N Spark Plugs

What is the NGK plug for the front mount N's? The last AC 437's I used have rusted really bad, even though the tractor has not been in
the rain for years. Seems like I read here that was a problem but the NGK's did better. I used to use the manual recommendation of
Champion H-10's, but they are not available with that number, but a catch-all series that cross-references to several of the H series.
I'm just trying to use the best match. Thanks.

NGK 3112 (B-4l)

See tip # 7
75 Tips

What does rust have to do with it? The electrode doesn't get oxidized. The tip gets the plug connector. If it does you have serious problems. If a all you are worried about is a rusty body, tape off the tip and threads and paint the body black or pink or green or purple. FORD TRACTOR SPEC: 14mm Champion H-10. Since then Champion released the H-12 style and AUTO-LITE came out with the 437, both equally effective. Today, the Champion H-12 is also listed as the 512 plug and the AUTO-LITE plug is listed as the 216 plug. Why? Who knows. BTW, 14 mm is the plug thread size. Thread and the plugs are 14mm x 1.25mm with 1.25 the thread pitch. Using anything other than that will result in boogerd up threads if you try to chase the head. The plug body HEX uses a 13/16 box wrench. I prefer the FORD 01A- 17017-B Spark Plug/Head Bolt Wrench, the 'suitcase wrench' or one of the prior versions. It's your tractor, your money, and your choice. I have yet to have anyone state the data which says one works better than the other especially the NTK folks. You're right, I've read is the key phrase - it is purely opinions that are stated and not facts.

Tim Daley(MI)

(quoted from post at 11:22:57 08/23/21) What does rust have to do with it? The electrode doesn't get oxidized. The tip gets the plug connector. If it does you have serious problems. If a all you are worried about is a rusty body, tape off the tip and threads and paint the body black or pink or green or purple. FORD TRACTOR SPEC: 14mm Champion H-10. Since then Champion released the H-12 style and AUTO-LITE came out with the 437, both equally effective. Today, the Champion H-12 is also listed as the 512 plug and the AUTO-LITE plug is listed as the 216 plug. Why? Who knows. BTW, 14 mm is the plug thread size. Thread and the plugs are 14mm x 1.25mm with 1.25 the thread pitch. Using anything other than that will result in boogerd up threads if you try to chase the head. The plug body HEX uses a 13/16 box wrench. I prefer the FORD 01A- 17017-B Spark Plug/Head Bolt Wrench, the 'suitcase wrench' or one of the prior versions. It's your tractor, your money, and your choice. I have yet to have anyone state the data which says one works better than the other especially the NTK folks. You're right, I've read is the key phrase - it is purely opinions that are stated and not facts.

Tim Daley(MI)

Click to expand...

Some people don't like rusty plugs!!

I put new H-10s in my 2N bout every 10 years,also in my Kohler K-series

Touche! I have an older friend who was a Ford Tractor mechanic,is 92 now, but still acts like he's 32. He works on old Ford's constantly and still uses the Champion H-10 plugs when he does his rebuilds. I used the H-10 as well but use the H-12 (512) plug or the AUTO-LITE 437 (216) now whichever the local auto parts store has in stock. I never have had any problems using any of those plugs. I still would like to read how guys think they get better results with the NTK or other plugs and then can't state facts and data to support it, only state pure opinion. Starting problems are usually bad wiring and not due to a specific spark plug.


Tim Daley(MI)

I agree with Oldsarge and Tim. There's no moving parts in a spark plug.

I think sometimes its less which brand is best and more which brand is locally available. I wanted to swap out the ancient plugs on mine when fixing it up and neither the Champion nor the Auto-Lite specified was stocked anywhere nearby that I checked. The NGK or whatever that cross references to it was.

Is there something wrong with using another brand? It seems to work, but I have other problems Im still working out that may be masking difficulties with the plugs.

Honest question, is there anything other than tradition saying not to use another brand?

OldTractorNoob ,Yup NGK 3112 (B-4l) a much better plug #1 you don't have to waste your time masking and paint them,then watch paint dry :lol: I had a old 8N that I bought for a project to resell. It was using oil and needed to be rebuilt.I decided to run it awhile to see if would clear up some of the smoke and it would oil foul #2 plug a new autolite 437 in 2-5 minutes of run time.So just for grins I installed a new set of NGK 3112 s in it as after rebuild it would need new plugs anyway.Well the #2 didn't foul out even after running several hours 3-4 pulling a disk and a little less smoke to.I pulled the engine for a rebuild and found the ring lands worn badly #2 was really worn .It had .020 side gap on the top ring and .015 on the second ring and the rings had 1/4" end gaps.New sleeves,pistons bearings,oil pump rebuild, valve job The NGK plugs back in and it runs like a new one. And it dosent have rust globs at the end of the plug wires.Lol :lol:

Just a couple comments: I believe a spark plug of any major brand is capable of doing its rather simple job (just producing a spark) if all other things that get the voltage to it are working fine. I think the heat ranges give an operator some flexibility if the rings or guides are allowing oil to pass by, so sometimes a person may think a different brand gives some advantage when an H12 would have done the same job as a 437, but since the 437 did better, its brand is more noticed.

Back in my airplane days, the type of plane I was in partnership with was known to have a lot of alternator failures. In those days, the aircraft alternator was around $300, so it was an expensive recurring cost. I noticed one day that the mounting flanges looked the same as my 8N alternator, so I picked up one at Advance Auto for $29 with a lifetime guarantee. Next time the cowling was off I installed it and it fit perfectly (one wire version). It performed flawlessly for years, and when it finally expired, Advance Auto honored their warranty. I did get some pushback from the annual inspectors, but talked through it. The alternator was still fine when we sold it. Moral of that story is that spark plugs and alternators are not too judgemental. If you spin the pulley on an alternator, it doesn't know or care whether its on a tractor or an airplane, at least one operated at 10K feet or less. So it produced 12v just fine and didn't complain. I realize at high altitudes, arcing and other things may change its characteristics.

What I like about the NGKs is that the steel is plated so it wont rust as bad/quickly. AC used to make marine grade plugs that were plated for corrosion resistance but Ive not tried to find them for my tractors

(quoted from post at 10:10:19 08/24/21) Touche! I have an older friend who was a Ford Tractor mechanic,is 92 now, but still acts like he's 32. He works on old Ford's constantly and still uses the Champion H-10 plugs when he does his rebuilds. I used the H-10 as well but use the H-12 (512) plug or the AUTO-LITE 437 (216) now whichever the local auto parts store has in stock. I never have had any problems using any of those plugs. I still would like to read how guys think they get better results with the NTK or other plugs and then can't state facts and data to support it, only state pure opinion. Starting problems are usually bad wiring and not due to a specific spark plug.


Tim Daley(MI)

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NGKs aren't made in Cheena. The only hard data I need.

This post was edited by Papillon on 09/03/2021 at 07:17 pm.

To be specific, NGK plugs are made in
Sissonville, West Virgina. Good ol USA made!

Ngk is a japanese company and has facilities in japan, europe, and the usa... ngk spark plugs are indeed manufactured in the usa but are also manufactured in other countries....

NGK3112!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fact, Autolites are junk and champs are just a notch above Autotites... It has not ways been that way but it has been for the last 12 are so years. I have replaced hundreds of bad Autoilite plugs. Before 2010 Autolites was all I used thousands of them. It took me several years to swap out all the plugs I installed around 2010/11 I chased misfires out the arse it was the plugs. I had several come apart one danced around in the cylinder. Autolite even admitted they made a BIG mistake farming them out to china.

They tell us they moved production back to Mexico, by mistake I order a set so gave them the benefit of the doubt THEY WERE BAD! I have posted a reply from the head honcho for Autolite here before you can search for it.

"My name is Jay Buckley, I would like to respond to your post about Autolite Spark Plugs. I am the technical training manager for Autolite spark plugs. We are a global supplier of spark plugs and they are made in three countries, USA, Mexico and China. Low volume and nearly obsolete copper core spark plugs (like your 386) do come from a plant in China. They are made to the exact same quality and engineering standards as our plugs made in the USA and other countries. Our platinum, double platinum and iridium enhanced plugs are made in the USA and Mexico. We are committed to selling the very best spark plugs in the market and we stand behind our products 100% regardless of the country of origin. I would be happy to answer any additional questions you may have about our products and ignition systems"

When he posted on iatn.net he all but got ran off from those like me that had to eat their junk. Folks beach about china junk but don't buy made in the USA when its available what's up with that...