Iridium Plugs May be Better than I Thought!

[oldchopperguy]

Well Rebs and Rebettes, I just got surprised by a genuine performance-improvement from installation of an Iridium plug!

The 5th riding season on my Xingyue Eagle 150 is coming to a close, and the original spark plug is about at the end of its useful life... It was an NGK, rather than the "Torch" plugs often factory installed.

So... I pulled it and installed the Iridium NGK plug I had purchased 4 years ago, during my "learning-curve" on these Chinese wonders... You know: carbs, starters, valve-stems, fuel lines, CDI's, coils and all the other little "perks" that teach us how to wrench cross-threadded nuts, and keep these rides under a grand... LOL!

Since the scooter had generally run quite well all these years, I had honestly expected the Iridium plugs to be more hype than actual improvement... Wrong!

It now starts quicker, idles smoother, accelerates snappier and revs a little higher than it ever has. In short, there was a noticeable (maybe 5%) improvement in general running.

The MOST noticeable improvement is on initial acceleration, especially up-hill, and riding heavily loaded, or with a passenger. THIS is an important area with these little scoots. As small as these engines are, we can ALWAYS use a little better performance in that area.

Sorry to not be posting very often... Just a LOT of work to do, complicated by some health issues. But whenever I find something that really does improve the scoot, I like to pass it on.

It's also good to see one pushing 6 years old that remains dependable and enjoyable to ride!

Ride safe!

Leo in Texas

[Rebel]

You still have a spark Leo.

Thanks for the review .

[oldchopperguy]

Hey Rebel,

That is the fastest reply I've ever had! Yeah, I'm not dead yet... Just feel that way some days before noon... LOL!

At my age, I often discount "miracle" performance products (like $10 spark plugs...) as "an answer to a question nobody's asking" but early-on, I got the Iridium plug just because everybody said they were good. Also, before I spent the first entire season curing all the nasties the Chinese gremlins had put in "Lil' Bubba"... By the second season it was running great, and has ever since.

Last week, I noticed a little ragged idle, and figured (correctly... SURPRISE!) it was the plug getting tired. I was glad to see it showed a good fuel mix, but it was wearing thin. I surprised myself by actually FINDING the Iridium plug... And, it did make a big difference. Judging by others' posts, they have also found them to be worth the investment too...

Strictly by accident, I'm able to also bring you a review of a 2012 Vespa...

Yesterday, while visiting the missus' chiropractor, he showed me his shiny-new, bright-red, fuel-injected Vespa! Hmmm... After taking it for a test-ride, I can honestly tell the world that it IS possible to comfortably cruise 65 mph+ on a 150 scooter with small wheels.

Double-Hmmm.... LOL!

Dang thing ROARS up to 72 mph on the speedo (which he's had checked for accuracy) and the monocoque frame/body is as rigid as... well, trust me, there's NO flex, and NO wobble at ANY speed... I sorta like the full-quill ostrich leather seat, too. Although the plastic seat on my Chinese ride fits two Texas-sized riders much better... LOL!

The quality, fit and finish on the little beastie (and it indeed is LITTLE) is perfect, and the overall performance is fully 175% above anything I've experienced on any 150 Chinese scoot... But the PRICE... Cheesh! For the cost of a NICE used car, it OUGHT to be nice!

If I recall, it uses an 11" front wheel and a 10" rear, with little anorexic tires, and the wheelbase is short. BUT, it cruises at over 65 as easily as a mid-sized motorcycle. So... I see that it CAN be done on a 150, so long as you don't care what it costs... LOL!

I guess you do get what you pay for, but the fuel-injected Vespa costs somewhere around 6 or 7-times the price of a typical 150 carbureted Chinese scoot. I liked the fabulous quality, and LOVED being able to BLAST onto the freeway and keep up with traffic, BUT... All things considered, I'm still pretty happy with my $700 wonder...

Chow! Or is it "Cao"? Naahhh... In REB land, it's CHOW!

Leo

[Deleted]

LEO very glad to see this post.

I have always seen a improvment with rare metal plugs.

But i have not yet put one in my xingyue 180, but went to order one 3 days ago and got busy and signed out first, but will go order in the next few minutes.

The down side is tho, i have seen them go thru gas faster too.

Aswell as run the engine a little hotter.

SPROCKET told me in a private pm a new cdi every 7or8 thousand miles makes a world of difference because the capacitors wear out, and that proved so friggin true I was amazed.

Same with coil, spark wire and plug cap.

I like to run rich for cooling purposes, I would be very interested in if that new rare metal plug makes you run leaner, my guess is it would, till A/F adjusted otherwise

We have all seen your eagle eye on these things, so i hope you will post observations on the above.

