Has spark plug technology moved on a lot over the last 35 years? Enough
to justify a rather spectacular price increase?

I'm sure I remember paying about GBP1 a piece. Or am I misremembering?

Local mechanic just charged me 21 euros each. I suppose every 3 years
doesn't add up to much overall, but wow.

Scary.

--
Paul.

https://paulc.es

On 06/09/2023 10:29, Paul Carmichael wrote:
> Has spark plug technology moved on a lot over the last 35 years? Enough
> to justify a rather spectacular price increase?
>
> I'm sure I remember paying about GBP1 a piece. Or am I misremembering?
>
> Local mechanic just charged me 21 euros each. I suppose every 3 years
> doesn't add up to much overall, but wow.
>
> Scary.
IIRC they used to be 5s each for yearsandyears - that's four for a
pound, and that may accord with inflation, I dunno.

--
Rusty Hinge
To err is human. To really foul things up requires a computer and the BOFH.

Paul Carmichael <wibbleypants@gmail.com> wrote in news:pan$2af31$ac28a923
$42222ff5$3b15377c@gmail.com:

> Has spark plug technology moved on a lot over the last 35 years? Enough
> to justify a rather spectacular price increase?
>
> I'm sure I remember paying about GBP1 a piece. Or am I misremembering?
>
> Local mechanic just charged me 21 euros each. I suppose every 3 years
> doesn't add up to much overall, but wow.
>
> Scary.
>

seems so

for the Austin Maxi I passed my test in �3.29, uses nickel in the
description
https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/bosch-spark-plug-408771860

for my current 2018 Audi �16 uses platinum in the description
https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/bosch-spark-plug-408440080

On 06/09/2023 11:19, wessie wrote:
> Paul Carmichael <wibbleypants@gmail.com> wrote in news:pan$2af31$ac28a923
> $42222ff5$3b15377c@gmail.com:
>
>> Has spark plug technology moved on a lot over the last 35 years? Enough
>> to justify a rather spectacular price increase?
>>
>> I'm sure I remember paying about GBP1 a piece. Or am I misremembering?
>>
>> Local mechanic just charged me 21 euros each. I suppose every 3 years
>> doesn't add up to much overall, but wow.
>>
>> Scary.
>>
>
> seems so
>
> for the Austin Maxi I passed my test in Ł3.29, uses nickel in the
> description
> https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/bosch-spark-plug-408771860
>
> for my current 2018 Audi Ł16 uses platinum in the description
> https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/bosch-spark-plug-408440080

I put Iridium plugs in my vehicles if available - if I change them
myself. They help with the Morini ignition and last yonks. Helpful as
the rear one is a pig to get out with a 350 in a 250 frame. No idea how
you get the plug out of the Husqvarna. Even treated the SO Honda to one.

About 10 quid each from sparkplugs.co.uk but I see that apart from
'racing' plugs at 50 quid some of the NGK ones are > £20 (for a Mazda
RX8 for example).

--
Moto Morini 2C/375
Gilera 175 Sport, Husqvarna 401 Svartpilen
Honda CB250RS (Not Waynetta!)
"Do not adjust your mind, there is a fault in the reality"

El Wed, 06 Sep 2023 11:06:32 +0100, RustyHinge escribió:

> On 06/09/2023 10:29, Paul Carmichael wrote:
>> Has spark plug technology moved on a lot over the last 35 years? Enough
>> to justify a rather spectacular price increase?
>>
>> I'm sure I remember paying about GBP1 a piece. Or am I misremembering?
>>
>> Local mechanic just charged me 21 euros each. I suppose every 3 years
>> doesn't add up to much overall, but wow.
>>
>> Scary.
> IIRC they used to be 5s each for yearsandyears - that's four for a
> pound, and that may accord with inflation, I dunno.

I just remembered which ones we used to use for all the Austin A series
engines etc. back in the 70s/80s - Champion N9Y. I'm pretty sure they
didn't last 3 years. In fact they may have been a 12,000 mile replacement
item. Cleaned and gapped at 6000. I used to have a machine for
sandblasting them.

--
Paul.

https://paulc.es

El Wed, 06 Sep 2023 11:06:32 +0100, RustyHinge escribió:

> On 06/09/2023 10:29, Paul Carmichael wrote:
>> Has spark plug technology moved on a lot over the last 35 years? Enough
>> to justify a rather spectacular price increase?
>>
>> I'm sure I remember paying about GBP1 a piece. Or am I misremembering?
>>
>> Local mechanic just charged me 21 euros each. I suppose every 3 years
>> doesn't add up to much overall, but wow.
>>
>> Scary.
> IIRC they used to be 5s each for yearsandyears - that's four for a
> pound, and that may accord with inflation, I dunno.

