Howdy all.....got a question about a spark plug pattern I have not seen before. I changed the spark plug out of the 500 X2 this weekend from the OEM recommended BKR6E to a NGK BKR6EIX-11. The plug I removed has a pattern of half black and half white on the porcelain tip. On the other two plugs that I have changed from the same X2 are consistent with an all off-white color to the tip. Any one know what this half and half pattern indicates? The milage on the plugs from left to right are 969.0, 831.0 and 1707.0. Also, anybody have any experience with Iridium type plugs?.....any advantage to the Iridium NGK's besides the advertising hype or is there much of a difference......Thanx.....NoJoke

 

Look at this as far as using the -11 plug NGK Sparkplug Codes Gap is really considered too wide. Main thing to check is the electrode tip. As long as it's brown or light grey (from the NGK site) the plug is normal. Iridium is supposed to give a better spark on newer electronic engines with less current,but sure as hell won't work on an old Honda Nighthawk! Fouled em out real quick. I'd stick with oem required plug either Bkr5ES or Bkr6ES if you do faster riding. Plus standard gap is .028-032. Just my OPT

 

Howdy OPT......... just picked up a NGK BKR6E to replace the Iridium.........they were working well before so I might as well stick with them. I noticed the book calls for .035 gap.......did you find it best to set at .028 to .032 ? I ride mostly the desert areas of Nevada and no ethonal fuel..........Thanx again........NoJoke

 

The older 1996-2003 Sportsman 500 pdf manual I've got called for .028- .032 but set it what your manual calls for with the newer ignition systems. OPT

 

Gotcha.