Iridium Sparks plugs
 

Please note: This is not a debate about whether they are any good/better. I have already bought them and they were only a couple of pounds more than standard!

Got a note from the suppliers saying:

"Do not regap Iridum spark plugs unless necessary..........<explaination>....."

Now, in my experience with changing plugs (cars mind you, not bikes) I have always have had to set the gap. So if you have used them in the past have you:

A= Not worried and put them straight in
B= Set the gap as per Suzuki/Haynes

Thanks
Luke

I checked mine, and they were correctly gapped, so didn't worry about it :) Might be worth checking that before you think any more on the subject.

Ah - good point! There's me sitting here at work pondering this!! Idiot! :oops:

I've always found the NGKs I've had to be correctly gapped out of the box.

What you must not use is the wedge type gapping tools, the centre electrode simply won't stand it. I would leave well alone unless significantly out of spec.

They require typically less voltage to spark than a "conventional" large diameter centre electrode type plug, so will generally give the rest of the HT side and easier life even if the gap is slightly large.

I've never seen one - has anyone got a photo?

NGK Iridium

http://www.mxbike.com/catalog/images/ngk_irdium.jpg

my CBR only uses iridium,

NGK ones that ive used have always been correctly gapped, and they have stayed at the correct gap for 17k (when i decided that i best change em)

dont use a blade type feeler gauge on them, use a wire one, the blade will damage the tip.

anybody got a link for these to fit a curvey?im a bit baffled by all the different types ,and cant seem to find specific sv ones :roll:

)tsm posted me up a link to a site.

sparkplugs.co.uk or something, thats where i got mine from, much cheaper than anywhere else

(my dealer wanted 30 quid per plug, thats 120 quid :shock: )

NGK CR8EIX, from memory.

Correct. Also www.sparkplugs.co.uk is where I got mine from and were about 15 pounds for the pair.

For the record both plugs are correctly gapped, rendering my post, pointless. Doh #-o :oops:

Got NGK CR9EIX 3521 in mine

H

Just curious that according to www.sparkplugs.co.uk a K3 pointy uses the same plugs as a curvy :-k
Just curious as to why the K4 & K5 would be different :smt102

The official Honda price for the iridium plugs for my 'Blade is £22 EACH !!! That's £88 for plugs before anything else on the service is done :hackedoff:

.

I use http://www.spark-plugs.co.uk/ too, always deliver on time (usually next morning, how do they do that? :lol: )

Another place where I've been able to get an odd grade not listed by sparkplugs is
http://www.motocrossworld.com/site/index.php

Having said that, a friend wanted some iridium plugs for his MX-5 which weren't listed by spark-plugs, and he phoned and they were very helpful and got them for him (apparently some odd spec :? , don't know details).

CR8E and 9E are compatible plugs, just built for a slightly different range of conditions. From memory, 9E is recommended for a hotter-running engine?

In NGK terms, the higher the number, the colder running the plug is.

In (VERY) simple terms, the more power your engine develops, the more heat it generates in the process....and the more heat the spark plug needs to dissipate. That means a colder running plug.

All things being equal, ie the right grade selected, all plugs in all engines run in pretty much the same operating temperature envelope.

It is always safe to put a colder running plug than recommended in an engine - the only risk is that it will foul. It is never safe to put a hotter running plug than recommended in an engine - the big risk is it will overheat and cause pre-ignition.

That's a BIG adavantage of precious metal plugs - they run very cool but the electrode material makes them less sensitive to cold-fouling products.

Yes the CR9s run cooler, I've got them in my curvy as I've got the ignition key advance fitted.


.

Plugs sure are expensive across the pond. Here in the states they cost about 10 pounds at the most. (rough exchange estimate) ($5 USD)

Wonder why they cost so much more there........They are all made in japan.

Tax and the various ways it's enforced are a constant source of ammusement. It's cheaper to buy a parallel import Triumph (built in the UK) than a genuine one apparently (It certainly was at one point a few years ago). So if you box the bike up, ship it to France, sign for it and send it back with some shuffling of paperwork it's cheaper than picking it up yourself from the factory :roll: :lol:

$5 = £3 apx

Those prices are all for platinum... Standard plugs are roughly the same as yours- your $5 buys £2.50-£3, which could buy a CR8E plug.