Five bob, eh? Same as a gallon of petrol.

--
Paul.

https://paulc.es

Paul Carmichael <wibbleypants@gmail.com> wrote in
news:pan$af8ee$6e159b0e$fe06f9d7$4790d840@gmail.com:

> El Wed, 06 Sep 2023 11:06:32 +0100, RustyHinge escribió:
>
>> On 06/09/2023 10:29, Paul Carmichael wrote:
>>> Has spark plug technology moved on a lot over the last 35 years?
>>> Enough to justify a rather spectacular price increase?
>>>
>>> I'm sure I remember paying about GBP1 a piece. Or am I
>>> misremembering?
>>>
>>> Local mechanic just charged me 21 euros each. I suppose every 3
>>> years doesn't add up to much overall, but wow.
>>>
>>> Scary.
>> IIRC they used to be 5s each for yearsandyears - that's four for a
>> pound, and that may accord with inflation, I dunno.
>
>
> I just remembered which ones we used to use for all the Austin A
> series engines etc. back in the 70s/80s - Champion N9Y. I'm pretty
> sure they didn't last 3 years. In fact they may have been a 12,000
> mile replacement item. Cleaned and gapped at 6000. I used to have a
> machine for sandblasting them.
>
>

that Austin plug I mentioned was probably a Bosch N9Y equivalent which is
about 3 quid.

I remember the sandblasters

I guess modern fuel injection and electronics helps extend the lives of
plugs as well as better materials to make the plugs.

Paul Carmichael <wibbleypants@gmail.com> wrote:
> El Wed, 06 Sep 2023 11:06:32 +0100, RustyHinge escribió:
>> On 06/09/2023 10:29, Paul Carmichael wrote:

>>> Has spark plug technology moved on a lot over the last 35 years? Enough
>>> to justify a rather spectacular price increase?

>>> I'm sure I remember paying about GBP1 a piece. Or am I misremembering?

>>> Local mechanic just charged me 21 euros each. I suppose every 3 years
>>> doesn't add up to much overall, but wow. Scary.

>> IIRC they used to be 5s each for yearsandyears - that's four for a
>> pound, and that may accord with inflation, I dunno.

> Five bob, eh? Same as a gallon of petrol.

Jet petrol was five gallons for a quid, around the late 50s, and a spark
plug was as mentioned, five bob.

Couldn’t get five gallons in my bike’s tank, so never got it at this price.
Forgotten what the per-gallon price was.

--
Spike

On 06/09/2023 11:57, Paul Carmichael wrote:
> El Wed, 06 Sep 2023 11:06:32 +0100, RustyHinge escribió:
>
>> On 06/09/2023 10:29, Paul Carmichael wrote:
>>> Has spark plug technology moved on a lot over the last 35 years? Enough
>>> to justify a rather spectacular price increase?
>>>
>>> I'm sure I remember paying about GBP1 a piece. Or am I misremembering?
>>>
>>> Local mechanic just charged me 21 euros each. I suppose every 3 years
>>> doesn't add up to much overall, but wow.
>>>
>>> Scary.
>> IIRC they used to be 5s each for yearsandyears - that's four for a
>> pound, and that may accord with inflation, I dunno.
>
>
> Five bob, eh? Same as a gallon of petrol.
Gallon of four star 3/9p when I was on the pumps as a schoolboy.

--
Rusty Hinge
To err is human. To really foul things up requires a computer and the BOFH.

On 06/09/2023 11:19, wessie wrote:
> Paul Carmichael <wibbleypants@gmail.com> wrote in news:pan$2af31$ac28a923
> $42222ff5$3b15377c@gmail.com:
>
>> Has spark plug technology moved on a lot over the last 35 years? Enough
>> to justify a rather spectacular price increase?
>>
>> I'm sure I remember paying about GBP1 a piece. Or am I misremembering?
>>
>> Local mechanic just charged me 21 euros each. I suppose every 3 years
>> doesn't add up to much overall, but wow.
>>
>> Scary.
>>
>
> seems so
>
> for the Austin Maxi I passed my test in £3.29, uses nickel in the
> description
> https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/bosch-spark-plug-408771860
>
> for my current 2018 Audi £16 uses platinum in the description
> https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/bosch-spark-plug-408440080
>
In 1959 I bought a Lodge plug with platinum electrode - £1 IIRC

Stator breaking down at the time, but the plug lasted for ever - someone
may even be using it yet for all I know. Absolutely no sign of erosion
after four or five years of use in primary vehicle.

--
Rusty Hinge
To err is human. To really foul things up requires a computer and the BOFH.

