Modern Vespa

Checking on the availability of the iridium plugs for my
2005 Vespa ET4

I'll take 2 of the NGK's if you have them to fit.

Thanks for organizing the group buy!

--Deborah

Thank you, and that's the point I was at earlier. There is contradicting
information out there. Like this chart (source unknown):



Vespa's own recommendation is the Champion RG4PHP, and the
x-referenced are the colder NGK 9 and Denso 27.

Further, on NGK's site, it says that the hotter running engines need the
colder plugs, so I thought that for running the GTS at higher speeds, for
longer times (not just five minutes), where the engine gets to its higher
end of the temperature spectrum, the colder end of the plug spectrum
might be the better choice.

Any comments from engineers, mechanics, people who know?

My manual says either Champion RG6YC or NGK CR7EB if that helps.

Thanks again!

Lisa

Yes, that does help. It is the second incidence where the above x-ref chart is off by +1 on the NGK side.

So it should, indeed, be the 8/24 for a GTS.

Some of you are on the wrong path for which spark plugs to buy. I'm tempted to help you out, but the whole point of this thread is to save $3.50 by circumventing knowledgeable dealers. We've made many of the same mistakes because they seem like obvious answers, but they don't end up being correct. What would any of you do in my same situation? Should I help you all out in not doing business with our shop, or should I just let you guys work it out on your own?

What if we do this group buy through your shop and you purchase from sparkplugs.com? You'll make some, we save some, and the original effort is still rewarded.

We're so swamped with orders at the moment. I'm putting in about 20 hours more per week than I'm signed up for just to get orders out in a timely fashion. So, I don't have time for such a thing, but here's some hints...

Have any of you purchased an iridium spark plug for a leader engine from us? If you have, look at the box, and your answer will be there on which one to buy. And, I'll give you another hint... the US ET2 is not the "carb" model, at least not as far as the Malossi catalog is concerned. Most of the parts for the "carb" model don't work on the ET2's we get here in the states. I don't know if that makes a difference regarding plugs.

Hi Max!

I ordered a few of these NGK Iridium plugs from you. The pic of the plug that I posted above is from your shop. All I can see on the box is the UPC numbers under the bar code. It doesn't have a model number of the plug. Anyway, dont feel bad about helping out fellow MV members. As you can see, many of us are ordering plugs for our cars too. I need to order about 10 plugs, so 10 x $3.50 = $35 saving! otherwise, if I just have to order 1 or 2 plugs, I would of order them from you.

BTW Max...I'm still waiting for your reply regarding the Polini Variator for my LX150

Max, your points are well taken. Thanks for weighing in.

From the sounds of things, your loyal customer base [which includes legions of MV members] is keeping you plenty busy! 8)

--Deborah

The correct non-iridium plug for the ET2 is a BR9ES. The difference being it is a resistor type plug. I'll let sparkplugs.com help you with the iridium equivalent, because we don't carry those, and I don't want to mislead you.

The CR8EIX is correct except it doesn't come with the threaded knob on the top for the larger hole spark plug caps. It only comes with the bare threads at the top which won't work. I think that is what the special "B" designation might be.

Thank you Max for weighing in. I just ordered some parts from you guys the other day, so don't feel you are sending our business elsewhere!

Sparkplugs, was the original assessment of iridium plug # BR9EIX for the US ET2 correct? Meaning the iridium equivalent of the resistor type BR9ES sparkplug.

Just want to make sure I put myself down for the right ones!

Thanks

Thanks for sharing that information, Max.

I posted the parts# for the screw-on cap somewhere in this thread.

As long as it has a "R" in there, it will be the resistor type.

Or you can order one with a B designation and skip having to order the caps separately.

{edit}I checked the sparkplugs.com site, and they don't seem to have the correct plugs for sale that come with the threaded cap, so I would make sure to get the caps too. {/edit}

I think that there is too much confusion involved here. I was going to put in for a couple plugs but now it seems that there is no guarantee that I will get a spark plug that is correct.

I don't want to have to order a separate "cap". I would just want a spark plug that is correct out of the box.

I mean c'mon. It's just a friggin' spark plug...

The vintage vespas don't have resistor type caps, so I don't know if the BR7EIX will work.

Also, remember that when it comes to Vintage, it's short reach plugs for all 150cc bikes except the Stella and some really early models. The stella and and bikes above 150cc take a long reach.

Nothing polini for LX150 in stock at the moment. We had some from a few year ago, but it looks like they got sold over the years.

