I found a response from Champion. = ; The usually finger pointing has begun…

http://www.championaerospace.com/assets/Champion-Fin= e-Wire-Spark-Plug-Service-Letter.pdf

From: Lancair = Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On = Behalf Of Colyn Case
Sent: Saturday, February 11,= 2012 6:51 PM
To: lml@lancaironline.net Subject: [LML] Fwd: [LML] Re= : Tempest spark plugs

Lorn, you must have missed this.

I've included an alternate link to what Ron put in because I couldn= 't get that to work.

This is a very interesting read.

The problem was actually found on Champion plugs.=

TAT is recommending Champion massives. It looks to me like T= AT likes the 29 heat range and that Tempest doesn't make one of those.

I'll seek clarification from Walter.

Other very interesting stuff in this article: pictures of affected cylinders; pictures of the monitor trace; what to do if you see th= at kind of a trace in flight.

http://www.taturbo.com/TATSR2= 2-SB11-05%20fine%20wire%20spark%20plugs%20initial%20release%20sept%2023%202= 011.pdf

Begin forwarded message:

From: Ron Laughlin <ronlaughlin@gmail.com>

Date: February 9, 2012 10:29:21 AM EST

To: lml@lancaironline.net

Subject: [LML] Re: Tempest s= park plugs

Reply-To: = "Lancair Mailing List" <lml@lancaironline.net>

Don't know if anyone brought this up yet but Tornado Alley Turbos h= as
recently issued an "mandatory" service bulletin on fine wire plug= s.
Apparently they are more prone to insulator cracks than the massives.
When the insulation falls off they turn into "glow plugs" and can lead
to a detonation event. I think George has documented this. Here's the
SB:

<TATSR22-SB11-05 fine wire spark plugs initial release sept 23 2011.pdf&= gt;

Ron

On Wed, Feb 8, 2012 at 11:37 AM, Tim Olson <Tim@myrv10.com> wrote:

The fine wire plugs are pretty darn durable. Mine are

the Unison (now tempest) ones. I find that they're easier

to clean with the walnut chip blaster because without the

massive side electrodes, it's much easier to get down in=

them to clean them. They run real well for me. For my

dollar, I'll go Tempest fine wire for sure. There's nothing

magical about the Champions, and in fact you're just

sticking with something older at that point when there is

"new improved" available. The resistors alone are a good

reason to switch.

FWIW, I did the same thing with oil filters. After buying

2 each of Champion, Kelly, and Tempest, I now only buy

Tempest oil filters. The Kelly filters were just too

flimsy. The champion are higher price with lower

quality features.

Tim

On 2/8/2012 7:05 AM, Art Jensen wrote:

Lorn,

Talked with Linda today. Still don't know the benefits of using fin= e

wire (Iridium) versus massive other than price. Champion massive ar= e

$26.95 versus Tempest massive at $22.75. Champion fine wire (Iridiu= m)

$89.95 versus Tempest fine wire (Iridum) at $49.50. These prices ar= e

from Aircraft Spruce.

I like the idea of the center electrode and resistor being fused

together as one piece. That new design is found in both types of pl= ugs

made by Tempest. The price difference between the two types of plug= s

should be no factor since the Fine wire (Iridium) are supposed to l= ast

1000 hours or more than the massive.

According to Linda, the platinum plugs are no longer being manufactured.

I have a call in to tech. Support at Champion but have not heard ba= ck

from them yet.

Art Jensen

-------------------------------------------------------------------= -----

*From: * Lorn H Olsen <lorn@dynacomm.us>;

*To: * <lml@lancaironline.net>;

*Subject: * [LML] Re: Tempest spark plugs<= /p>

*Sent: * Tue, Feb 7, 2012 5:28:43 PM

Art,

Iridium spark plugs will last for 2,000 hours. With the Champion pl= ugs,

at 500 to 800 hours, you will either have to buy massive plugs to s= wap

the resisters or buy new iridium plugs. I went to the junk yard and=

pulled good resisters out of used massive plugs. The Tempest plug

resisters will stay good for the life of the plug.

Other than the resisters, you will not be able to tell the differen= ce

between the iridium plugs. Make sure that you don't get the older

platinum type.

To buy:

For good service with spark plugs call Linda Lou, Inc. in Memphis, Tn.

All Linda sells are plugs. She has replaced dropped plugs for me in= the

past. Linda also gave me the number of a Champion rep. I will talk = to

him in the near future and see if resisters or replacements are

available for the high resistance Champion plugs.=

800-824-9912

Her prices for plugs are:

Tempest: $51.00

Champion: $89.95

Lorn

On Feb 7, 2012, at 6:00 AM, Lancair Mailing List wrote:<= /span>

> From: Art Jensen <flycassutts@yahoo.com <javascript:return>>

> Date: February 6, 2012 7:50:13 PM EST<= /font>

>

> All,

>

> Would like to hear from everyone using the tempest spark plugs. Are

you satisfied with them? Do you think they are better than Champion= , and

why? Are you using the massive or fine wire? Help me make an inform= ed

decision.

>

> I am getting ready to order a new set of plugs. I curren= tly use the

RHB32E by Champion in my IO-550-N. I have no complaints with these plugs

but wonder if the Tempest with their one piece resistor design is better

as their ad would suggest.

>

> Thank you for your input

>

> Art Jensen

--

Lorn H. 'Feathers' Olsen, MAA, ASMEL, ASES, Comm, Inst

DynaComm, Corp., 248-345-0500, mailto:lorn@dynacomm.us <javascri= pt:return>

LNC2, FB90/92, O-320-D1F, 1,800 hrs, N31161, Y47, SE Michigan

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