Spark plug recommendations?

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
User avatar

Topic author
WayneJ
Posts: 472
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:15 pm
First Name: Wayne
Last Name: Jorgensen
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Runabout, 1918 Runabout
Location: Batavia, IL
MTFCA Number: 31697
MTFCI Number: 23399
Board Member Since: 2013

Spark plug recommendations?

Post by WayneJ » Tue Oct 29, 2019 4:01 pm

I have a 1915 with the stock head and would like to know what spark plugs folks recommend. The vendors sell adapters for plugs with 14mm threads. The 14mm plugs are less expensive, do they perform as well? Thanks.
Wayne Jorgensen, Batavia, IL
1915 Runabout
1918 Runabout

User avatar

CudaMan
Posts: 2385
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:17 pm
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Strange
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Cut Off Touring (now a pickup)
Location: Hillsboro, MO
MTFCA Number: 30944
MTFCI Number: 23667
Board Member Since: 2013

Re: Spark plug recommendations?

Post by CudaMan » Tue Oct 29, 2019 4:07 pm

Edison 14s if you can find them. I am running a set of them in my 1924 and they stay cleaner than the Champion X plugs I used to run. :)
Attachments
edison_14_spark_plugs.jpg
edison_14_002.jpg
edison_14_002.jpg (53.8 KiB) Viewed 5949 times
edison_14_001.jpg
Mark Strange
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)

User avatar

Humblej
Posts: 1690
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:23 pm
First Name: Jeff
Last Name: Humble
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Canadian built coupe, 1924 TT C-cab, survivor 1924 roadster
Location: Charlevoix, Mi
MTFCA Number: 28034
Board Member Since: 2006

Re: Spark plug recommendations?

Post by Humblej » Tue Oct 29, 2019 4:08 pm

Champion x

User avatar

Ruxstel24
Posts: 2345
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:25 am
First Name: Dave
Last Name: Hanlon
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 24 Touring car
Location: NE Ohio
MTFCA Number: 50191
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: Spark plug recommendations?

Post by Ruxstel24 » Tue Oct 29, 2019 4:11 pm

You can find new repo Campion X or the replacement, (forget the number) on Rockauto pretty reasonably.

User avatar

DanTreace
Posts: 3297
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:56 am
First Name: Dan
Last Name: Treace
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '23 cutoff, '25 touring, '27 touring
Location: North Central FL
MTFCA Number: 4838
MTFCI Number: 115
Board Member Since: 2000
Contact:

Re: Spark plug recommendations?

Post by DanTreace » Tue Oct 29, 2019 4:27 pm

Champion 25 is good long reach for Model T cyl head, better than Motorcraft 1/2” plugs. Just take care to finger tight the terminal nut, electrode is glued. But same is true to preserve any plug terminal post, just snug the nut with finger to lock on plug wire terminal, hold nut and then backward twist the wire terminal to tighten. Never use pliers!
0535EF45-954D-45C4-8703-B2787FA487AE.jpeg
0535EF45-954D-45C4-8703-B2787FA487AE.jpeg (26.04 KiB) Viewed 5931 times

As for adapters, IMO, they keep the plug too high, poorer ignition, you want the spark deep into the compression chamber.
The best way is always the simplest. The attics of the world are cluttered up with complicated failures. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford

User avatar

Jugster
Posts: 161
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 6:41 pm
First Name: Bob
Last Name: Coiro
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Touring
Location: Commack, NY
Board Member Since: 2009

Re: Spark plug recommendations?

Post by Jugster » Tue Oct 29, 2019 4:41 pm

There seems to be some kind of mystique surrounding old-stock Champion X spark plugs. When reading about these plugs on the forum, I can faintly hear the sound of angels singing and herald trumpets blowing.

Super Spark Plug.jpg
Super Spark Plug.jpg (8.23 KiB) Viewed 5921 times

So I purchased a set of Champion X plugs and used them to replace my ordinary, run-of-the-mill, Motorcraft F11 plugs. Surprisingly, the engine didn't like the Champions. It ran rough and with noticeably less power, so I put the Motorcraft plugs back in and the engine was much happier.[/size]


John kuehn
Posts: 3907
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:00 pm
First Name: John
Last Name: Kuehn
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 19 Roadster, 21 Touring, 24 Coupe
Location: Texas
MTFCA Number: 28924

Re: Spark plug recommendations?

