Triumphrat

DaleE · 10-27-2005

Spenta couple hours on Tuesday going around looking for the right spark plugs for my T-Bird. Finally I went to the one place where I knew they would have them, but was astonished by the screw-you-buddy attitude in the place. I'm not likely to return there.

The guy who was waiting on me went off to fetch my DPR9EA-9s, but shot back over his shoulder "You got a radio?" "Huh? No, no radio." "Then you won't need resistor plugs," he informs. I take my DP9EA-9s and creep sheepishly out the door.

Now, back at home and my Hayne's manual has finally arrived. There it is, plain as my nose: NGK DPR9EA-9. So I go online, and find this on the NGK website:
"As R.F.I. can also cause premature failure to other electronic components in a modern vehicle, it is important that resistor spark plugs are used to prevent this possibility."

No, I don't have a radio or a GPS or anything like that, but why didn't the guy just give me the DPRs like I asked? Was he doing me some sort of favor, or was he just showing off? And much more importantly, should I order the right plugs at Autozone and replace the ones I just finished struggling with?

jimmyj900 · 10-28-2005

The Gill ignition system was designed to operate with a resistance in the secondary coil circuit. That can be either a resistor spark plug or resistor ignition wires.

Triumph uses non-resistor solid copper wires, so you need resistor spark plugs to fit the design criteria of the system.

The best case scenario is that non-resistor plugs turn your bike into a large radio transmitter and drive every AM radio nuts over a significant radius.

The worst case scenario is that you fry your $900 tacho, $600 ignition module and/or $75 (each) ignition coils.

Personally, I'd stick with the resistor plugs.

As to the guy at the counter, well... you don't find many rocket scientists peddling parts in bike shops...

Jim

DaleE · 10-28-2005

Thanks a lot for the information, Jim. Oh well. I guess I needed more practice on spark plug replacement anyway. I've ridden it a total of about two hours since the new spark plugs went in--not long enough, I hope, to see those worst-case scenarios come about.

We'll see how far I get when I storm back into the shop and demand three new free plugs.

Dale

bigred900 · 10-29-2005

Quote:

The best case scenario is that non-resistor plugs turn your bike into a large radio transmitter and drive every AM radio nuts over a significant radius.

That sounds like it could be a good laff!! :-D