| Author | Message | ||
     Cataract2 |
So, time for number 3 valve check. Anyways, need to get some plugs. I found the NGK ones I need are CR9EKB. I did a cross reference and it came up with these alternatives. Autolite XS4302 Autolite 4302 BMW 12 12 7 710 636 Champion RG92DC Denso IU27A Denso U27ETR Honda ZJ980-002-000 KTM 770.39.093.000 Yamaha 94702-00403 Wondering if anyone has used anything different and what the ones they used were. | ||
| Wymaen |
You must be in production testing; I don't know many people who don't trust an engineer's spec for a piece of equipment outside the precision manufacturing field  As for myself, I've stuck with the stock plugs and had zero issue. | ||
| Cataract2 |
Funny Wymaen. There are plenty of alternatives out there to OE spec that work fine. Or do you also just stick with the HD oil that is OE spec as well? | ||
| Sir_wadsalot |
If it comes stock with NGK or Bosche I wouldn't change brands. Champion/Autolite are garbage. Not sure about the rest. Make sure you gap them yourself...don't trust the factory gap. | ||
| Wymaen |
>Or do you also just stick with the HD oil that is OE spec as well? Let's say I do- what's it going to hurt aside from my pocketbook? Pretty much...nothing. I choose not to, though. I run something other than HD-branded oil, specifically because of the way Harley-Davidson has treated me in my dealings with them, both as a Harley owner and as a Buell owner. It also makes me grin to deny HD the dollars they counted on from the sale of consumables to Buell riders. I wasn't trying to be snotty or anything; these are consumable items, and choosing which ones you prefer is a personal choice. I'll always go with the manufacturer that's given me the best performing product over my years riding and repairing bikes. For spark plugs, that's going to be NGK, every time, all the time, forever. http://badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290431/ 481020.html?1248450605 and http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/623480.html?1301640232 will give you a couple more threads about who likes what plugs | ||
| Cataract2 |
I ran a search and I did get those. Although I do appreciate you putting them on here. I certainly understand if you prefer to stick with OE spec and agree there is nothing wrong with going with it if that is you preference. I just like sourcing other options when I can't easily get OE spec. The NGK plus called for can be a pain to find sometimes and I like to know what alternative options are available and would work. I could just go to the local HD shop and get the plugs, but I would rather not buy another thing from them since the last 2 times I went they gave me the wrong part. (There is also what HD did to Buell as well, but I try not to take it out on the shops that are reported good for Buell folk.) | ||
| Sir_wadsalot |
You can order an NGK spark plug from anywhere with the part number. If it's a HD number it can be cross referenced. Wymean is right on the sticking to NGK as a rule thing, but to reiterate- any vehicle that calls for an NGK or Bosche plug, needs to have NGK or Bosche plugs reinstalled. They are high quality parts- the materials, tolerances, all that crap that's usually just advertising on most comsumables are actually viable on spark plugs. Temperature ranges can vary wildly in a cheap plug, the gaps fluctuate- cheap plugs are inferior. My father is a mechanic, my best friend runs a shop, I was a military mechanic for six years and I've been wrenching on bikes for almost ten...and I've tried to get out of using six dollar a-piece spark plugs on cars. Saving 30 dollars on plugs doesn't help in the slightest when the car runs like absolute shite a month later, with horrible mileage. On any vehicle that comes factory equipped with NGK or Bosche plugs, downgrading is simply not an option. There's a reason Subaru and Mercedes use high grade plugs, when most everything else on an OEM is their own OEM brand garbage, like HD oil. (Which is made by Citgo- Communists who hate us. Replacing that crap dropped my temp 10 degrees on a 100 degree day!) Just some friendly advice, from you friendly neighborhood shadetree mechanic. | ||
| Jdugger |
I get the NGK plugs for this bike for something like $10 a piece from autozone.com. |
