| Author | Message | ||
     Jraice |
Hey guys, as some of you know my bike died due to a fried spark plug at the track a few weeks back. Ended up with a $3.95 lawn mower (actually power sports, but same thing I used to put in my two stroke) plug. Bike ran fine, Buell said they would change the plugs under warranty (least they can do after I spent $200 for the diagnosis and plug swap at the track so I could get some riding in!) Anyways, what type of plug would you recommend? Preferably something a Buell shop carries, so that they will have it, and I wont have to pay for it. Also, would the cheap spark plug (combined with a 9,500 mile old OEM plug) effect power at all? Basically will I notice any difference after getting say, Buell race plugs installed? Getting ready to have them do the plugs, I need to do a lot of basic maintenance (for the 10,000) including fresh oil, clean the oil cleaner, check primary chain. I am also installing a catch can. All of this should make the bike run realllll nice afterwards. Anyways, just curious as to which plug would be recommended for best power (or do plugs even alter power?) and most importantly, which plug will not die on me  . | ||
| Srwitt |
Last plug change I got Buell branded plugs, look like a splitfire to me. Compared to the "standard" HD plug that came in the bike when new, I've noticed less popping, better throttle response (less hiccup/stuttering BS). | ||
| Jraice |
Awesome! I'll look into Buell plugs... Whatever I get it should be better then an old Harley plug in the rear and a Walmart front plug . Going to call Buell today to see if they can do them tomorrow afternoon. Should be a quick job I would imagine...? So I could just wait and sit on some bikes while they do the work. | ||
| Fahren |
Buell branded plugs are Harley plugs. Standard issue. | ||
| Zatco81 |
Buell branded plugs are Harley plugs. Standard issue. Which would equal a big fat no from me. I'll give my money to anybody else before I give it to H-D. | ||
| Nik |
Buell branded plugs are Harley plugs are champion plugs, are crap. Get standard NGK or Denso plugs. | ||
| Greg_e |
What about the Iridium plugs? Good, bad, or just expensive? | ||
| Nik |
The exotic metal plugs last longer, and in the case of iridiums resist fouling somewhat, but they don't give better performance or anything. Plain ol' copper conducts electricity better than any of them. My personal preference is to run standard copper plugs and change them at regular intervals, but its a debate that rivals synthetic vs dino... | ||
| Iamarchangel |
Don't be fooled by the hype and and ads. Spark plugs perform a very basic function of the Trinity. It is simply a matter of the properly fitting and properly gapped plug firing at the proper time. Any plug that will do that is good. (Go with factory heat setting right now. as you learn more, you'll experiment more. Your questions tell me you're not there yet.) All the rest is snake oil. I have NGK in the tool box as back up. Don't really know what is in the bike. I leave well enough alone (old harley plug and wal-mart plug could run forever, but they've said they'd replace them so good). | ||
| Jraice |
Thanks guys, I guess Ill just go with whatever they have but the Harley branded plug didn't last the full 10,000 miles. I'll see if they have some Buell performance plugs available, even if they are still made by HD. | ||
| Nik |
HD doesn't make plugs. They're rebranded champions. Probably exactly the same as the WalMart plug you put in. | ||
| Jraice |
And Buell race plugs are any different? | ||
| Mbo54 |
The NGK Iridium number for the 12 is DCPR8EIX. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
http://www.harley-performance.com/harley-spark-plu g.html Basically, you can use anything in the V-Rod column, that's stock. Hmmn, this is actually a pretty good chart. I'm going to print it up for myself. | ||
| Greg_e |
V-rod column, got it. Yes it does look like a decent chart which I'm also printing. | ||
| Nik |
Note that you can also use NGKs with the prefix of DPR. The only difference is the top where the plug wire attaches. The DCPR comes with a disconnect type fitting screwed on, and the DPR doesn't; but if you have a bunch of the fittings lying around the DPR types are often easier to find locally in stock (for ~$1.50ea) and the fittings screw right on. (Message edited by nik on October 20, 2009) | ||
| Fahren |
The NGK Iridium number for the 12 is DCPR8EIX. At the risk of re-starting age-old plug/tire/oil threads, I must say, "Not." It's a DCPR9EIX, and available at asb, and wherever else fine NGK plugs are sold. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I finally changed my stock plugs at about 20k miles. Not because they were running badly, just because I finally had to rotate the motor forward for another reason and felt bad about having the stock plugs in so long. They looked nasty, but the bike was running fine. So they can't be *that* bad... | ||
| Greg_e |
What is different between the DCPR8 and the DCPR9 plugs? I think mine came with the DCPR8 installed so I might better change them, probably go with the Bosch Platinums. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
The numbers refer to the heat setting of the plug. Some are better in race engines, some are better for winter starting. Most only matter to pro level racing, the rest is indulgence. So, two things: first, you really have to grasp the heat range significance. Second, each manufacturer has a different heat range code (and format). For nearly all purposes, stock is good. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Denso Iridiums are good. IXU24. Iridium plugs last longer, and foul less, because the iridium is very hard, and very small. | ||
| Sloppy |
If you are an all season rider then you may want to try two heat ranges. Cooler plug in the summer, standard plug in the winter. I prefer NGK simply due to their quality - they "seem" to have a longer lasting electrode than others (Champion, HD, etc). Electrode type (for OUR bikes) is dependent upon how frequently you are willing to replace. Standard is fine but should change out every 10k miles, Iridium's will probably last 50k miles. So if you don't like to change plugs, then I'd suggest Iridium's. | ||
| Greg_e |
Changing the plugs on the XB sure is a little difficult, but not the worst thing in the world. And at the price 2 plugs is not that much no matter what you run. Bought myself a fancy wobble spark plug socket, hope that makes getting the rear plug out and in a little easier. |
