Help with stuck spark plugs
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Registered User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23
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From: Lincolnton, NC
Help with stuck spark plugs
ok, so I decided to tune up the ol beast while doing the plenum fix, and kegger mod...after all I can finally SEE the stupid distrubutor!
anyhoot.....spark plugs ...cylinder 8 turns, but gets tighter while loosening....cross threaded?? (i hope not)
Cylinder 7 wont budge at all.
Can I use bolt buster stuff on plugs? doesnt seem kosher to spray that stuff near the cylinder ... I dunno.
And before you all chime in.....I KNOW just replace the dern heads and be done with it!.......true, but I dont have that kinda change hanging around, so any OTHER suggestions?
anyhoot.....spark plugs ...cylinder 8 turns, but gets tighter while loosening....cross threaded?? (i hope not)
Cylinder 7 wont budge at all.
Can I use bolt buster stuff on plugs? doesnt seem kosher to spray that stuff near the cylinder ... I dunno.
And before you all chime in.....I KNOW just replace the dern heads and be done with it!.......true, but I dont have that kinda change hanging around, so any OTHER suggestions?
Last edited by Ziggy2112; Dec 31, 2012 at 06:23 PM.
Grand Champion
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,011
Likes: 6
From: Meeker, CO
I don't know what bolt buster stuff is, but a good quality penetrating oil is in order. That means NOT PB BLASTER, and certainly not WD-40 or Liquid freakin' Wrench.
Run #8 all the way back down, and find yourself a stout pipe that'll pass over the porcelain and rest securely on the metal body of the plug. Cut it to an appropriate length, and use it to apply the blows of the hammer of magic and light to the plugs. You want to deliver a sound blow, but nothing foolishly violent that will distort the threads. Then hose 'em down with penetrating oil. Wait a while, about two beers worth, and do it again. Wait about another beer's worth, then back the plugs out as you would a tap -- out a quarter turn, in an eighth, out a quarter, in an eighth. Lather/rinse/repeat until done. If they won't come out at that point, go back to thumping and spraying about once and hour until your day is done, and let 'em sit overnight so you can back 'em out in the morning.
PS: Don't apply mechanical shock while the plugs are partially removed -- it's all the way in and seated, or nothing. If you encounter resistance enough that you fear you might break something, start over with the plugs all the way in with the bashing and spraying. Be patient. If things hang up such that you can't get a plug fully seated again or all the way out, back it out to where it hangs then back in about a quarter turn, then hose it down good with penetrating oil and immediately back it up, gently, to where it hangs. Let it sit like that for a good while before trying again. When you go back to it, start by running it in a half turn or so, then resume that quarter out/eighth in action.
When finally the plugs come out, take a thread chaser (NOT A TAP!) to the ports.
Run #8 all the way back down, and find yourself a stout pipe that'll pass over the porcelain and rest securely on the metal body of the plug. Cut it to an appropriate length, and use it to apply the blows of the hammer of magic and light to the plugs. You want to deliver a sound blow, but nothing foolishly violent that will distort the threads. Then hose 'em down with penetrating oil. Wait a while, about two beers worth, and do it again. Wait about another beer's worth, then back the plugs out as you would a tap -- out a quarter turn, in an eighth, out a quarter, in an eighth. Lather/rinse/repeat until done. If they won't come out at that point, go back to thumping and spraying about once and hour until your day is done, and let 'em sit overnight so you can back 'em out in the morning.
PS: Don't apply mechanical shock while the plugs are partially removed -- it's all the way in and seated, or nothing. If you encounter resistance enough that you fear you might break something, start over with the plugs all the way in with the bashing and spraying. Be patient. If things hang up such that you can't get a plug fully seated again or all the way out, back it out to where it hangs then back in about a quarter turn, then hose it down good with penetrating oil and immediately back it up, gently, to where it hangs. Let it sit like that for a good while before trying again. When you go back to it, start by running it in a half turn or so, then resume that quarter out/eighth in action.
When finally the plugs come out, take a thread chaser (NOT A TAP!) to the ports.