Wow, I missed a lot overnight! I'll try to take one questions at a time here:


Vespa ET4 - CR7EB
Vespa ET4 125 - CR8EB/CR8EIX
_________________
Moped - the chart was actually created by us and taken off our website. (I know its posted in a lot of places on the net). On our site, there is a note attached that reads: This cross-reference is provided as a convenience only. Due to differences in design and material by each manufacturer, you may not always arrive at the proper equivelant heat range when crossing from one brand to another. We recommend use of application search for specific plug application.
-Basically, in an ideal world, all the plugs recommended by manufacturers would cross over into the exact comparable heat range. However, each manufacturer either takes the data from the vehicle manufacturer and decides what their best plug would be, or they take existing data from other spark plug manufacturers and cross it over to their equivilents. If there are two recommendations from NGK - one for hotter running, its always better to err on the side of too cold than too hot. Too hot a plug will destroy the engine, too cold a plug will just foul out.
________________________
Iridium equivilent of BR9ES would be BR9EIX
_________________________
The special design designation at the end of a plug ("A", "B", etc.) means that there is a special design in relation to the plug tip.
________________________
In regards to the resistor covers(plug caps), this isn't something that may or may not be required depending on the plug you're using. Resistor spark plugs were created for vehicles to prevent radio frequency interference from messing with electronic ignition components. On power sport applications, the spark plugs are not usually enough on their own to supress this "noise". Resistor covers were created to meet noise suppression standards to reduce interference with ignition components which could otherwise create misfires and poor engine performance. Therefore, if an application requires a resistor cover, its not really an optional part.
________________________
CR8EB does happen to have a solid terminal. CR8EIX does have a studed terminal. When choosing your plug cap, there is usually a version for each. LB05E is the recommend cap for most Vespas and Piaggios. LB05E is for the CR8EB, or plugs that have a removable/solid terminal nut. LB05F would be the exact same cap, except made for a threaded terminal stud. If you need to check on the terminal type of the plug you're ordering, just type the part number into sparkplugs.com and when you roll over the part, the description on the left hand side should tell you. It lists the terminal type for about 90% of plugs.
_______________________
If the ET2 is carb, the correct plug is BR9ES/BR9EIX
If the ET2 is fuel injected, the correct plug is DCPR9EIX
_______________________

I'll try to create a post with all scooters mentioned in this thread and their recommended plugs so members don't have to fish through all the posts.

Here is a running list of the plugs for all applications thusfar mentioned:

50cc:
Vespa ET 4 50 2006+ = PMR7A
ET2 Fuel Injected 98+ = DCPR9EIX
ET2 carb 98+ = BR9ES/BR9EIX
Vespa ET 4 02-05 = CR9EB/CR9EIX
Vespa ET2 IE = DCPR9EIX

125cc:
ET 4 automatic = CR7EB/CR7EIX
Vespa ET4 99+ = CR7EB/CR7EIX
Vespa ET4 125 01/96+ = CR8EB/CR8EIX
Vespa special ET4 Carb = CR8EB/CR8EIX

150cc:
Vespa 150 ET4 -01 = CR7E/CR7EIX
Vespa 150 ET4 01-02 = CR8EB/CR8EIX
Vesps 150 ET4 02+ = CR7EB/CR7EIX
LX 150 = CR7EB/CR7EIX
LT150 = CR7EB/CR7EIX
Chetak 150 = BPR5HS

200cc:
GT200 = CR8EIB-10

250cc:
Vespa GTS 250 2006+ = CR8EB/CR8EIX (CR9EIX recommended if running hot)
Vespa GTS 250 IE 2006+ = CR8EB/CR8EIX (CR9EIX recommended if running hot)

_________________
1995 Corolla 1.8L = BKR5EIX
2000 Mazda Protege (1.8L) = BKR5EIX-11
2000 Mazda Protege (1.6L) = ZFR5IX-11
2005 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L = TR55IX

__________________

Maybe Motorsport Scooters can help us out with some questions on plug caps. Max - NGK's catalog lists LB05F (for threaded terminal stud, LB05E would be cap for solid terminal) for almost all Vespas and Piaggios, but doesn't include listings for most of the models in question. Is this cap correct for all scooters listed, or can you help us out with any exceptions you are aware of.

The LT150 2003 owners manual lists NGK CR7EB so I guess it's the same as the LX 150.

Lisa

Need some clarification here. My 2005 ET4 is 150cc. Do you have the 02-05 ET4's miscategorized?

Thanks,

--Deborah

Sorry, I missed one, there's also a Vesps 150 ET 4 02+ = CR7EB/CR7EIX

Thanks for the addition!

I just wanted to say that I have personally had better experiance with Cr9eix plugs in my Sportcity, than the CR8eix, even though most of my riding is in urban stop and go traffic. The CR8, just burned to hot, while the Cr9 plug is perfect. If you have any upgrades or run alot of highway miles the cooler plug is probably the way to go.

Oh, and I got both the CR8eix and the Cr9eix at O'Reilys Auto parts store for $6.60 each and they all came with caps on em.

Natasha, this is perfect and will make things very easy to understand. I for one have learned a ton from all of these posts and will never look at a sparkplug the same again.

