Changing spark plugs - idiot question...
Discussion
You are probably all seeing a theme here - I am crap at getting my hands dirty but I am trying!
Bought new air filter, oil, oil filter, and NGK spark plugs.
Happy with oil and air change, but nervous about spark plugs - where do I get the correct socket for my wrench i.e. Haynes cites a socket with a soft inside to avoid damaging the plug....
....or am I barking up the wrong tree?
Any help warmly received!
Bought new air filter, oil, oil filter, and NGK spark plugs.
Happy with oil and air change, but nervous about spark plugs - where do I get the correct socket for my wrench i.e. Haynes cites a socket with a soft inside to avoid damaging the plug....
....or am I barking up the wrong tree?
Any help warmly received!
I think they are 10mm (but could be 14mm, I can't remeber). I used a socket that had a plastic/rubber sleeve inside that helps grip the plug and lift it out.
Bought it in Halfords for a few quid.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Got home and found out my socket set came with an identical part. Doh!
Bought it in Halfords for a few quid.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Got home and found out my socket set came with an identical part. Doh!
Edited by matt uk on Wednesday 25th February 14:07
My socket set came with a 16mm spark plug socket with a rubber insert. That works fine.
Needed an extension bar on the end of my wrench to reach the plug. Just push it onto the plug and undo it and the plug comes out inside the socket. Thing is with mine is that the rubber insert then comes out of the socket and is stuck tightly to the end of the plug. That means I can't use it to put the plug back in without the rubber insert being stuck to the end of it.
On finding a cross threaded plug recently I am not sure how to put the plugs back in safely. Have heard that you can use a length of old hose pipe to grip the end of the plug whilst you lower it into the chanber. Get a few turns on it and pull the hose off. Finish with the wrench.
Take your wrench with you if you do not know its' size. They can be 1/4'' 1/2'' or 3/8''. That way you know the socket will properly fit your wrench.
p.s. Nice Dakar.
Needed an extension bar on the end of my wrench to reach the plug. Just push it onto the plug and undo it and the plug comes out inside the socket. Thing is with mine is that the rubber insert then comes out of the socket and is stuck tightly to the end of the plug. That means I can't use it to put the plug back in without the rubber insert being stuck to the end of it.
On finding a cross threaded plug recently I am not sure how to put the plugs back in safely. Have heard that you can use a length of old hose pipe to grip the end of the plug whilst you lower it into the chanber. Get a few turns on it and pull the hose off. Finish with the wrench.
Take your wrench with you if you do not know its' size. They can be 1/4'' 1/2'' or 3/8''. That way you know the socket will properly fit your wrench.
p.s. Nice Dakar.
Edited by A2Z on Wednesday 25th February 14:19
Edited by A2Z on Wednesday 25th February 14:27
Edited by A2Z on Wednesday 25th February 14:29
A2Z said:
p.s. Nice Dakar.
Cheers, she is a bit scruffy round the edges, but I had to have those wheels!Edited by A2Z on Wednesday 25th February 14:19
Yeah, am worried about cross threading - so putting a length of tube on the top allows you to gently feed the screw thread in rather than using the wrench which is likely to be to stressful on the thread?
Not so much stress but more that you can "feel" that the plug thread has mated properly with the chamber thread. If it hasn't and you go at it with a wrench then you run a good chance of cross threading it. With the hose you will feel the resistance but can back track with no damage done.
I havn't tried it yet, but intend to at the weekend. I am having to rethread on of the spark plug chambers at the weekend. It appears the previous owner or his mechanic was not so careful.
I havn't tried it yet, but intend to at the weekend. I am having to rethread on of the spark plug chambers at the weekend. It appears the previous owner or his mechanic was not so careful.
A2Z said:
Not so much stress but more that you can "feel" that the plug thread has mated properly with the chamber thread. If it hasn't and you go at it with a wrench then you run a good chance of cross threading it. With the hose you will feel the resistance but can back track with no damage done.
I havn't tried it yet, but intend to at the weekend. I am having to rethread on of the spark plug chambers at the weekend. It appears the previous owner or his mechanic was not so careful.
Thanks for clarifying. I guess you could do this manually just using the socket piece and the extension i.e. twist the extension until you feel the thread mating properly.I havn't tried it yet, but intend to at the weekend. I am having to rethread on of the spark plug chambers at the weekend. It appears the previous owner or his mechanic was not so careful.
Fingers crossed!
Yes, just put the spark-plug socket on an extension bar and thread the plug in very gently by hand - you'll be able to feel it screwing into the head and I don't think you'll find it possible to cross-thread it without using the wrench - you should be able to screw the plug almost all the way in by hand, then nip it up with the wrench, not too tight.
You can get specific spark plug tools - scroll down this page:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/... but a proper socket gives you more options for using extentions etc.
The socket is longer than a standard one to fit over the ceramic part of the spark plug and the rubber insert holds to plug to make it easier to place and remove. Without the insert if you're working at an awkward angle and the socket slips then it will probably snap off the ceramic part of the plug.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/... but a proper socket gives you more options for using extentions etc.
The socket is longer than a standard one to fit over the ceramic part of the spark plug and the rubber insert holds to plug to make it easier to place and remove. Without the insert if you're working at an awkward angle and the socket slips then it will probably snap off the ceramic part of the plug.
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