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NGK spark plug

Doboy

Doboy

Well travelled
Location
Uk
Changed my spark plug for an NGK iridium one ..then started to get backfiring on the overun so put std plug back in and it stopped ..i,ll keep it as a spare ..
 
Eatmore Mudd

Eatmore Mudd

Moderator
Staff member
Location
The Pacific Nothwet
Keep your eye open, it's been confirmed that iridium plugs have been counterfeited. I'm not saying yours is, I'm saying do some homework and always keep aware just in case.
 
R

Roy Gavin

Well travelled
Location
Adelaide Australia
There is a video somewhere which details the differences between the good and the bad NGKs.
Always best to buy face to face for essential items but hard to be certain what you are getting but not always fool proof - a few years back there was a spate of dud batteries which were giving bike electricians and breakdown services hell, turns out the state distributor for the brand causing all the trouble was the one who was substituting the good ones with the junk so the dealers had no idea!
What did the plug look like when you removed it? if it was getting hot it would probably show up.
On my bike a a few of the hose clamps on the PVAB/ whatever the Oz bikes get were loose, tightening them up made a few odd noises disappear.
The joint at where to exhaust clamps to the head can leak too, either the nuts not tight or a slight variance in the exhaust system dimensions resulting in the muffler having to be forced around to get the muffler bolt in, and this force is transmitted to the joint at the head DAHIK.
 
Pirate

Pirate

Well travelled
Location
Aldershot, UK
Thought I'd try an Iridium plug so got one from my local Halfords for £10. I've only just finished running the engine in but I did a 70-mile round trip to my local dealer for the brake recall check and they fitted the plug for me. Now either it's my imagination, or it's simply a case of the first good run at 70mph has cleaned out the crap from somewhere, or the iridium plug has made the engine much smoother. Starts easily, idles slighty better (but it was always OK) and chugging around at 30-40mph it's much smoother and very 'keen'. I've put the old plug (which was the correct colour etc) under my seat in case of emergencies...
 
R

Roy Gavin

Well travelled
Location
Adelaide Australia
If even a dozy old geriatric like me notices the difference there must be something happening.
BMW singles responded the same way, for some reason the air cooled flat twins didn't , seemed to prefer the stock plugs.
 
puttbutt

puttbutt

Well travelled
Location
NY
my bike back fired with the stock plugs, and with the iridium plug that I just install a couple of days ago. as long as the bike starts up when I hit the button, I'm happy. :giggle:
 
Pirate

Pirate

Well travelled
Location
Aldershot, UK
When I was at my dealer having the brakes checked I bumped into a fellow Himalayan owner. He said he has never used the 'choke' on his Himalayan and it has always started up fine, even in winter. I tried it with mine and, although it seems a little reluctant for the first few seconds, it has started up absolutely fine, first time every time. Be interested to see what happens next winter...
 
R

Roy Gavin

Well travelled
Location
Adelaide Australia
Yep, that one.
It has the resistor in the plug so I replaced the plug cap with a non resistor one which I already had , but most seem to find the stock cap works OK.
They come pre gapped at 40 thou / 1mm, most leave them that way and they seem happy that way too.
 
NewEnglandHimalayan

NewEnglandHimalayan

Well travelled
Location
New England
I recently re-adjusted the valves on my bike, tracing that awful noise at 4k rpm. I was able to dial in the intake valve which is always a bear. At the same time, I put the stock plug back in. While riding it, I noticed that the engine noise at 4K while still there, it was not as pronounced as before. The bike has barely 1100 miles now and it is a 2019 BS4. I also noticed that it had trouble starting in the morning. It would stall a few times after starting. While riding, I felt the bike was not up to par almost like stuttering while riding and accelerating as if its timing was wrong. Today, I removed the tank and inspected the hoses underneath, the soft one was collapsed, caught between the frame and the tank, I corrected that. No change to the starting issue after that. Then I re-installed my iridium spark plug. Put everything back together and the bike now starts on the first try and does not stall or sputters. I will have to put some miles on it to also verify the issue with the engine noise and sputtering while riding but I was a bit impressed at how different it started this time. The iridium plug does seem to be better than the stock one so far.
 
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