Spark Plugs

[tkent02]

If you had a modern computerized fuel injected engine, which constantly monitors and adjusts fuel flow and ignition timing to match every little change in fuel quality, atmospheric temperature and pressure, engine temperature, etc. you might see a little bit of this 1% or 2% power gain. Not that you could feel a gain that small but it might be there. On these old, carburetor fueled engines with their constant advance ignitions, most of which are not tuned very well anyway, it is snake oil, at best.

 

[focus frenzy]

If you had a modern computerized fuel injected engine, which constantly monitors and adjusts fuel flow and ignition timing to match every little change in fuel quality, atmospheric temperature and pressure, engine temperature, etc. you might see a little bit of this 1% or 2% power gain. Not that you could feel a gain that small but it might be there. On these old, carburetor fueled engines with their constant advance ignitions, most of which are not tuned very well anyway, it is snake oil, at best.

most all modern cars have very strong ignition systems and have little to no trouble firing a spark across a worn plug. in fact they have a excess of power due to (in America at least) having to meet the Gov mandated emissions standards. modern cars have to be able to pass a emissions test without requiring replacement of parts for 100,000 miles, so platinum plugs have become pretty much standard equipment.

our bikes have a relatively weak system and stock don't have a real hot spark when cranking over so anything that can help it is a benefit.

when I put in the iridiums I did not notice any real improvement in power but could tell a slight difference in low end torque and mainly a pretty good improvement in starting.

both my bikes now have hotter ignitions, Bob (1000G) has Dyna coils with accel wires with the ignition bypass mod, and Rosie (1100e) has accel coils and wires. so other than much longer life there is little difference.

 

[jbs80106]

They don't seem to carry these for motorcycles...

They don't seem to carry these for motorcycles...

Seems to make technical sense to me. Don't know how they compare to irdium plugs which seem to be the way to go for my 650.

http://www.haloplugusa.com/

 

[Clone]

There are a lot of special design plugs out there, NGK has some two electrode plugs that go into quads, and they don't shroud the positive electrode. Those halo plugs seem to shroud the positive electrode a lot.


I am interested in knowing the temperature of the spark between a standard plug and a fine positive electrode (G-power or Iridium). The difference would be interesting to see in conjunction with the input power.

 

[Greg O.]

The only time I have trouble with starting is when it gets below about 45 degrees. That is when I occasionally foul out a spark plug or two, but I think that is from using the choke, as these engines are very cold blooded. I have a spark plug cleaner in my garage, and pull them out and clean them. I have had times when one would miss fire til the engine warms up, then starts hitting on all four. I only have problems late in the fall or early spring when the temps are really cool, almost to cool to ride. Otherwise the stock NGKs work great.

Greg O