Mysterious ignition problem [SOLVED]

Since the conversation has turned to spark plugs, I had a strange experience a few weeks ago buying an NGK plug for my Stihl leaf blower. The plug was in stock at a local Advance Auto Parts store. They keep the plugs behind the counter so a clerk had to get it for me. I checked the info on the box and it was for the rIght plug. Took it home, opened the box. And voila! A very badly corroded Champion plug came out with the cardboard packing cylinders in place. Took it back and the manager had a good idea which former employee had done this switcheroo. Note to self: open the parts boxes in the store.
 
Oddjob and StarTech were right! It was, in fact, the spark plug. I changed it and the mower started-up immediately.

I learned something new. Thanks, gentlemen!

I marked this thread as SOLVED.

BTW, for others with the same problem, here's what I did:

- bought a BPR6ES plug
- removed the old plug with a 13/16" spark plug socket
- gapped the plug to 0.028" with a feeler gauge
- tightened the plug a 1/2-turn past hand-tight
- re-attached the spark plug wire

Cheers...
 
slomo said:
Stop shopping on amazon and fleabay. Plugs are highly pirated in the motherland (China).
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Spark plug distributors source from a network of global OEM manufacturers (NGK, Denso, Bosch, Champion, Autolite, ACDelco) and contract manufacturers, with many offering private-label versions. Where do you think they get their products from? China and other asian manufacturers. I just purchased a carburetor from Amazon, and it's top quality. The exact supplier depends on the distributor’s brand, inventory needs, and whether they are selling OEM-equivalent or aftermarket plugs. Those distributors sell their products on Amazon and eBay. I've purchased lots of parts from them.
 
JohnTW said:
Oddjob and StarTech were right! It was, in fact, the spark plug. I changed it and the mower started-up immediately.

I learned something new. Thanks, gentlemen!

I marked this thread as SOLVED.

BTW, for others with the same problem, here's what I did:

- bought a BPR6ES plug
- removed the old plug with a 13/16" spark plug socket
- gapped the plug to 0.028" with a feeler gauge
- tightened the plug a 1/2-turn past hand-tight
- re-attached the spark plug wire

Cheers...
Click to expand...
Welcome, and thanks for reporting back.
 
Oddjob said:
Welcome, and thanks for reporting back.
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Thank you for helping me repair my mower!

It's nearly 20 years old, so I was going to replace it, but after hearing that Honda no longer makes lawnmower engines, and seeing how bad the reviews were for the new models, I decided to repair it instead. I'm glad I did.

BTW, the plug I replaced was the original one that came with the mower, so it's nearly 20 years old too. I guess I got lucky.
 
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sometimes people clean the old plug with a wire brush and try to reuse it. Wire brushes will leave some of themselves in the porcelain insulator, and sometimes short out the plug. Use a glass bead blaster, walnut blaster etc., to clean the tip of a spark plug, and avoid hitting the threads. Or burn it off with a torch and don't use a wire brush.
 
sgkent said:
sometimes people clean the old plug with a wire brush and try to reuse it. Wire brushes will leave some of themselves in the porcelain insulator, and sometimes short out the plug. Use a glass bead blaster, walnut blaster etc., to clean the tip of a spark plug, and avoid hitting the threads. Or burn it off with a torch and don't use a wire brush.
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I use sandpaper to clean spark plug, blow it off with air gun, and gap it. I have cleaned hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of spark plugs over the years, and never had a problem. Rarely even replace spark plugs.
 
So do you think the failing of SOOO many Champion plugs are Chinese "fakes"? Or are they all being made there forevermore?
 
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