Last edited by UnregisteredUser; Dec 31, 2012 at 05:50 PM.
Professional
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Air
Good advice here....only thing I might add is to keep the plug area clean with some compressed air to keep the crud out during the process.
I don't know what bolt buster stuff is, but a good quality penetrating oil is in order. That means NOT PB BLASTER, and certainly not WD-40 or Liquid freakin' Wrench.
Run #8 all the way back down, and find yourself a stout pipe that'll pass over the porcelain and rest securely on the metal body of the plug. Cut it to an appropriate length, and use it to apply the blows of the hammer of magic and light to the plugs. You want to deliver a sound blow, but nothing foolishly violent that will distort the threads. Then hose 'em down with penetrating oil. Wait a while, about two beers worth, and do it again. Wait about another beer's worth, then back the plugs out as you would a tap -- out a quarter turn, in an eighth, out a quarter, in an eighth. Lather/rinse/repeat until done. If they won't come out at that point, go back to thumping and spraying about once and hour until your day is done, and let 'em sit overnight so you can back 'em out in the morning.
PS: Don't apply mechanical shock while the plugs are partially removed -- it's all the way in and seated, or nothing. If you encounter resistance enough that you fear you might break something, start over with the plugs all the way in with the bashing and spraying. Be patient. If things hang up such that you can't get a plug fully seated again or all the way out, back it out to where it hangs then back in about a quarter turn, then hose it down good with penetrating oil and immediately back it up, gently, to where it hangs. Let it sit like that for a good while before trying again. When you go back to it, start by running it in a half turn or so, then resume that quarter out/eighth in action.
When finally the plugs come out, take a thread chaser (NOT A TAP!) to the ports.
Run #8 all the way back down, and find yourself a stout pipe that'll pass over the porcelain and rest securely on the metal body of the plug. Cut it to an appropriate length, and use it to apply the blows of the hammer of magic and light to the plugs. You want to deliver a sound blow, but nothing foolishly violent that will distort the threads. Then hose 'em down with penetrating oil. Wait a while, about two beers worth, and do it again. Wait about another beer's worth, then back the plugs out as you would a tap -- out a quarter turn, in an eighth, out a quarter, in an eighth. Lather/rinse/repeat until done. If they won't come out at that point, go back to thumping and spraying about once and hour until your day is done, and let 'em sit overnight so you can back 'em out in the morning.
PS: Don't apply mechanical shock while the plugs are partially removed -- it's all the way in and seated, or nothing. If you encounter resistance enough that you fear you might break something, start over with the plugs all the way in with the bashing and spraying. Be patient. If things hang up such that you can't get a plug fully seated again or all the way out, back it out to where it hangs then back in about a quarter turn, then hose it down good with penetrating oil and immediately back it up, gently, to where it hangs. Let it sit like that for a good while before trying again. When you go back to it, start by running it in a half turn or so, then resume that quarter out/eighth in action.
When finally the plugs come out, take a thread chaser (NOT A TAP!) to the ports.
Grand Champion
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,011
Likes: 6
From: Meeker, CO
I usually use CRC Knock'Er Loose or Freeze Off. Spark plugs are a mite large for Freeze Off to do its magic unless you use way too much of it, but if it's what you've got on hand it'll do because it's just Knock'Er Loose with refrigerant added. Aero Kroil is good, also. Or a 50:50 mix of ATF and acetone.
Good luck and abundant patience to you!
Good luck and abundant patience to you!
Legend
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 8,025
Likes: 72
From: orangeville ontario
pb blaster is about the same as using wd40. now i wonder what he has against liquid wrench? it is suppose to be nearly as good as as good as kroil but at a fraction of the cost. i know it worked on the exhaust manifolds on my 81.
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Captain
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 555
Likes: 3
From: Wisconsin
For penetrating oils: to each their own. I prefer liquid wrench as it works very well for me but I have used other brands such as WD-40 and kano kroil and they have worked as well but as for the price I have found liquid wrench to be the priced better than the others.
