Spark Plug Brands?

cbr joe · 04-08-2008, 9:31 AM

Hi - from the new guy,

It’s nice to find a forum that relates directly to what I ride. I’ve been part of 600rr.net for a while, but riding an F3, I just don’t seem to fit in completely.

Anyways, i have a ’97 F3 and it’s not starting (this is not another thread about non-starts). I want to change my plugs, and since I’ve never done this myself, I’m wondering what your opinion is of premium spark plugs vs. regular plugs. If you could mention brands of what to use, and what not to use, it would be very helpful.

Cheers, and thanks!!

phantom45 · 04-08-2008, 12:07 PM

brisk, muti-sparks
BRISK - High Performace Spark Plugs

blue1000rr · 04-08-2008, 12:34 PM

NGo iridium is all I use

cbr joe · 04-08-2008, 2:02 PM

Right on....thanks!

I just got off the phone with my local auto parts shop, and ended up ordering NGK Iridium plugs for $18/ea. Pretty pricey, but definitely worth it.

Thanks again for the input, and hopefully these plugs will get the bike going again.

Joe

cbr joe · 04-08-2008, 2:46 PM

One more thing...

does anyone know if i have to gap the NGK iridium plugs, or do they come pre-set for this bike?

Thanks,

joe

segraves1 · 04-08-2008, 3:01 PM

If you don't mind changing plugs every 15K or so, Copper is actually the best plug material (best transfer of electrons). Iridium is for long (100K mile) life (at the expense of spark energy). Multi point plugs are a joke. When a spark jumps, it goes to ONE point (the shortest distance) only and that's it.

NGK copper plugs are 1/25 the cost of iridium (pack of 10 for $3 vs $8 each) and provide better performance (though shorter life).

just something to think about

blue1000rr · 04-08-2008, 5:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbr joe

One more thing...

does anyone know if i have to gap the NGK iridium plugs, or do they come pre-set for this bike?

Thanks,

joe

Whatever you do dont gap them. dont actually touch the electrode or anything because if you do it can actually rub off the iridium and hinder the performance

cbr joe · 04-09-2008, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by segraves1

If you don't mind changing plugs every 15K or so, Copper is actually the best plug material (best transfer of electrons). Iridium is for long (100K mile) life (at the expense of spark energy). Multi point plugs are a joke. When a spark jumps, it goes to ONE point (the shortest distance) only and that's it.

NGK copper plugs are 1/25 the cost of iridium (pack of 10 for $3 vs $8 each) and provide better performance (though shorter life).

just something to think about

Now i don't know what to do.

I've already ordered the plugs, and was planning on putting them in tomorrow nite.

I find it strange that the NGK Iridium is marketed as a high performance plug, but the regular provides higher performance??!!

I would hate to spend the extra $$ on something that doesn't perform as well as the much much cheaper product...

Joe

slickwill · 04-09-2008, 12:44 PM

I've seen dyno sheets from a spark plug test and they basically all made the exact same power except for one of the NGK's that had a very slightly longer length to the head so that it sat just a little further in to the combustion chamber (they gained about 1hp). The iridium won't add any performance but they are MUCH longer lasting. If it is really easy to get to the plugs on your bike then I probably wouldn't spend the extra. However on my bike it is an absolute nightmare to get to them so I want to go as long as possible without having to go through the process again so I have iridiums in there.

blue1000rr · 04-09-2008, 4:31 PM

yea i wouldnt say that copper will give you better perfomance. i would say pretty equal accross the board but the iridiums do last much much longer. i run iridiums because on my bike it's a couple hours of work to change the plugs

segraves1 · 04-09-2008, 4:56 PM

I didn't mean to make it sound like the copper vs iridium was a 20HP difference. The info was provided more as a point that the cost of iridium is all about life span.

I personally don't put 15,000 miles/year on even my daily driver truck (the race car gets plugs after any weekend event) so I run copper due to the combination of their low cost and tendency to idle/perform better/smoother. I would tend to agree that if you put lots of miles on something and/or find it impossible to change plugs, then the cost-to-frustration ratio might win out.

cbr joe · 04-10-2008, 9:42 AM

so i put the plugs in...everything went smoothly.

I did end up taking off my gas tank to check out the air filter. When i unplugged the gas line from the bottom of the tank, fuel kept coming out of the valve on the bottom, even with the tank switched to the "off" position.

Is this normal? I thought when you switch your gas tank to the off position, that it would not allow any fuel to enter the lines, carbs etc...

I am thinking that this could be what fouled up my plugs over the winter.

Thanks for all your help with this...

Joe

blue1000rr · 04-10-2008, 1:02 PM

sounds like you may have a seal or something gone bad in the petcock

cbr joe · 04-11-2008, 9:05 AM

It definitely is my petcock valve.

