| Author | Message | ||
     Michelangelo |
1998 Buell S-1 White Lightning. Want to replace oem plugs for Iridium. First, what is the stock plug. Second, what Iridium plug replaces it? And what's the stock gap? | ||
| Fahren |
Service Bulletin B-029 : Use only 10R12 spark plugs as replacement spark plugs for all model year Buell motorcycles. Inform customers to use the new 10R12 spark plugs when replacing spark plugs on their Buell motorcycles and not to use the 6R12 plugs specified in the owner’s and service manuals. This change applies to all model year Buell motorcycles. Gap .035 They'll do you fine, no need to go to spendier iridium, although if you want, NGK 9eix (can't remember the prefix numbers before the 9) will do you. They come gapped from factory. | ||
| Michelangelo |
What brand is that 10R12? | ||
| Jramsey |
H-D | ||
| Michelangelo |
Ok gotcha. So if I DO decided to use the NGK 9EIX, that is the equivalent to the Service Bulletin swap out of the 10R12? | ||
| Fahren |
It'll fit and work. 8's run too hot, or so I have heard, so the 9's would be the way to go. Denso also makes iridiums that people speak highly of. Honestly, though, the only thing the iridiums will do for you is to have less tendency to foul than the HD standards. Not wanting to start one of those endless threads... there are those who swear by synthetic oil and iridium plugs, and those who are just fine with dino oil and HD plugs. Both work, so enjoy! | ||
| 14d |
The NGK DCPR8E are the same as the 10R12 IIRC. I'm running these on my bike and they should be available from your local auto parts store. Gapped to .035" as fahren said. | ||
| Michelangelo |
I've researched and found the gaps on iridiums are supposed to be .040. Yes you aren't supposed to gap them but you'll be hard pressed to find one that is at that measurement. If you are VERY, VERY careful you can get the correct gap. But don't try to use the iridium tip as a fulcrum to do it. Ok so NGK's site lists the DCPR7EIX as the recommended plug for the 1998 White Lightning. I see above the recommendation of the colder "9" which is 2 levels above NGK's recommendation. Why do you say to use that plug? Also, my elevation is 4500 ft and most of the riding is done at 5-6k feet. Would this be enough to necessitate the use of a hotter plug like NGK's recommended "7" or "8"? | ||
| Fahren |
from Al at American Sport Bike: 5889, 5887 - Spark Plugs 98-09 Spark Plugs for Tube frame and XB series. Does NOT fit 1125R. 5889 is NGK equivalent of the 10R12 Buell heat range plug, 5887 for long life NGK Iridium electrodes. These are the right heat range 9 plugs to be used on Thunderstorm and XB head engines. Heat range 8 is recommended for 95-97 engines. The spark plugs are priced EACH, order two if you have a twin, one if you have a Blast. The iridiums are pre-gapped - if it's not right fresh out of the box, then return it. Those tiny tips are way different than your typical rugged H-D plug tip. | ||
| 14d |
Haven't had any problems with my 8's, but if the 9's are the equivalent of the 10R12's then I will run those next time. | ||
| Oldog |
I purchased a set of Irriduim /Illudium plugs no diff that I can tell, If you are fowling plugs find out why ( unless you are running non standard plugs ) Oh and gettem from AL ok thats my plug for AL have a great week you hooligans.. | ||
| Michelangelo |
Who or what is AL? Alabama? Been there in both the winter and the summer and it sucks. Great people aside from the weather. | ||
| Sloppy |
Do some research on plugs - try wikipedia. Heat numbers are only valid ON THE SAME MANUFACTURER. Some run colder with a higher number, other runs hotter with a higher number. Do NOT adjust gaps on fine wire plugs. Because they are fine wire they last longer AND require less voltage to jump the gap across the electrodes. FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SPARK PLUG MANUFACTURER FOR WHAT TYPE TO GET. I highly recommend NGK. Their website will have all the information you need. Go to your local mc or auto shop and order the appropriate size plug. If you don't like changing spark plugs or like to pay extra money then get a fine wire version (platinum or iridium). | ||
| Fahren |
Al is Al Lighton, at American Sport Bike - see link in my post above. Site sponsor, all-around great Buell source. His plugs are the 9-series NGK's, and although I would agree with Sloppy, it is also true that the NGK web site has the wrong info for Buell plugs. But I only know that from digging for hours through the tons of sparkplug threads here and on other fora... | ||
| Sloppy |
Fahren: I got my plug numbers from NGK and they had the "updated" plug numbers since Buell went to a colder plug in mid-'02 (I believe). Curious what issue you ran into with their site 'cause I've been running their plug part number for the last 5 years??? Thx. | ||
| Fahren |
No issues w/ NGK. I just trawled for ages through the myriad plug threads on every Buell site I could find when plugs were up for a change, and there was a fair amount of info on that heat range stuff. Amazing how much can be written over replacements for a standard, cheap-as-dirt part that works just fine as-is, and really doesn't need to be swapped out with spendy iridiums for the bikes to run fine! | ||
| Michelangelo |
The issue is that the NGK website is still saying the "7" plug is the correct plug for the S-1W (1998) when it should be, according to the Bulletin and American Sportbike, the "9" plug. |