Post by John kuehn » Tue Oct 29, 2019 5:23 pm

I guess it depends how correct you want to be. I think there is a ‘mystique’ about Champion X plugs but I have had just as good service with Motorcraft. And they are a lot cheaper. I have some old Western Auto plugs and they run fine. I took them out of my 21 Touring just to keep them and put the Motorcraft back in and they run just as good as the old Western Auto plugs.
To each his own. Same thing goes for motor oil, transmission bands and etc.

I’ve come to the conclusion that each T likes certain things better than others. Seems that way sometimes.

User avatar

David N
Posts: 24
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 6:20 pm
First Name: David
Last Name: Nebelsky
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Touring
Location: Valencia, CA
MTFCA Number: 49476

Re: Spark plug recommendations?

Post by David N » Tue Oct 29, 2019 5:25 pm

I've been using Champion 25's in my 1915 Touring with no problems. I would like to find a good set of X's just to give them a try.

User avatar

Steve Jelf
Posts: 6463
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Jelf
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
MTFCA Number: 16175
MTFCI Number: 14758
Board Member Since: 2007
Contact:

Re: Spark plug recommendations?

Post by Steve Jelf » Tue Oct 29, 2019 5:32 pm

Many plugs are fine. Among new plugs, Autolite 3095 is probably the least expensive (about $12 a set). Those are a good cheap start for awhile, but I've had them fail in less than a year. The Champion 25 fall-apart plugs sometimes come unglued and fall apart. I can't report on the new Champion X plugs because they're too ungodly expensive for me. Even at Rock Auto, probably the least expensive source, they're about $100 for a set of four. Yes, really.

Original Champion X plugs from the teens and twenties are often very good after you clean them up, and can often be found at swap meets for $5 each or less. They sometimes also turn up on eBay.There have probably been over a hundred brands of plugs made for your T, and some of the old ones as as good today as they were a hundred years ago. I'm currently running a set of the old Splitdorf ivory plugs, and they're fine. On the other hand, the Splitdorf green plugs look neat but rarely work.

I often use original Champion X plugs because they are plentiful, cheap, and functional. They were Ford OEM equipment, so they outnumber other old plugs by a lot. Here's a page on those: http://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG95.html

If I needed new plugs I would use the Autolite 3095 while looking for original X's on eBay or at swap meets.

IMG_2522 copy.JPG
These are working OK for me.

One of these days I'll try some Horseshoe or other old brand plugs. I'm still hunting for enough of those Edison 14's to make a set.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring

User avatar

Ruxstel24
Posts: 2345
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:25 am
First Name: Dave
Last Name: Hanlon
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 24 Touring car
Location: NE Ohio
MTFCA Number: 50191
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: Spark plug recommendations?

Post by Ruxstel24 » Tue Oct 29, 2019 5:39 pm

I was chasing a drivability issue this summer, turned out the float level was low.
I took out an early NOS set of Xs and tried a older new set of Autolite 3095s. No problem with them, but I think I will put the Champions back in next spring. ;)

User avatar

TRDxB2
Posts: 5407
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 4:56 pm
First Name: Frank
Last Name: Brandi
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Speedster (1919 w 1926)
Location: Moline IL
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: Spark plug recommendations?

Post by TRDxB2 » Tue Oct 29, 2019 8:31 pm

If price is important (you mentioned 14mm were less expensive -not counting the inserts) consider to buy from RockAuto (AUTOLITE 3095 < $2.50; CHAMPION 525 <$8+). Spark plugs are only as good as the rest of the ignition system.
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
Mick Jagger

User avatar

Steve Jelf
Posts: 6463
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Jelf
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
MTFCA Number: 16175
MTFCI Number: 14758
Board Member Since: 2007
Contact:

Re: Spark plug recommendations?

Post by Steve Jelf » Wed Oct 30, 2019 11:58 am

As John Regan has occasionally reminded us, laying the plugs out on top of the engine isn't a real spark plug test. It doesn't show you whether the plugs actually work in the car under compression. A plug tester is the tool for that.

