Cleaning spark plugs

[adirondackmtnman]

Cleaning plugs/filing plugs ain't worth the hassle unless the piece just needs to get working for the short term.
A well running piece of machinery does not foul plugs. They run fine until the electrode is a waste.

So a 2 stroke engine, when tuned correctly, will burn the electrode completely before fouling the plug???

Sent from my LGL35G using TractorByNet

 

[rsallen]

Yeah, I've got a few.
I even run them a rich on the oil. And they all start easily and run fine. Never changed a plug yet, though a couple could probably stand new plugs next year as they got soaked down in fuel the last time I used them because their carbs wasn't doing the job properly.

 

[ruffdog]

Years back when I worked in a shop, people would ask me to just clean the plugs instead of replacing them just to save a few bucks. When I quoted them a HIGHER price to clean them, they wondered why. The reason why is the TIME to clean, times the shop rate, was MORE than the cost of new plugs. Funny, there was a guy that paid more to have us clean his plugs. (?????) It takes all kinds I guess!

 

[Soundguy]

Years back when I worked in a shop, people would ask me to just clean the plugs instead of replacing them just to save a few bucks. When I quoted them a HIGHER price to clean them, they wondered why. The reason why is the TIME to clean, times the shop rate, was MORE than the cost of new plugs. Funny, there was a guy that paid more to have us clean his plugs. (?????) It takes all kinds I guess!

i know some people that will clean a set of autolites before putting in a new champion.

 

[DJ54]

Back in the 80's, Champions needed to be cleaned after just a few hours of run time. Whatever they applied to the electrode as a protectant at the factory caused carbon build up, and they would foul. This came from a mechanic that serviced trucks for our local electric co-op, using Champions in their trucks, that was in our antique tractor club. He got on the phone to Champion to complain, and they told him to clean them, and it should eliminate the problem. Maybe a possibility it was a reaction to the unleaded fuel introduced in that era...?? None the less, after doing a blast clean they would run a good while without a problem.

Never had that problem when I used the Motorcraft or Autolites...

 

[Soundguy]

Back in the 80's, Champions needed to be cleaned after just a few hours of run time. Whatever they applied to the electrode as a protectant at the factory caused carbon build up, and they would foul. This came from a mechanic that serviced trucks for our local electric co-op, using Champions in their trucks, that was in our antique tractor club. He got on the phone to Champion to complain, and they told him to clean them, and it should eliminate the problem. Maybe a possibility it was a reaction to the unleaded fuel introduced in that era...?? None the less, after doing a blast clean they would run a good while without a problem.

Never had that problem when I used the Motorcraft or Autolites...

many of the antique sites I haunt.. the ford guys like .. for instance. an al437 vs a champ h12 and will drive out of their way to get such.

 

[daugen]

too bad we don't have someone who owns a tractor and works in a spark plug plant...
like we do with one member who works in an auto plant (the new Colorado truck) and the other member who
works for Harbor Freight. Would be interesting to know what specs are met, for what parameters.
If they can make a platinum tip that lasts at least one hundred thousand miles, then the rest of the plug has to last that long too, so
I'm thinking that trickle down tech here would improve all plugs over time. In other words, a cheap plug could still be a good plug. :confused3:
You don't have to track down an Autolite or a NGK, this Chinese Champion for $1.99 will do fine.

or will it.

Or will it shatter when I hit it with aluminum oxide?

I usually buy plugs in bulk, have enough engines with the same Honda plug or the B&S plug. So I hardly ever pay more than three bucks a plug, usually less.
That extra dollar, or even two in some machines, well, I think I'd rather spend it than wonder about two buck chuck.

 

[DarkBlack]

Cleaning plugs/filing plugs ain't worth the hassle unless the piece just needs to get working for the short term.
A well running piece of machinery does not foul plugs. They run fine until the electrode is a waste.

I agree. A new or clean plug will take on the existing combustion chamber "attributes" within a few minutes of running, and you are back to square one. Like I posted earlier, I never change or clean them- I must be lucky( except material erosion from excessive run hours ).
If you need to replace a plug, you should spend your time/money on the cause, not the symptom.

 

[PILOON]

Old aircraft like DC3's etc used platinum plugs, 2 per cylinder, 18 per engine.
Those scrapped plugs fetched good $'s as recycled material.
While I know recyclers buy catalytic converters for the platinum I wonder how many folks realize the value of newer style spark plugs?

 

[Soundguy]

I agree. A new or clean plug will take on the existing combustion chamber "attributes" within a few minutes of running, and you are back to square one. Like I posted earlier, I never change or clean them- I must be lucky( except material erosion from excessive run hours ).
If you need to replace a plug, you should spend your time/money on the cause, not the symptom.

it's cheaper to cle3an a plug once a year than to rebuild an engine that otherwise runs good but puts a lil carbon on a plug over a years time.

Not to mention the down time of the engine.. plus the antiquity of it. Some people actually ENJOY running antiques and keeping them original as long as possible.