Ordered a new one from my local Honda dealer. Should be here in 3 days or so!...nothing is ever easy

I am thinking of tinkering with the malfunctioning petcock until the new one comes...maybe there's a seal or gasket in there that can be fixed....who knows!?

Thanks again for everyone's help with this...

Joe

TheCollin · 04-12-2008, 6:03 PM

NGK Iridiums. I just put them into my 96 F3. They do their job.

SoCal94F2 · 04-14-2008, 11:25 PM

+1 to the Iridiums. 20k in 2 engines and still running strong. For that price, heck yeah I recycled them!

BikePilotRR · 04-14-2008, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by segraves1

If you don't mind changing plugs every 15K or so, Copper is actually the best plug material (best transfer of electrons). Iridium is for long (100K mile) life (at the expense of spark energy). Multi point plugs are a joke. When a spark jumps, it goes to ONE point (the shortest distance) only and that's it.

NGK copper plugs are 1/25 the cost of iridium (pack of 10 for $3 vs $8 each) and provide better performance (though shorter life).

just something to think about

You're absolutely right, the spark does only go to one point, in fact, sparks like to jump from edges, more than anything else, but you're wrong about the multi-points. They're not completly worthless. In the combustion chamber, there are points in the squish area that will be richer or leaner than others at any given instant, because there is so much swirl and atomization going on within the fresh charge of air/fuel. The thing that is great about multi-point plugs is that, although there may be one point that is favored, since the gap will likely not be perfect for all points, there is a secondary path for a spark to take in the case the the favored gap is filled with an overly rich spot in the air-fuel mixture, which will counter conductivity. So, multipoint plugs can be more consistent.

BikePilotRR · 04-15-2008, 12:05 AM

Oh, to give an example of what I'm talking about, I'm sure most of you have heard the burble of a two stroke at idle, or just off idle....where it sounds like it fires, then doesn't fire for maybe a revolution or two, then clears it's throat again and fires...multi-point plugs can help fire more consistently, by giving alternate pathways for the spark to go, favorable conditions only need to be in one of those paths.

phantom45 · 04-15-2008, 1:47 PM

again.... brisk multi spark. the dyno doesn't lie.

BikePilotRR · 04-15-2008, 11:19 PM

I didn't say anything about more power phantom45....what I said was more pathways for a single spark to take, should the occasion occur that there is unfavorable richness, choking down the spark in one area of the spark plug. The thing is, it is rare that a modern, fuel-injected four-stroke have that problem. That being the case your 954 will likely do just as well on a plug with a single electrode and ground, especially since it comes lean from the factory, and has injectors with tiny holes that strip the fuel stream into a fine mist.

phantom45 · 04-16-2008, 1:07 AM

dude i absolutely agree with you 100%. but the brisk plug i'm refering to is the multi spark, not a multi point. there is no ground electrode(s). end of the plug is cone shaped. spark actually cascades down the cone pretty much all the way around it. nothing in the way of having your air and fuel spat right on to a hot spark no matter where the sweet spot on compression is. just better efficent energy transfer all the way around and i would not say it if i didn't see it with my own eyes but a 4.5 hp increase just from a plug swap. coupled with better fuel economy, i thought it was well worth the 75 duckets for a set. and as for how long they last, i really did not look into it but i'd be happy with getting two seasons out of them. they made the bike feel way more responsive, and i put them in a 954... i mean a 600 prob has what, 2000 2500 more useable rpms? and its up top where i can tell the most difference.

cbr joe · 04-16-2008, 8:38 AM

i think i'll try the brisk plugs next time around...you sold me good on them!

joe

BikePilotRR · 04-16-2008, 9:45 AM

I took a look at the site, it does sound impressive. Silver is a soft metal, in it's pure form...I would imagine that they may wear out quickly, but like you said, that may be several riding seasons for most people. I would imagine that you are using the two spark, not the three, since I would imagine that a bike's electrical isn't going to swing the three spark plug. It's a cool concept though.

bjay51d · 04-21-2008, 7:29 PM

i just took the bisk plung..i just hope that i have better luck with oppthis time around nd actually get my order.

cbr6ryda · 04-28-2008, 1:27 AM

Very interesting. I will have to toss a coin and just grab a set. The BRISK sound good, as well as the NGK's. Interested in doing it mysel. Thanks for the info CBR Joe, bike pilot, and phantom.

donniebrass · 05-01-2008, 9:12 AM

I am pretty sure that I recall reading in my manual sometime ago that my 03 RR came stock with Iridium tipped plugs that SHOULD be good for at least 50k miles.

As mentioned, never try to gap an Iridium tipped plug...will ruin.

Only reason I am chiming in here is to vouch for the BRISK plugs. Is what I run and is the only plug I have ever tried that actually does give a NOTICEABLE improvement....something you can actually feel, not just read about on paper.

Donnie Brass