Lastly xingyue engines are not generic low grade, much more upper shelf
you can get xingyue original parts at below

if you have a tax id for dealing, the parts are even cheaper

And we all hope your health issues are on the wane

www.bmsmotorparts.com/

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[terrilee]

i have to agree.
when i had my magneto/ stator die on me
i went though alot to get parts, etc, etc
after she was up and running,
i noticed small backfires when decelerating

i asked on all the forums.
did all the fixes. Nothing worked
finally after weeks of experiments
i pulled my plug and saw that it was a replacement
i had put in at the beginning of trying to diagnose the
dead magneto.
got a another ird NGK a few days later
BAM no more backfires.

i asked on all the forums and no one ever heard of it
BUT HEY IF IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[oldchopperguy]

Great observations one and all!

I'll surely check the Xingyue parts link! I have checked the Xingyue website in China, and it is impressive... At least they indicate they make all the bells and whistles in-house... Mine did come with a Gates belt, and NGK plug. HOWEVER... It also came with a bad starter, "square wheels" most all major bolts cross-threaded and as mentioned, the CDI and coil did go bad the very first month... Not exactly the level of quality shown on the website... LOL! Dang thing SURE has nice paint though!

With all those little irritations cured the first season, "Lil 'Bubba" has performed flawlessly now for four years, so I'm not complaining... If it ain't broke, I don't fix it... My scoot also had a habit of the backfire during deceleration, which HAS disappeared with the new plug replacement. Actually, I believe the small backfires happen upon deceleration from high speed because unburned fuel vapor fills the muffler, then ignites in a noticeable "bang". My scoot was running "on-the-money" neither rich or lean, but still did that.

My guess is that the Iridium plug burns the fuel in the combustion chamber more efficiently than the regular plug, which prevents so much unburned fuel from collecting in the muffler. That phenomenon would also explain the better initial acceleration under load, uphill, and elimination of the slight "flat spot" upon quick opening of the throttle. I never could completely eliminate that even with endless carb adjusting, but the new plug did it.

I don't know how much riding I'll still get in this season, but I'll check the mileage and see if the new plug is showing any lean-running, and post the results.

My health issues are not all that serious, but the missus has some real problems that keep me pretty busy when I'm not trying to eek out a living. It's all manageable, but I have VERY little free time. That's the only reason I'm not on the site more often.

I have a new variator sitting around now for two years which I really need to slap on... THOSE can do WONDERS for top end and gas mileage. I guess I've been waiting for the belt to wear out before changing it, but the belt only has nicely broken in... JUST RIGHT for the new, taller variator!

And, as they do, the muffler is disintegrating from the inside and needs replacing. (Well, not really, they just sound like a rusty bird cage, but don't affect performance). I also have a neat stainless-steel 150 hi-perf exhaust laying around which I actually found inside a junk couch at a thrift store! They wanted $8 for the couch, and I offered them $5 for the exhaust and they could keep the couch... They agreed!

It won't quite "bolt on" to my particular scooter, and will require some cutting, fitting and mounts made. Easy enough, but again, takes time. Now I have a good excuse!

I've held off on that project because it will surely require re-jetting and needle adjustment of the carb which drove me nuts in the beginning... Had to re-jet several times, and actually lathe-turn the needle to raise it nearly 1/4" higher than its highest factory setting. The exhaust system is one of those "2-stroke style" expansion/contraction chamber jobs with a "stinger" muffler facing forward. Some riders love 'em, some hate 'em on a 4-stroke. Me, I liked the price... And, it's unused, mint and nicely made... Some guy must have hidden it from the missus in the couch before the divorce... LOLOLOL!

I've talked with local guys using them and indeed they claim to have gotten some great results with the system pulling the exhaust out of the engine, very, VERY remotely similar to the 2-stroke engines, and producing a VERY slight supercharging effect. (PLEEZE, no nasty posts from 2-stroke gurus... I'm no expert on aspiration, just trying a $5 exhaust fix, and noting it's worked for others...). But... lean, lean, LEAN running! Definite carb tweeking needed with them. And they're LOUD... HeHeHe... Oh well, my old ears are not so sensitive... and in my "hood" mufflers on ANYTHING are rare, so the neighbors won't mind.

I don't post often, but I'll surely pass on anything I learn, either good or bad for you Rebs and Rebettes out there.

And, TERRILEE, Cheesh, 67 mph on a Chinese 150? Be still my beating heart, you got you a GOOD one! Vespa? "You don't need no stinking Vespa..." Way to go!

Ride safe!