IMG_2556 copy.JPG
70 psi is more pressure than you're likely to have in a Model T. If you get a good spark there, it's good to go.

IMG_2558 copy.JPG
The center dot is the actual spark. The two little ones are reflections.

IMG_2560 copy.JPG
A lot of old plugs clean up very nicely.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring

User avatar

rnkugel
Posts: 42
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2019 11:52 am
First Name: Reuben
Last Name: Kugel
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Touring 1926 RAJO Speedster
Location: Pewaukee WI
MTFCA Number: 49871
MTFCI Number: 24323

Re: Spark plug recommendations?

Post by rnkugel » Wed Oct 30, 2019 4:35 pm

I have run both the Motorcraft F11 and Autolite 3095 in both my Ts. The F11 just seems to run a little better than the 3095. At least in my Ts. Both cost about the same.
1915 Touring
1926 RAJO Speedster


Marty Bufalini
Posts: 185
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 9:17 pm
First Name: Marty
Last Name: Bufalini
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Touring
Location: Michigan

Re: Spark plug recommendations?

Post by Marty Bufalini » Wed Oct 30, 2019 7:29 pm

Ok, so let's hear from those using the Edison 14s. I was lucky enough to find a box of ten NOS of these but have yet to try them. I'm running the Champion Xs now.

Thanks

User avatar

CudaMan
Posts: 2385
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:17 pm
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Strange
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Cut Off Touring (now a pickup)
Location: Hillsboro, MO
MTFCA Number: 30944
MTFCI Number: 23667
Board Member Since: 2013

Re: Spark plug recommendations?

Post by CudaMan » Wed Oct 30, 2019 7:42 pm

The engine in my 1924 has a stock high head and nominal compression ratio aluminum pistons. I run a Truefire ignition and gap my plugs to 0.030". The Champion X plugs I originally ran fired OK, but would look sooty after a few hundred miles when I took them out to inspect them. I switched to the Edison 14 plugs and they stayed clean, which implies to me that the Edison 14s are a hotter heat range than the Champion X. After inspecting the Edisons a few times, I finally decided to just leave them in and have run several thousand trouble free miles without touching them. I have not run into any pre-ignition or after-running issues that might be indications of too hot a plug.

Am I running my carb (Kingston L4) too rich? Possibly, but I have tried leaning it out and when I do I start getting lean misfire problems at Idle.
Mark Strange
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)


Rich Bingham
Posts: 1922
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:23 am
First Name: Rich
Last Name: Bingham
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 runabout
Location: Blackfoot, Idaho

Re: Spark plug recommendations?

Post by Rich Bingham » Wed Oct 30, 2019 8:17 pm

I use spark plugs in my Model T, and can highly recommend them ! :lol:
"Get a horse !"


Moxie26
Posts: 1314
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:20 pm
First Name: Robert
Last Name: Jablonski
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Runabout
Location: New Jersey
MTFCA Number: 407
MTFCA Life Member: YES
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: Spark plug recommendations?

Post by Moxie26 » Thu Oct 31, 2019 10:44 am

Mark and Marty... I do run a set of Edison for teens in r26 runabout and also very pleased with their performance. We also installed a set of Edison 14's in the 22 touring at the Edison estate in West Orange New Jersey, and also no problems noted. I have always set the Gap to 0.025", and also observed by Mark the Edison 14's do run a lot cleaner then the champion x plugs. Availability of NOS Edison 14's is getting very scarce. If you do find used they do clean up very good and will give good service.

User avatar

CudaMan
Posts: 2385
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:17 pm
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Strange
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Cut Off Touring (now a pickup)
Location: Hillsboro, MO
MTFCA Number: 30944
MTFCI Number: 23667
Board Member Since: 2013

Re: Spark plug recommendations?

Post by CudaMan » Thu Oct 31, 2019 10:50 am

Edison 13s will also work in a T, but they are even harder to find than the 14s. The 13s are physically larger and have dual ground electrodes. I have no experience with how they run. :)
Attachments
edison_13_spark_plug01.jpg
edison 13 vs 14 004.jpg
edison 13 vs 14 003.jpg
edison 13 vs 14 002.jpg
edison 13 vs 14 001.jpg
Mark Strange
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic