A buddy of mine has an '82 Shovel and asked me what plugs I liked ("83).
I told him I have been running autolite 65 (the car version of the 4265) and I've really been liking them.

This got me looking at the reference charts and it seems I should be running the 2585 and that the 4265 is for '81 and older) I think the 2585 is hotter for my lower compresion engine.

The reference charts are somewhat confusing because some plug manufacturers use the same plug for all years of shovels, some have different plugs just for the '82-'84 and some don't show anything for '82-84.

My buddy also mentioned that the PO had mentioned to run a shorter plug in his because he had installed an aftermarket cam.

I'm now a little confused. Can anyone shed some light?

 

Short reach plugs should Not be used in heads designed for long reach plugs. Ever.
If a Valve can get near a Plug someone has worse problems than a Cam!!!!
the Plugs generally recomended for the latest ['81-'84] shovels have what is called an extended reach..the electrodes protrude from the Plug body noticeably...Probably to get the "fire" deeper into the Chamber.
I use Regular long reach plugs in My '83..No problems...But, it is Not Stock.
My '74 uses regular short reach plugs.
Autolite plugs are one of my favorites, but, the '74 is old and tired, and I find that Champions recover from being fouled much better than any other plug I have Tried.
Howzat??

 

not all motors are equal so this is a great site if you want to tinker with the correct plug

http://www.strappe.com/plugs.html

 

OK...that makes sense. The plugs for '82-'84 have the extended reach, '81 back to '75 have the regular long reach.....that's most likely what the previous owner meant. Thanks.

 

AJ use a set of AUTOLITE XS-65 if ya have an electronic iggy gap them to .040

 

Yep, that's what I use (and .040 gap) and that's what I recommended to my buddy. Best plugs I've ever run. My bike just likes 'em.