For GT manual states champion RG6YC. I purchased an NGK iridium from Scooterwest, part CR8EIB-10. I've yet to install it. So since it came from them, I'm assuming this is the correct plug for my scoot.

Chad when you find out which spark plug for the Chetak let me know...
I'm even more lazy than you...
hehe

So many plugs...


I'm a bit lost as to which plug is preferred for the 06 Bajaj Chetak...

Natasha, if you would get together with Boris and then let me know I would dig it...

What is the difference between the 2 brands?

thanks

Cowboydoug

Oh... I will take 2 of whatever........haha

This is the version of the CR8EIX that comes with the appropriate threaded cap.

Is it the 21st yet?

I want to change my order!

In light of what Max has said, ideally I would like to order:

4 NGK CR8EIB10

http://www.ngk.com/results_cross.asp?pid=CR8EIB10&x=44&y=10

Please let me know if this is possible, thanks!

They are not processing any order yet. They just wanted to know how many people are committed to ordering so that they may give us the appropriate discount. On July-21, sparkplugs.com will tally up all the commitments and will issue a discount code for all MV members to use. So far it looks like we broke the 64 minimum barrier for the 20% discount.

I have been very busy with work lately but I will see if we can get started or placing orders later this week.

I just wanted to be sure that I was down for the quoted items above, I have changed my posts to reflect my revised wishes. I realize that the orders are not placed yet, I just wanted to change what I requested before it was ordered. Thanks!

NGK's iridium plugs have a 0.6mm center electrode.

Denso's have a 0.4mm center electrode.

NGK's IX iridium's are almost half the price of Denso's iridium power plugs.

From a scientific point of view, the smaller the center electrode, the less voltage required to jump the gap which means fewer misfires, which equates to higher mileage and more horsepower.

On the other hand, some have raised the question as to how small is too small, and some say that the smaller center electrode wears faster (creating a larger gap which would creates misfires).

after re-reading some posts, I just wanted to clarify the use of the word "cap", as some may have been mislead here...

The end of the spark plug that connects to your wires or resistor cover is called the "terminal end". Terminal ends come in 3 different ways: Removable, Solid and Threaded Stud.

-Solid terminal types are permanently screwed on to the plug, there is no way to remove them. These types of terminals are good for power sport applications where there is a lot of vibration, but in order to use them, you have to make sure your wires/resistor caps are made for plugs with a terminal nut.

-Threaded Studs are plugs with a bare end - there is no nut on them, just a small thread. These plugs come this way because most of the applications that require them have wires/resistor covers that require a threaded terminal end and not one with a nut. If your application uses a plug with a threaded stud, and your wires/resistor covers need a terminal nut, you will have to purchase one terminal nut for each plug. On our site, the part number is 067606-0051. Not a huge deal, they're like $.10 each.

-Removable type terminal ends give you the ability to use them with either type of wires/resistor covers. If your wires require a studed terminal end, just remove the terminal nut.

On some posts, it appears that terminal nuts have been referred to as "caps". So just as clarification, if the plug that your application requires comes in the form of a removable terminal end, great, you've got all your bases covered. But out of the selection of plugs that you can use for your application, you may not have an option of choosing between terminal types. If all that is available to you is a plug with a threaded terminal end, and your wires/resistor covers require a terminal nut, you'll just have to purchase the $.10 item.

__________
Resistor covers have also been referred to as "caps".
As you know, our cars have wire sets that attach to the spark plugs. On power sport applications, its already been discussed that the manufacturer may have installed a resistor cover to improve the engines performance.
Say you take a spark plug wire from your car, and you cut off the dust boot cover that connects to the plug. All you'd be left with is the wire or cable. If your scooter has a resistor cover, one end of the resistor cover is connected to the spark plug. The other end of the resistor cover has a cable that has been pushed into the resistor cover.

Again, most resistor covers come in two ways - for plugs with terminal nuts, and for plugs with threaded ends. So its very likely that should you have multiple plug options, you'll be able to choose the plug of your choice, then choose the resistor cover that works with that plug.


Hope this clears up some confusion.

only difference between the BP5HS and BPR5HS for the Chetaks is the BPR5HS has a resistor. If in question, better to use the resistor than non-resistor, therefore, the correct plug is BPR5HS.

I'll take 4 plugs for my '07 GTS please.
Thanks

Since the max. discount level requirement has already been met, there's no sense in making ya'll wait around for a few more days.

To redeem your discount for this group buy, visit sparkplugs.com, add to your cart all items you'd like to purchase. Begin checkout, at the second screen there is a location to enter a discount code. The code is "MVIridium" and will give you 20% off all Denso and NGK Iridium plugs in your cart.

If you have any further questions on application information, etc. please feel free to email me directly at Natasha@Sparkplugs.com

wow just went to order and the shipping costs doubled my 2 plug order and I'm in Ca.