Removing broken spark plug - help!

Removing broken spark plug - help!

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g3org3y

Original Poster:

21,495 posts

205 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all

As above.

My dad attempted to change the plugs on the Ka, one was totally rusted in place (apparently common fault). Upshot is that half the plug (just above the thread) remains in the engine while the other half is on the kitchen table.

Any cunning plans?

Tia smile

LuS1fer

42,425 posts

259 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
Sometimes happens on Mustangs and I think there is a kit to remove those. May be a head off job though.

GTO Scott

3,816 posts

238 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
Remove the head, drill out the remains of the plug and re-tap the thread.

How old is the Ka? Another engine may well be less work and cheaper than removing the head, buying a gasket set, having the head skimmed, and refitting it all.

SEE YA

3,522 posts

259 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
Post a picture of it maybe people will have a better idea then.

A idea could be to drill out plug then heicoil in another thread.

If I remember right it sits inside the damaged thread.
Maybe tap and dye the hole again if not to bad.


Just seen the picture take the head off.

Edited by SEE YA on Saturday 11th December 08:20

thinfourth2

32,414 posts

218 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
Off with its head.

Its a pushrod engine so its easy to get off and then you can take it to a machineshop who will be able to get it out.

By the time you have buggered about under the bonnet trying to get it out you will be quicker to take its head off.

toast boy

1,242 posts

240 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
We just had to do this for a mate who had the same problem, tried our bolt extractors to no avail. In the end we soaked the plugs in penetrating fluid for about 4 days and borrowed an easy out from a mechanic I know down the road. It wasn't like ours, it was hexagon in cross section and serrated. Hammer in and wind out, mind it was still so stiff that it twisted the easy out so they are pretty well stuck in. Other than that, as has been said it's a head off job.

g3org3y

Original Poster:

21,495 posts

205 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies. It is the old 1.3 endura engine.

Will try and get a couple of pics up when I get the chance.

Car was only £250ish. Bought from the gf around August. 'Buyer beware'! She did not offer a warranty. frown

Edited by g3org3y on Friday 10th December 09:40

freddytin

1,184 posts

241 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
http://sa.rsdelivers.com/product/rs/da1384/5piece-...

Plenty of penetrating fluid, heat and a sturdy extractor , like those depicted in the above link.

I've had to remove 3 so far for folk who are ham fisted ,or leave their plug changes far too long.
My extractors are old Sykes Pickavant items and cope fine with this sort of work.

toast boy

1,242 posts

240 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
freddytin said:
http://sa.rsdelivers.com/product/rs/da1384/5piece-...

Plenty of penetrating fluid, heat and a sturdy extractor , like those depicted in the above link.

I've had to remove 3 so far for folk who are ham fisted ,or leave their plug changes far too long.
My extractors are old Sykes Pickavant items and cope fine with this sort of work.
That looks like the kind of thing we used, as freddytin said, loads of penetrating fluid and get it glowing red hot. Slightly O/T but what is the cause of these plugs shearing? I've never had a problem like this in any of my cars, although none of mine have these thin kind of plugs. Is it just that they haven't been changed frequently enough or is it bad design somewhere?

g3org3y

Original Poster:

21,495 posts

205 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
Apparently common fault, water leak and plug rusts in place. Car has been serviced in its life (at ford main dealer and other random garages) allegedly. The plugs themselves look like the original items (from 1999). Probably never been changed.

Do you think I can demand my money back from the gf? wink

GTO Scott

3,816 posts

238 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
doogz said:
Why would he need to have the head skimmed? It doesn't need done everytime you take it off.

Whipping the head off is no big deal, especially if you haven't done the timing belt yet, kill 2 birds with one stone.
For piece of mind. If you're going to the extent of buying head gaskets etc, do the job properly and have the head faced/skimmed. How would you feel if 3 months down the line it started mixing oil and coolant thanks to a head that had warped slightly, and could have been cured the first time it was all in pieces?

idge

104 posts

179 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
doogz said:
Perhaps not money, but i'm sure you can come to some sort of arrangement!
Perhaps she could whip your head off for you?

HellDiver

5,708 posts

196 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
For a £250 banger, I'd leave the broken plug there, and just unplug the injector for that cylinder. It'll go fine on 3, and unplugging the injector will mean it'll not fill the non-working cylinder with petrol.

magpie215

4,748 posts

203 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
HellDiver said:
For a £250 banger, I'd leave the broken plug there, and just unplug the injector for that cylinder. It'll go fine on 3, and unplugging the injector will mean it'll not fill the non-working cylinder with petrol.
ha ha love it very similar to my mk3 2.8 v6 granada....ran that on 5 pots for about 10 months

5lab

1,740 posts

210 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
HellDiver said:
For a £250 banger, I'd leave the broken plug there, and just unplug the injector for that cylinder. It'll go fine on 3, and unplugging the injector will mean it'll not fill the non-working cylinder with petrol.
I'd be very surprised if that engine is direct injection, its not even got a overhead cam!


jayfish

6,795 posts

217 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
had this happen to me twice on a Fiat that was leaking oil into the plugs, the rubber bit on the end of the areil jammed in there nicely and had just enough grip to unscrew it, but i Wouldn't recommend it smile
When they break the centre electrode may well drop onto the piston and that could be down in the chamber, if you do it without the head off make sure you get all the bits wink

steveo3002

10,796 posts

188 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
if it was me , id at least try to remove it in situ , soak the area with plus gas for a days (not wd40) then try a proper brand easy out , if it comes out then a small bore hose taped on the hoover should clean it out

you might well end up failing and have to have the head off , but its not like it will out once the head is off

hoppo4.2

1,543 posts

200 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
normaly the top half will snap off quite easly. then you can remove the electrode and int insulation.

this should leave just the outer case of the plug stuck in the engine.

cover this in freeing agent over night then heat with a blow torch or similar.

it will then normal come out with a reverse spiral type extractor.

if not the outer case can normaly be chiseled out but take care not to let it drop into the cylinder or you will be having the head off.

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

269 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
GTO Scott said:
For piece of mind. If you're going to the extent of buying head gaskets etc, do the job properly and have the head faced/skimmed.
Doing the job "properly" would mean getting the head skimmed if it needed it, e.g. if the head was warped of if there was corrosion damage near a fire ring etc. Skimming heads just for the sake of it is not equivalent to doing a proper job.

It's an old cast iron block and cast iron head - the chances of it actually needing to be skimmed are low.

Edited by Mr2Mike on Friday 10th December 16:08

g3org3y

Original Poster:

21,495 posts

205 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
Thank you for the advice. smile

Here are a couple of photos:

One on the right is the offender: