Spark Plug?

StoneHeartFarm · Apr 29, 2003

I've never had this happen before. I was changing the plugs on the wife's car when the #3 plug disintegrated. The shoulder (nut portion) came off with a snap and is jammed in the socket. The insulator popped out in one piece (pic attached), and the bottom threaded sleeve is still jammed in the head. (Actually, it's about 1/2 way in the head since it was on its way out when it snapped.)

I've broken a fair number of insulators off, but that's not what happened.

Now, I'm not sure what to do. Is there a particular type of extractor that should be used, or is this a job for a pro shop?

Steve

MJB · Apr 29, 2003

Been there. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif If the head is cast iron I would try to get it out with an "Easy Out". I have had success with this in the past. If the head is aluminum and the plug is corroded into the head, the threads in the head will likely come out with the plug. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif If that happens you will probably need to pull the head and have the hole drilled out and a "Heli-coil" thread insert installed to fix the problem. The job is no fun in any case. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

StoneHeartFarm · Apr 29, 2003

Any particular flavor of easy out you recommend? I've got a "Hanson" spiral twist here that might do the job.

Steve

Rick Jay · Apr 29, 2003

StoneHeartFarm,

I don't envy your situation. Good Luck. I would recommend that you start hitting what's left of the plug with PB Blaster to help with the removal.

~Rick

MJB · Apr 29, 2003

I think the ones I used were Snap-ons. They were about 1 1/2" long with a hex shank that you can put a socket on. The engine I used them on was a small block Chevy that still had the original 20 year old spark plugs in it. The plugs were so rusty that the crimp that holds the insulator in rusted completely off and the center of the plug just blew out while driving down the road. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif There was one size of Easy-out that was just the right size to grab the base of the plug where the porcelain insulator seated. I used a 6 point impact socket with a 3 foot breaker bar to get that bear out. Don't let the name "Easy-out" fool you. Nothing comes out easy with one of those. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

woodmills1 · Apr 30, 2003

happened to me once and an easy out wouldnt budge it. i took an old plug and measured the thread size at the bottem and found a drill just under that size. drilled right into the hole in the offending plug and then spun the threads out. started the motor with that plug removed to blow out the chips and it is still running 10 years later.

RoyJackson · May 1, 2003

Good luck with the extraction...I hope the easy-out works for you. Be extremely careful in the head is aluminum!!

Now, once you get this out, don't forget to use an anti-sieze compound on the threads when you install the spark plugs.

StoneHeartFarm · May 1, 2003

( happened to me once and an easy out wouldnt budge it. i took an old plug and measured the thread size at the bottem and found a drill just under that size. drilled right into the hole in the offending plug and then spun the threads out. started the motor with that plug removed to blow out the chips and it is still running 10 years later. )

Hadn't really thought about doing it that way, either. I'd just have to be real careful on keeping the bit aligned with the plug sleeve.

Steve

hazmat · May 1, 2003

drilled right into the hole in the offending plug and then spun the threads out. 

Sounds like a job for a drill press minimum, milling machine prefered.