Leo in Texas

[terrilee]

Leo

thanks
yea she's one of a kind.
my "Chrissy"
and the greatest thing is she's still all STOCK

now i doubt if i can her that fast now
she needs a new belt, prob new sliders/rollers
etc ,she does have almost 8,000 miles on her

but yea the few scoot people i ride with around here
all swear she most be bored & stroked , BBK etc
but nope all stock
SHANGHAI SCHENKE

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Deleted]

gee Leo, that was so nice i read it twice

I have as of yet to find a china xingyue site, can you print that link here.

XINGYUES consistently run rich, which may account for their long life, i am sure if i just changed the head on my old one when the valve bent i could have gotten another 2-4000 miles past the 14,300 mark, plus i was running boron oil.

they also don't like modded air intake boxes, as most bikes don't like the change in ventorie air flow.

but we always face the problems that if we lose too much suction to increased air flow, we reduce gas flow from the carb, which as i understand it, is dependent on that suction to move up out of the carb

this suction seems very high on the xingyue
meaning they will take a bigger opening for air, cause they have a high suction, more often then a smaller. which shows in their rich burn.

your bad parts


maybe your bike was a quick trip to china for a dealer.
I have learned to never put it past a bike dealer to change out parts to a "need it now" customer with cash so the dealer can meet payroll, and put clean old parts on a bike, at this date, i don't trust dealers as far as i can throw them.

xingyues most times cost 2 -- 5ths more cause they are more at the wholesale cost and as such considered upper tier bikes just below syms, tho a jump below.

BLUEFRONT said xingyue is solely sold by bms now,

I am not sure, I just know with all the old bikes getting fixed ,,,new sales are not what they expected, I also see, a lot more old fixed bikes then new.

for ten bucks at scrappy, you can try a new CDI, on my bike it was a real improvement.

MY STARTER CLUTCH, is sounding worse please see-

scooterrebels.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=125plus&action=display&thread=2032&page=2

and all best wishes for you and your wife's good health.

[Deleted]

I don't think they import these

but very pretty and 22 horse power

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[oldchopperguy]

I found the Xingyue factory site: en.xingyue.com/

If that address doesn't work, just search for China Xingyue Group Co., ltd . Their website is totally new since I first found it. Originally, it was at least half propaganda promoting the Chinese "system" and the fact that Xingyue paid the government its "fee"... LOL! to be a stand-alone company operating with nearly "American-style" democratic autonomy, rather than a Communist, state-run business.

The new site is pretty contemporary and features a lot of mixed products.

Hey, Terrilee, I understand about the rare factory-stock extra-good runner phenomenon. It's like the old 1873 Winchester "1 of 1,000" rifles. I had a pal back in 1967 who got a Chevy that way. Bone stock, and fast as lightning. He won all sorts of major drag competitions and finally got tired of being protested every time, and having to tear down the engine to prove it was stock...

HeHeHe, I also love your avatar... Jessica Rabbit is definitely hot!

Terra Nuvo, thanks for the Xingyue tips! You're right for sure about the intake. It took me months to finally "get mine right". They want AIR and plenty of it! Also, the electronics fixes are great. I settled on a fairly inexpensive "New Racing" CDI off eBay (Don't you just HATE stupid trade names like that...?). And, a Japanese Bando coil. The combo works GREAT!

I can't say my particular scoot was more expensive than most... It was a major bargain at $670 delivered to my door. Even back then, most 150's were around $800 plus a hundred for shipping!

It's a top end Eagle with disks front and back, big trunk, better dash with tach (and be still my beating heart; both tach and speedo are ACCURATE!). It also had the diamond-plate style aluminum floorboard, fancy grips, a Yuasa battery, Gates belt and NGK plug and remote start (along with the infamous and annoying alarm, and cell-phone alert light with beeper that goes off every time I pass a restaurant with a big micro-wave oven...).

Best part REALLY was the paint... mostly black with a dusting of multi-color metalflake with a shine like glass. The Chinese don't seem to know how to THREAD a bolt BEFORE applying the Pneumatic wrench, BUT they sure do know how to apply lacquer!

Back to the grindstone for now...

Ride safe one and all!

Leo

[Deleted]

LEO

heres the deal i have found, there is a generic bunch of xingyues that go out to no re brander and they are hit or miss in a big way, maybe they are seconds.

everybody wants to trump the greatness of their bike, and xingyue has some real above average talents, but they are still open to falling into the rut all bikes up to BMW suffer from, ---

BURN OUTS who run the market flow.

I am certian the jackass's at BMS, where in my engine for parts before i got it, no kick start bushing for one.

