Can it really be that simple?

[SonicTronics]

Well guys I have been fighting with my 350x for about 2 weeks with it running like utter crap basically. First thought it was the carb (no fuel filter, seemed reasonable) cleaned it and that didn't do it. Went back out to ride in the snow and had problems again. So I thought maybe it was overheating or something. Checked the oil level, was a bit low, and was pretty black. So I replaced the oil and still same problem. Tried a new plug (didn't get a chance to check gap on the old one, my "help" dropped it on the tip on me. Switched it out for another Dr8Es-L and still nothing. Finally tried the equivalent of a DR7ES-L (some champion copper plug) and it runs fine with the gap set where it was out of the box. What I really can't figure out is why it would run like this all of a sudden. It ran fine before with the 8 plug. There's a very good chance it has 87 in it instead of 93 (which it has been run on previously).

As for an explanation to the problem...
It basically would be OK for the most part going up through the RPM range while sitting in Neutral, but once you applied any load at all, it would backfire and gurgle on me, which I would have thought would indicate a lean condition (clogged jet?) or an air leak. Couldn't find a leak and definitely not lean (plug was actually black).

So on to the actual questions:
1. Can the fuel change make that much of a difference?
2. Can a plug change make that big of a difference?
3. What should I be gapping my plugs at, I was having a hell of a time on google looking for a good baseline. Saw anything from .012 to .028.
4. Plug brand preference? I have personally always been partial to NGK, and it seems a lot of others are too. Don't hear much about Champion.

Sorry for the lengthy read, any and all help is much appreciated, thanks.

[bcredneck]

something electrical is going thats why it acts wierd when you try different plugs the best plug takes the least power to make a reliable spark so it runs good. it was missing right? it can be veary hard to find to find a electrical problem when the motor still sparks its alot easyer to find the problem after the part quits

[SonicTronics]

But it runs perfectly fine now, just by switching the plug around, good power, smooth, idles better. I can see where you are coming from though, guy I bought it from said it was running fine all day last time he rode it then it started acting up on him, but figured it was the carb, ran great for a little bit after we put in fresh gas and cleaned the carb.

[bcredneck]

honda electrical parts are bad for weird problems my bosses cr 125 killed a clean plug in 15 minets had a xr 80 and xr 75 that the plug acted like a rev limiter that slowly gets lower my bigred wouldnt work with a good stock cdi but works with a yamaha cdi

[jmax857]

i cant see your bike running like "ütter crap" from 87 to 93, maybe the gas was bad? did you check your float adjustment? make sure all the vent lines to the carb were clear of debris? maybe some snow got in one and froze, and then thawed. both brand of plugs should work fine but ofcourse some people have their preferences on brands. when you change from a br8 to a br7, you are bringing the running temperature of the plug up, depending on how cold of weather you are riding in it might start easier and what not but i wouldnt go lower than a 7.

[Headsup]

Ever look at your spark plug cable?
had same problem turns out my plug wire had a chip in it.

[reddawg85]

i hvae always been a fan of NGK but i switched to champion and my bike starts alot better and runs better,i also dont run nothing but 93 in my trike

[200XMichigan]

Mine is really noticing the 87 octane at zero degrees, still starts, just not as easy. But it was all the gas station had that day.

[ametzker]

As Headsup mentioned, I doubt the plug made that much of difference between brands, but your plug wire may have been shorting to the frame or plug cap loose. So when you moved it the problem was solved. Who know, who cares it runs good now right. = )

[bcredneck]

you should check the plug cap unsrew it and cut a 1/2'' off the wire and srew it back on the threads in most caps cut the wire over time you may have to find a cap that srews on if yours dont

[zzmegad]

id stick with the NGK in your honda, just because... running a champion in there would be like me running yokohamas on my chevy...

[biggyb12]

Nothing wrong with champion plugs been running them in my 3 wheelers for the last 20 years or so never had a problem with them.

[tigger2]

one time my choke was stuck on and had similar problems.

[reddawg85]

hey tigger has a point my 200s does that all time...it moves up when the bike is running enough vibration i guess...and my 350x runs better with champion then NGK zzmegad

[zzmegad]

ya by all means if you think it runs better go with a champion, there both great plugs, my point was NGK is Japanese. Run a champion in your Harley. I dunno lol

[bcredneck]

try a E3 dimond fire plug another thing is put a new plug in that dont work good and heat up the CDI with a hairdryer if it runs better your CDI is about to quit i have no idea why they do that but it works the first CDI i had in my mx80 had to be wired to the jug and warmed up before i started riding then it cooled down a long way from home when i was smoking and i finaly bought a aftermarket one

[SonicTronics]

Good news. Took her out today for the first "real" ride down the pines in south jersey. Couldn't be happier with the way it ran. Fired easy, idled great, no issues. I did run into a poor running condition for about 30 minutes where it backfired and whatnot, but after wiggling some wires for where the cutoff was wired into the ignition, it worked great right after. I am going to take apart all the crappy connections on the bike and solder them in properly this week. Should take care of all that.
I was running the dr7es-l equivalent today (champion plug but can't recall the number) and it ran great. I haven't pulled it yet to see how it looks but I think that may be what I need to stick with. Thanks for all the suggestions and everything guys.

[Dirtcrasher]

Champions belong on trikes with trail pro's..............

[SonicTronics]

I'm sorry I'm new to all this what does that mean exactly?

[muthey]

here is something I learned about spark plugs, from my father in law I love ngk's but a champion copper plus spark plug is the closest you can get at this current moment to a direct diode, direct diode means more spark, and better power and fuel mileage, I run ngk iridium in my 225dx, but before that I ran a champions for about 8 years, is the one that was in it when I got it, and ran awesome, was just too hot of a plug for the cold weather so I went back to the right size in iridium. when I changed my truck to champions from Bosch platinum + and went to metallic wires my fuel mileage went from 9 mpg to 25mpg, on a 1973 dodge power wagon w/360 v8 motor, and I will probably get some people calling me a liar but I really don't care if you don't believe me try it on your gas guzzlers my truck also has a Holley 2 barrel carb stock and original on it which also helps, but when it cost me 600$ to drive 1236 miles empty before plug and wire change and about 250$ to drive the same distance back loaded with about 1500lbs of what was left of our stuff in california I'd say that makes a hell of a difference. The only reason metallic wires don't come standard in vehicles today is the interference they cause in the radio, but for a set of plug wires that will run for the life of your vehicle, and cost a fraction of a normal set, the money you can save will more than pay for a noise suppressor for your stereo. Also there used to be a spark plug that was a direct diode but you can thank our government for shutting down the man who invented and was selling them. Search it up if you don't believe me but google about direct diode spark plugs and learn what I did. I grew up learning that champions were garbage and never use them but now I swear by them in a lot of things