Saw these spark plugs in a magazine and wondered if they actually work. Supposed to provide smooth starts and improve acceleration. Do they really work and how much are they?

They do seen harder to foul, making it easier to start for a longer period of time. Iridium is another rare earth metal like platinum, very hard and durable. From a dealer they are $10-11, but I've seen them on the web for $7.50 or so, which isn't bad since my local dealer wants $6 for the plain CR8E. Check out www.sparkplugs.com

6 bucks for a ngk i pay 4.50 for a cr8e

6 bucks for a ngk i pay 4.50 for a cr8e

My local dealer is a "stealer".
Thank goodness for the internet.

I pay 5.50 Canadian.

4.50 USD and 5.50 CAN are for CR8E right? The NGK irridium CR8EIX plugs cost more since the dealer's price is already around $6 USD - check with Bardwell Yamaha 1-800-952-4270, I picked up a couple irridium plugs from Kirk for $6.50(?) along with my e-cam and a tub of Bel Ray waterproof grease (~$3 USD), Kirk will give you a good deal if you're also picking up the e-cam (or other parts) from them...

www.sparkplugs.com has them for $6.95 ea + S/H. That's where I get mine. Order in bulk to spread out shipping costs.

I started buying the Denso Irridium plugs. $10.50/ plug . I find they are better than the NGKs. And I ran NGK Irridiums before.
They are harder to foul. And I find the bikes starts easier.

Later,
Chad

Just be glad you don't have a V8.

I drive a supercharged Ford lightning. The guys on the f150 forums rave about the Denso Irridiums. The stock plugs are platinum but when they start doing performance mods lots of guys switch to the irridiums.

I think the key thing is to have the right heat range whatever you do.
Greg

Does anyone on here ever have problems fouling plugs? Has anyone ever had to replace a plug because the metal wore out?

As to the Iridium plugs, I went riding this weekend with a 2-stroke friend of mine. He has had intermittent problems with plug fouling, especially while trail riding. The place we went was a 10 mile loop that was mostly turns, so you had to keep the throttle low most of the time. When we started out, he put in a brand new iridium plug and it fouled halfway through the loop. Replaced it with another iridium plug and that lasted one whole lap. Replaced that with a regular $5 plug and that lasted him the rest of the day. (3 more laps). So as far as he is concerned the claim that they are harder to foul is bunk. More durable maybe but they seem to foul just as easy or easier.

Now I on the other hand have never fouled a plug. I have only changed the plug once, and that was because I had the engine all apart anyway.

I agree, they seemed to foul easier on my 426 also.

I believe plugs tend to foul when you're running too rich and/or at low RPM. The engine needs to get up in the RPM to its proper running temperature for the proper heat range plug to do its self cleaning (i.e. something like 850oF to burn off the fuel and any carbon deposits). If you have the wrong heat range plug or if you're running too rich at low RPM, you'll tend to foul plugs because of the description above. 2 strokes are more prone to fouling at low RPM because of the pre-mix fuel (i.e. oil) and carbon deposits at low RPM, hence they need to be revved to clean/burn/blow that stuff off of the plug. 4 strokes don't foul as easily since they burn cleaner without the needed oil in the fuel.

$4.50 for a plug, damn i REALLY need to move to the US, the rate in one of the largest places in the country was 20 euro for a NGK CR8E!!! ...and i had to pay it...