El Wed, 06 Sep 2023 16:43:24 +0100, RustyHinge escribió:

> On 06/09/2023 11:57, Paul Carmichael wrote:
>> El Wed, 06 Sep 2023 11:06:32 +0100, RustyHinge escribió:
>>
>>> On 06/09/2023 10:29, Paul Carmichael wrote:
>>>> Has spark plug technology moved on a lot over the last 35 years?
>>>> Enough to justify a rather spectacular price increase?
>>>>
>>>> I'm sure I remember paying about GBP1 a piece. Or am I
>>>> misremembering?
>>>>
>>>> Local mechanic just charged me 21 euros each. I suppose every 3 years
>>>> doesn't add up to much overall, but wow.
>>>>
>>>> Scary.
>>> IIRC they used to be 5s each for yearsandyears - that's four for a
>>> pound, and that may accord with inflation, I dunno.
>>
>>
>> Five bob, eh? Same as a gallon of petrol.
> Gallon of four star 3/9p when I was on the pumps as a schoolboy.

I have a feeling it was around 80p in the mid/late 70s when I did my
stint. We still had 5 star back then of course. I knew each fuel by the
smell. Two star smelled horrible. I used to put it in my FS1E.

--
Paul.

https://paulc.es

On Wed, 6 Sep 2023 11:26:43 +0100, Pete Fisher
<peter@ps-fisher.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>On 06/09/2023 11:19, wessie wrote:
>> Paul Carmichael <wibbleypants@gmail.com> wrote in news:pan$2af31$ac28a923
>> $42222ff5$3b15377c@gmail.com:
>>
>>> Has spark plug technology moved on a lot over the last 35 years? Enough
>>> to justify a rather spectacular price increase?
>>>
>>> I'm sure I remember paying about GBP1 a piece. Or am I misremembering?
>>>
>>> Local mechanic just charged me 21 euros each. I suppose every 3 years
>>> doesn't add up to much overall, but wow.
>>>
>>> Scary.
>>>
>>
>> seems so
>>
>> for the Austin Maxi I passed my test in ?3.29, uses nickel in the
>> description
>> https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/bosch-spark-plug-408771860
>>
>> for my current 2018 Audi ?16 uses platinum in the description
>> https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/bosch-spark-plug-408440080
>
>
>I put Iridium plugs in my vehicles if available - if I change them
>myself. They help with the Morini ignition and last yonks. Helpful as
>the rear one is a pig to get out with a 350 in a 250 frame. No idea how
>you get the plug out of the Husqvarna. Even treated the SO Honda to one.

I'll see your Morini rear (oo-err), and raise you a Gen 1 ZX-10R outer
spark plugs. Tank, airbox, fairing sides, front engine mounting
brackets (with a couple of realy awkward and very tight bolts that can
only be accessed with an open-ended spanner, mostly by feel) have to
come off. Then ISTR a really heavy loom has to be pushed aside and
maybe disconnected. Possibly the oil vapour system too (though that
might be for the entire cover removal). Then one has to pull out the
long recessed coils whose moisture seal has welded itself to the cam
cover with corrosion. Maybe that's why they call them stick coils.
They require frightening amounts of force to pull free.

--

-Pip

On 06/09/2023 16:56, Paul Carmichael wrote:
> El Wed, 06 Sep 2023 16:43:24 +0100, RustyHinge escribió:
>
>> On 06/09/2023 11:57, Paul Carmichael wrote:
>>> El Wed, 06 Sep 2023 11:06:32 +0100, RustyHinge escribió:
>>>
>>>> On 06/09/2023 10:29, Paul Carmichael wrote:
>>>>> Has spark plug technology moved on a lot over the last 35 years?
>>>>> Enough to justify a rather spectacular price increase?
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm sure I remember paying about GBP1 a piece. Or am I
>>>>> misremembering?
>>>>>
>>>>> Local mechanic just charged me 21 euros each. I suppose every 3 years
>>>>> doesn't add up to much overall, but wow.
>>>>>
>>>>> Scary.
>>>> IIRC they used to be 5s each for yearsandyears - that's four for a
>>>> pound, and that may accord with inflation, I dunno.
>>>
>>>
>>> Five bob, eh? Same as a gallon of petrol.
>> Gallon of four star 3/9p when I was on the pumps as a schoolboy.
>
> I have a feeling it was around 80p in the mid/late 70s when I did my
> stint. We still had 5 star back then of course. I knew each fuel by the
> smell. Two star smelled horrible. I used to put it in my FS1E.
>
I used 2-star in my MSS (1939 longstroke) 'cos it was quite happy on it
- still did an indicated 90 mph. My (90-Plus) Douglas wasn't happy with
4-star.

--
Rusty Hinge
To err is human. To really foul things up requires a computer and the BOFH.

