something, you shouldn't use it and expect the best results, right? | ||
| Iamarchangel |
it's just logical, if you break something, you shouldn't use it and expect the best results, right? Wrong. Logically, you've made an absolute statement. There are some things that could be broken and used and the results would make no difference. For example, bread broken and shared will yield better results than most of the other options. Sorry, just the mood I'm in right now. I'll get over it soon. | ||
| Ducxl |
If "i" broke a plug re-gapping or whatever to the porcelan i'd listen to common sense and just replace the cheap-a$$ed sparkplug. I prefer the cheapo champion too.The knucklhead that ported my heads gave me one of those goofy electroded ones.It also came with a non-standard hex causing me to custom fab a socket  . Does anyone here index the spark plugs so that the open side of the tip is pointed at the intake valve? I'm surprized nobody questioned this.I've heard if you DO index it towards the intake valve there's additional power to be made. | ||
| Hogs |
Indexing refers to an old racer's trick whereby the spark plugs are installed so that the ground electrode is oriented to face the intake valve (usually) in an effort to "open up" the spark to the incoming air/fuel charge. While most engines like the spark plug's gap open to the intake valve, there are still other combinations that make more power with the gap pointed toward the exhaust valve. Does little on the street bikes with stock motors and is most effective on high compression motors where the flame front is very critical to a good burn. (Message edited by hogs on January 31, 2009) (Message edited by hogs on January 31, 2009) | ||
| Moosestang |
Eric, how old are you? You sound like a kid and I'd like to know so I can save my breath. I'm 36 and don't question my workmanship again, you don't know me. I been working on bikes since a kid, I think I will take my chances from lessons learned in the past to make my own intelligent choice on what to use. A kid? You still sound like a kid, so I'm guessing 21 and you've been working on bikes your whole life, whooppppeeee! I don't know why NGK in the UK is telling you these plugs can't be regapped, but they can easily, just don't touch the center electrode. Even the cheapo gapping tools have a hole in them for opening up the gap without touching the electrode. These plugs aren't supposed to be regapped either, but everyone does it. For some reason it won't show up in this post. (Message edited by moosestang on January 31, 2009) (Message edited by moosestang on January 31, 2009) (Message edited by moosestang on January 31, 2009) (Message edited by moosestang on January 31, 2009) | ||
| Moosestang |
 | ||
| Bombardier |
But if I break a plug it goes in the trash.(or use as emergency spare) My bad for breaking it. I will learn to gap a $10.00 plug with some finesse. They can tell you what ever they want, You may not feel it, but that don't mean it is not happening. Probably the most sensible thing to do. If I had the choice between fiddling with a VERY brittle metal that is subjected to thousands of heat/cool situations per minute that I have been told NOT to touch by the people who manufacturer it and a little piece came off and the option was a $10 replacement part or a complete cylinder rebuild I know which option I would take. My 2 cents. | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
Paul, OH SNAP!  I am 37 if that makes any difference to you and your “saved” breath. Frankly age don't mean squat to me. I have met some VERY intelligent "Kids" in my time AND some "foolish" old men also. So I do not see what age has to do with anything but if that is all you got to bite on…By all means……run with it. Now before you get your little pink panties in a bunch (No Offence Spidy) you shouldn't ASS-U-ME my age. I NEVER once questioned your workmanship, if you took it that way maybe you should take a step back and look at your workmanship as you may have a little bit of self conscience nipping at ya.  I merely stated “I” would never use that plug, NOR would “I” ever tell some one it is okay to use said plug even if said manufacturer says it is fine to use… Falls back to Common sense again….  I DO NOT believe EVERYTHING a manufacturer tells me. Plain and simple. They lie like every other manufacturer out there telling you there product is “The Best“…  Now you are right I don’t know you, but so far from what I have read from you…..YES indeed “I” would question YOUR workmanship skills without question….....At least from this single post from you….. Seems others here also agree with my “Workmanship Skills” and many of them know me AND my Workmanship skills first hand. Maybe next time you could take a couple extra minutes to think and use some common sense and learn to gap a plug correctly with out breaking it and avoid this “pissing match” (not that I mind I am bored right now and could use a good debate) Is that picture supposed to be showing me something of importance?  | ||
| Ourdee |
I DO NOT believe EVERYTHING a manufacturer tells me. Plain and simple. They lie like every other manufacturer out there telling you there product is “The Best“… Firebolt', I think Buells are the best. Did I get lied to? Moose', What kind of anti seize is that? O2 sensor friendly? | ||
| Moosestang |
Eric, you come across as 18 to me, maybe it's the way you type. I can see your workmanship in your profile picture, i'm sure some here think that's legendary. The picture was to show a spark plug that you do not regap, but of course you can and there's even a special tool made to do it. Maybe you don't understand your own words, so here they are again. That is just Poor Workmanship/practice when working on a bike. (Message edited by moosestang on January 31, 2009) | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
Your right, I guess It is what it is then. Thanks for pointing that out for me. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
Now, if I bought a plug from any manufacturer, and it wasn't gapped right when they said it was, and it broke when I tried to fix it, I wouldn't use it. I'd take it back to the store I bought it from and exchange it for one that was gapped right. I'd make them open all the boxes until I found two with the right gap. And if there was any issue, I'd show them my motorcycle mechanic's license, which is almost as old as the two ages listed on this thread. But, knowing there is a gap issue, and that the plugs are fragile, I would either check the gap at point of sale or not buy them at all. | ||
| 03worc9r |
I agree with firebolteric, if it is/was broken I just personally wouldn't use it! Now, if I bought a plug from any manufacturer, and it wasn't gapped right when they said it was, and it broke when I tried to fix it, I wouldn't use it. +1 | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
I am pretty sure you don't need to "Dip" the plug in Anti-seize either, Less is more with this stuff... ½ that much is MORE than enough! A dab big enough to "intersect" the first 3 threads is more than enough. Funny….If you get some on you, it will be on the next 10 things you touch...That stuff can grow on you fast… I also tend to use the copper type for plugs...But that is me. A silly 37 year old that types like an 18 year old. But at least I have a clue when working on a bike, and speaking in a motorcycle forum. Oh and my profile picture (keep trying bud) is from 2004, my bike looks nothing like that anymore.(maybe I should change it and see what you can dig on next)..But then again if I did not have anything intelligent to say, in a debate on something I new nothing on I would start digging on something like that also.... Just proves my point from the beginning…. I guess this debate is over and the workmanship has been proven with a simple picture & your remarks….. I wont be back for more, you seem to know so much more than me. I bet you have lots of intelligent info to share with this board, LATER! | ||
| Edstevens |
www.extremespark.com |