What Can Be Done

PDI, and suffer it but do it.

my first bms xingyue got gas put in on the shipping pallet in front of my house and it started the minute i hit the start switch cause they left gas in the bowl.

superior power sports gave me a helmit, bulbs, fuses

but as they got busy the next spring, that kind of care fell apart.

good news is tho, they will fully admit a mystake and take care of you for it.

I think the scooter market went slam dunk on to the american landscape with no preperation, that caused some real big engineering, parts and very real forum social problems, the scooter market is in a real big adjustment.

And scooters are not gonna become less expensive, but they will get better.

Meanwhile, some of us have been very graced, truly blessed with a great deal,

And we own these things, not the bank.

Add to that the friends we have made, the heroic spouses that stay by our sides, and the healing that comes slowly as we re--adjust to this whole new american landscape, and we have much more to be happy about then sad.

Much more to be happy about then sad.

if we just sober up and count our blessings.

I am gonna do a thead on making a cheap coil, spark wire and cap more conductive, I would like to run it by you before i put it up on new topics if you can find the moment to "intelligence check it"

hahahahahahahaha

BOY I am really trying to squeeze things here, trying to get a extra watt out of chinese copper.

Which as i read is made out of recycled american motorola TV tube transformer yokes.

just think LEO, the wire that used to bring the WALTONS into our living rooms
now sparks a NGK spark plug.


hahahahahahahahah

I really Hope I made you grin, keep the faith and stay frosty

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[oldchopperguy]

Hey Terra Nuvo,

I understand the "made for the masses" phenomenon with the Chinese scoots, and the associated little "inconveniences"... LOL!... Xingyue has their own problems too, but in general they're pretty good.

Mine didn't do anything different (or worse) than most, and for 4 years now, it's been trouble-free. (Sure wish they'd put that 180 cc engine in the regular 150 platform!)

You may have a good idea about upgrading the cheap coils and spark wires for better conductivity, but you really can upgrade to MUCH better quality for relatively little expense. I believe I paid around $15 for my CDI, $20 for the Bando coil and ignition wire and snagged a genuine Mikuni carb for less than $40 all off eBay. The doggone carb STILL needed major modding though to get it to run right...

I'm sure you're right about scoots not getting any cheaper, especially as our dollar continues to lose value. Cheesh, in Sept. of 2007, gold was around $780 an oz. Today, it's around $1,800 an oz. Our money only buys less than half of what it used to... No wonder we can't live like we did a few years ago on the same, or even better money.

There are quite a few scooters around my area, mainly thanks to a FRIENDLY Honda dealer, and a REAL scooter dealership who sells most EVERY kind of Japanese, Tiawanese, Korean and Italian scooter... No Chinese scoots, but some slick mid-sized Chinese motorcycles.

Incidentally, BOTH of these dealerships are very friendly to Chinese scooter riders. The Honda dealer GAVE me a selection of jets to try in my new carb, and the multi-brand scooter store is always happy to try to meet the parts needs of Chinese scooter jockeys.

Both stores realize that we may someday upgrade to a more upscale ride, and they treat all the potential customers like royalty. Pretty good business I'd say!

My Wife gets a kick out my interest in anything on 2 wheels... Back in the late thirties, her first transportation to grade school up in Maine was a horse! She "upgraded" to a Ford Model A in the early forties, and didn't drive a car with an automatic tranny until the sixties... She's old school to the max!

As always, RIDE SAFE!

Leo

[Deleted]

Leo said--

There are quite a few scooters around my area, mainly thanks to a FRIENDLY Honda dealer, and a REAL scooter dealership who sells most EVERY kind of Japanese, Tiawanese, Korean and Italian scooter... No Chinese scoots, but some slick mid-sized Chinese motorcycles.

I think the quality of the dealers in ones area make all the difference in the world to the whole scooter community at large, if you can get a good upbeat dealer, who can keep folks happy, provide quick parts and be honest, the whole local scooter community takes off and flys.

Where i live there is nothing, I don't know why, but as any almanac will show you, SC is very disoraganized on everything.


Leo said--
My Wife gets a kick out my interest in anything on 2 wheels... Back in the late thirties, her first transportation to grade school up in Maine was a horse! She "upgraded" to a Ford Model A in the early forties, and didn't drive a car with an automatic tranny until the sixties... She's old school to the max!


when i was very young, we got TV stations from some big city, I was watching a petridge farm commerical and they showed some guy delivering milk and bread by horse and buggy, i looked out the window and saw our milkman 's horse and buggy comming up our street.

We lived way out in the country, i did not know the commerical was supposed to nostalgia, we still had horse and buggy delivery

[Rebel]

Now we understand.

[Deleted]

Oct 10, 2012 20:56:32 GMT -5 Rebel said:

Now we understand.

your just jealous i got to pet a horse.

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