Spark plug for a '83 185S

[foster]

I don't trust the salesguy I just dealt with. He seemed a bit lost in space.

Is plug #DR8ES-L the proper one for a 1983 185S?

Thanks, folks.

[foster]

In case it matters, the bike will be driven for the next while in very wet and muddy conditions, at an average outdoor temperature of about 35F.

[ejc042]

That is what I used ion the wife's 185S when we had it.

[foster]

Sound good to me, then. I'll pop it in. (And I'll save the number for future reference.)
Thanx muchly.

[plkmonster2]

Hmm, never used that plug, but if the dealer says it will work, it should. I've used d7ea's and d8ea's.

[foster]

Well, the reason I got nervous was because he looked it up in a book, while the usual guy behind the counter just instinctively reaches over his shoulder and grabs me the proper one with barely a glance at the spark plug display.

And this guy had trouble finding it in the book, too.
And the only thing he found in the book was a reference to a 185SD. WTF does the 'D' stand for?

I asked him that, and he said the D stood for the version, ie, Honda made 185S bikes in 1980, 81, 82 and 83, therefore the 1980 was the A model, 1981 was the B model, '82 was C and '83 was D.
Hmmm, to my skimpy knowledge, I don't think Honda made a 185s in 1980. I thought they only made them from '81-'83.

Plus, the poor guy just seemed lost. I was wishin' the regular fella was around, but I guess he had the day off.
I'll put it in tonight and see if it fires up, anyways. Unless someone advises me not to do that.
I'll tell you what, that plug had better not let me down during my weekend riding!

[plkmonster2]

What was in the trike before? If you use the new plug, make sure to spin it over very slowly at first to make sure that the plug doesn't hit the piston.

[plkmonster2]

Ok, I'm so sorry for the mistake, lol. The d7 and d8's are for the 81. Yeah, there is no 80 185s. NGK has their own plug finder, and the dr8es-l is the correct one for the 82-83 185.

[ejc042]

I use this same plug in my 200X. The head for the 185/200/200X all take the same plug. This is the one the guys from my shop gave me when I first went to get plugs and the same one that was in it when I got it.
look on partsfish.com, that is what they show for these trikes as well.

[foster]

Well of course, like an idiot, I didn't keep the number of my present plug. I'm just so used to relying on the expert down at the local dealership (he really is GREAT) that like a fool I never bothered. No excuse, I know, but the only explanation I can offer, lol.
The old plug can't be that bad off, probably it's only got less than 100 miles on it, so I'll keep it handy in case I see that I should put it back in and take the new one back to the shop and tell him where he can stick it.

[foster]

Ok, I just read the last two messages (we all posted at the same time.)
Sounds like I'm good to go.
Thanks guys -- muchly.
Gonna have some fun on Saturday. The local Mounties are setting up a radar trap on a long, straight, smooth stretch of trail. For a $5 donation to the local food bank, teh cops will put the radar gun on you and give you a printout of your top speed.
Sounds like a deal to me!
A load of fun, too, and all for a good cause. So that's why I'm tunin' up the ol' girl, getting ready to take on the Mounties -- legally for a change -- on Saturday.

LOL, we should start a pool: how fast can a totally stock '83 185s with a rotten muffler go on semi-hard-packed snow? We'll find out Saturday morning.

[350x'inNY]

The letter code is universal by year for Honda. 1980 is A, 1981 is B, 1982 is C, etc.... So my 1985 350X has a 'F' in the serial number, while my 1986 350X has a 'G' in the serial number.

Yamaha has a similar coding....

1983 -K 1984-L 1985 - N (They skip M for some reason)

So my 1985 Yamahauler is a YTM200ERN sometimes just called a YTM200ER. (E- Electric, R- Reverse, N - 1985)

So yes.... you are both right... no 185s in 1980, but the letter code is right for your year!

Bruce

[leprogle]

where in new brunswick are you foster?

[thefox]

Honda did make a 185 in 1980 though so maybe they counted that since it was the machine that turned into the 185s.

[foster]

XinNY,
Thanks for the explanation re those letters.

Leprogle,
I'm in Moncton.
The radar gun run is in Bouctouche, just to the north of here, on Saturday and Sunday. It's supposed to rain Saturday so I might go Sunday instead of Saturday.
If you are in the neighbourhood, let me know and pop in.
I assume you in the Saint John area/
Cheers