On 06/09/2023 16:43, RustyHinge wrote:
> On 06/09/2023 11:57, Paul Carmichael wrote:
>> El Wed, 06 Sep 2023 11:06:32 +0100, RustyHinge escribió:
>>
>>> On 06/09/2023 10:29, Paul Carmichael wrote:
>>>> Has spark plug technology moved on a lot over the last 35 years? Enough
>>>> to justify a rather spectacular price increase?
>>>>
>>>> I'm sure I remember paying about GBP1 a piece. Or am I misremembering?
>>>>
>>>> Local mechanic just charged me 21 euros each. I suppose every 3 years
>>>> doesn't add up to much overall, but wow.
>>>>
>>>> Scary.
>>> IIRC they used to be 5s each for yearsandyears - that's four for a
>>> pound, and that may accord with inflation, I dunno.
>>
>>
>> Five bob, eh? Same as a gallon of petrol.
> Gallon of four star 3/9p when I was on the pumps as a schoolboy.
>
"Me too"
I also remember when it went to 7/6d overnight during the first 'fuel
crisis'[1]

Chris
[1] In my lifetime :-)
--
The Deuchars BBB#40 COFF#14
Yamaha XV750SE & Suzuki GS550t
http://www.Deuchars.org.uk

On 06/09/2023 11:57, Paul Carmichael wrote:
> El Wed, 06 Sep 2023 11:06:32 +0100, RustyHinge escribió:
>
>> On 06/09/2023 10:29, Paul Carmichael wrote:
>>> Has spark plug technology moved on a lot over the last 35 years? Enough
>>> to justify a rather spectacular price increase?
>>>
>>> I'm sure I remember paying about GBP1 a piece. Or am I misremembering?
>>>
>>> Local mechanic just charged me 21 euros each. I suppose every 3 years
>>> doesn't add up to much overall, but wow.
>>>
>>> Scary.
>> IIRC they used to be 5s each for yearsandyears - that's four for a
>> pound, and that may accord with inflation, I dunno.
>
>
> Five bob, eh? Same as a gallon of petrol.
>
>
And I remember people complaining that the car manufacturers (remember
them?) only paid 6d per plug! (For the young people here, that's 10% of
the punter price. 5 bob = 60d).
--
Mike Headon
R69S R850R
IIIc IIIg FT FTn FT2 EOS450D
e-mail: mike dot headon at enn tee ell world dot com

Mike Headon <porky@yckmhwa.com> wrote:

> And I remember people complaining that the car manufacturers (remember
> them?) only paid 6d per plug! (For the young people here, that's 10% of
> the punter price. 5 bob = 60d).

If an individual had wanted to buy plugs in the same quantities per
month that the auto makers were doing, I'm sure the plug manufacturers
would have given them a pretty good price as well.

Reminds me of my neighbor- he got an exceptional deal on a dozen
wooden double-wide garage doors that he just couldn't pass up. They
sat in his back garden untouched for 20 years and rotted away, and
were hauled away as trash after he died.

Which reminds me- I should be out in the garage doing some death
cleaning.

--
FJR1300A, GL1000, KLR650A6F, EX250J9A, DR200SE, Vespa Ciao

On 9/7/2023 8:55 AM, Mark Olson wrote:
>
> Which reminds me- I should be out in the garage doing some death
> cleaning.
>
Heh. Shall we remind each other every year about this time?
(I think I'm on my 10th year.)

--
The erstwhile Thomas
FJR1300, R1200GS & ST1100 (in memoriam)

Turby <xsurf@xmail.com> wrote:
> On 9/7/2023 8:55 AM, Mark Olson wrote:
>>
>> Which reminds me- I should be out in the garage doing some death
>> cleaning.
>>
> Heh. Shall we remind each other every year about this time?
> (I think I'm on my 10th year.)

Why not?

What I actually ended up doing was fitting a new power cord and
switch to my grandfather's bench grinder, passed down to me from his
gunsmithing shop. Sears Craftsman brand, probably vintage 1955 or
so. Cord had deteriorated a bit, and the switch was probably fine,
but I replaced them both anyway. Still spins like it was brand new.

--
FJR1300A, GL1000, KLR650A6F, EX250J9A, DR200SE, Vespa Ciao

On 06/09/2023 23:43 RustyHinge penned these words:
> On 06/09/2023 11:57, Paul Carmichael wrote:

>>
>> Five bob, eh? Same as a gallon of petrol.
> Gallon of four star 3/9p when I was on the pumps as a schoolboy.
>

Pretty sure when I started commuting to my first jobs it was about a quid a
gallon <fx Google> apparently 80p so close but no cigar. However, 98p by the
time I had my 750 which ties in with it being £5 more or less to fill.
URL:https://www.retrowow.co.uk/social_history/70s/how_much_did_things_cost.html

--
Ian

"Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of
the last priest"