spark plugs recomendation

M

merlin

Senior member
Location
gunnislake cornwall
as a lot of you know I have been working on my mirage ,went out today and it started misfiring ,got it home and I had got a duff plug NGK B8ES swapped it bike runs perfect again .my question is do I stick with NGK (these ones were 3 weeks old) or try a different make ? if I do change what would the  experts recommend to use
thanks
dave
 
Dave, chances are it was just a duff B8ES, for the full story search the forum for "Champion N2"
 
My experience with plugs fouling on Laverdas is after they have been started and run for a very short time. These bikes take so long to warm up to proper running temperature that plug self cleaning probably won't happen for 20-30 miles...unless you are in stopped traffic or going uphill. When I got my RGS it ran Bosch plugs which would last a couple days on a four mile commute, I switched to NGKs and they would last longer but I found that such a short commute on the RGS just pissed it off... :(
 
I just stopped in to my local auto parts place on my way back from going for a ride (Drikko!), and thought I'd pick up a few N3Cs while I was there. The Jota is knackered until I can fix the crank properly but buying bits keeps me spiritually in touch with it. Anyway, they told me they were discontinuing all Champion plugs but the new owners of Champion had renamed them Champion 801s. That's what it says on the box (801) but the plugs themselves are still labelled N3C like always. I bought a few boxes of 4 just in case, should last me the rest of my riding lifetime, but some of you should ask your oily fingered mates if you've heard anything about Champion discontinuing N3Cs.

Ken
 
Still readily available in Germany, Ken. 

AfaIk, Champion has drastically slimmed their auto range, reducing types by about 70%.  Looks very much like the NGK V-line ploy, widening the heat range of the plugs to make them "suitable" for a wider range of applications.

piet
 
I've had different results with NGK in my Guzzis. In Australia they go open circuit aafter about 6,000km. I rode around the USA for 2 1/2 months and 23,000 km on NGK's with no issue but the US ones came in a silver box, the Australian ones in yellow. Obviously not all NGK's are equal.  ???

I bought a couple of boxes on Champions at a run out sale for $2.00 each. They seem to work fine but are only suitable for a couple of the bikes as they are a bit hot. Their resistance is a bit erratic from new. Some have virtually nil while others can be 200ohm. Not a big problem as a bit of resistance helps to save the coils a bit.

For the Aussies here I now use Nippon Densos. They are about $3.00 each so cheaper than NGK's from anywhere. They seem to run cleaner than the equivilant NGK's too. Toyota Dealers are the agents for them. Ring first as they may not be in stock as Toyotas may not use the plug you want but they will get them in for you. I tend to buy them a box of 10 at a time but they will even get one in for you. I got a couple for the Alpino and so far so good.

Plug colour? I can still read a plug. Definitely not as easy as it used to be but it can still be a useful clue. I can't help on jetting. What I know about Lav triples can be printed on the back of a postage stamp but 180 sounds big to me. Must be a very slow venturi velocity.

As Piet has indicated get the timing and heat range correct first. The annealing line should be about mid curve on the earth strap. If it is close to the tip timing is retarded or the plug is too cold. If it is down near the threads it is too advanced or too hot. Still look for tiny black or shiny spots on the porcelain tip. They are a sign of the piston melting.
 
sfcpiet said:
Still readily available in Germany, Ken.   

AfaIk, Champion has drastically slimmed their auto range, reducing types by about 70%.  Looks very much like the NGK V-line ploy, widening the heat range of the plugs to make them "suitable" for a wider range of applications.

piet
Click to expand...

Piet wich type of Nippon Denso irdium you by OCT recomend ? .
 
I went out today for my first longish  ride on the bike approx 60 miles , got 20 miles away from home and had another plug go down swapped it and all well again have just ordered some champion N3c to try 
thanks for the advice
dave
 
Romeo.D said:
Piet wich type of Nippon Denso irdium you by OCT recomend ? .
Click to expand...

None actually Romeo.

They are only suitable for the fuel-injected Zane models, totally hopeless for our old gas-guzzlers! :D

piet
 
Then stick to the N2, preferably N2G, for the triple.

Have been using these for years, last extremely well with excellent reliability.

piet
 
Cosi said:
sfcpiet said:
They are only suitable for the fuel-injected Zane models,

piet
Click to expand...

Well while your typing anyway, what specifics for the Zanes  ;)
Click to expand...


Cosi,

How the fuck should I know?? 

Ask an expert on the things.... :D















Don't know off the top of my head, will need to check.  Only use one type for all models afaIk, seem to work well.  What does go wrong though, is the tendency to rust in the deeply recessed cavities, making them a right bastard to remove at times.

piet
 
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