Spark Plugs WTF

[Kevin Nyberg]

Well I found out why the nine wouldn't start, Spark Plugs!!! 10000 miles on them and 3 of the 4 were burned right up. The dealer says all the big bore stuff is having trouble with spark plugs on the gasoline their producing these days. I don't know if its true or not but he say the premium is staying in the underground tanks to long because there isn't as much demand anymore for something that pricey. So the premium your buying is what he called "stale"
He said the big bore stuff is having the most problem with it and burning the plugs up faster. Just what I was told, don't shoot the messenger.
So running a little more of the Startron additive might be a good idea to help the fuel start crisp as fresh lettuce.......

[Big-B]

can you post pics of the plugs? 10K seem very low mileage to be worn out to a point of not starting

[BAD BOY M109R]

yea pics. mine had 17000+ on mine and they did not look bad at all could tell was running a little rich but not bad at all...

[Nitrogary]

WOW, burnt plugs at 10k ? first ive heard of that....since ive been on this forum !

[Kevin Nyberg]

I didn't get the plugs back but boy what a difference in the nine it made, I get close to that start button and the nine is running. I drove it back home and its running like a top. I have been using alot of Shell premium and Shell Midgrade switching back and forth, refilling with premium and then refilling with midgrade the next time. My nine was running rich, I ride with a guy thats a pretty good tuner and he always said when he got behind my nine that it was definitely running on the rich side. I do know my nine wouldn't start and all they did to it was put in new plugs. It hasn't started this good for quite a while. So I believe what they told me to be the truth......

[AssyrianWonder]

I thought they were platinum plugs? I may be wrong but thats very odd for any non copper plug...I always run 1.5 gals of 104 and the rest premium to make it run smoother and...i just like the smell LOLI am curious about my plugs now...

[lincoln1003]

watch for the gas guy at the station and ask him how often they bring it in and shop at the one that sells the most.

loves truck stop in fargo, nd gets a few thousand gals a week

[TRod]

Use 87 octane and you'll get fresher fuel. That's all I put in and no pings with standard heat platinum plugs.

[jimmy450r]

I think the 9 has iridium spark plugs

[antmor69]

I think the 9 has iridium spark plugs

Not from the factory.

[keitho]

Use 87 octane and you'll get fresher fuel. That's all I put in and no pings with standard heat platinum plugs.

I agree that you will get fresher fuel buying 87 octane but the manual says run at least 90 octane. Wish mine would run on that but I still get pinging "spark knock" running 93 octane. Not a fan of ethanol!

[fatboy99]

I would stick to high octane... spark knocking/ detonating very very bad. burnt plugs makes me think lean mixture and hard starting

[TRod]

I think the 9 has iridium spark plugs

I was in error. They are iridium but they don't come stock.

[TRod]

I agree that you will get fresher fuel buying 87 octane but the manual says run at least 90 octane. Wish mine would run on that but I still get pinging "spark knock" running 93 octane. Not a fan of ethanol!

The addition of ethanol actually raises the octane rating a few points (89 versus 87). However, it has a little less energy than gas.

[Big-B]

I was in error. They are iridium but they don't come stock.

Let's book mark this day in history!!

[grampi]

I don't know, my regular ol' NGKs have over 10K on them and the bike runs perfectly....

[TRod]

Let's book mark this day in history!!

Maybe you should go find something to do, like work.

[Kevin Nyberg]

I am thinking that my nine needs a power pro, it has OEM NGK's in it and the first set was fine but since then I have drilled out the baffles in the pipes and I think that threw me farther into a lean condition, thats why the plugs only lasted 10,000 miles. So its looking like I have to spend some money and get a fuel manager into it to monitor the amounts of fuel. I can't think of any other reason, I use top of the line shell gas in a station that has a large volume of customers and should be turning over its fuel supply at a fairly good rate. I think on the next set of plugs I would or should put in platinums because they handle the ethanol better than the stock NGK's. Well if anyone tells you that you can just drill your pipes with out changing anything else, that you don't need to put a fuel managment system in, I am living proof that that is a big pile of horsesh*t. If your change anything on this nine air intakes,drill your pipes, you have change the system and need a fuel manager and then you won't produce the lean condition that burns up spark plugs in 10,000 miles

[Big-B]

Maybe you should go find something to do, like work.

Why, it's more fun hounding you!!

[Kevin Nyberg]

Your supposed to work and play well with others, Not creat riffs in communication, and alway remember everyone is entitled to their opinion even if it doesn't agree with yours. Now shake hands and be well with each other..... your communication police force at work......

[Big-B]

Your supposed to work and play well with others, Not creat riffs in communication, and alway remember everyone is entitled to their opinion even if it doesn't agree with yours. Now shake hands and be well with each other..... your communication police force at work......

Me, play well w/ Tbag, NEVER!!!!

[grampi]

If your change anything on this nine air intakes,drill your pipes, you have change the system and need a fuel manager

It has been said many times in this site these bikes come from the factory running lean, so I agree...in fact, a bone stock 9 would probably run better with a fuel manager...