Stuck spark plug caps

[shielsy]

Any suggestions?

Bike is a K3 Hayabusa that's not had a plug change for quite a lot of miles and years. They seem completely stuck so I've covered them in penetrating oil for the night... Looking for methods to get them off without causing damage to the caps.

[Krikkit]

What's a new set run you? Might be worth saving the hassle of trying to get them out nicely and just muller them...

Otherwise penetrating oil could help, might be worth getting the bike hot if the oil doesn't short the plug to the casing.

[Biker's Nemesis]

When I get stuck coil sticks I use a hammer shank or piece of wood and gently but firmly prise the end that sticks out upwards.

Disconnect the wires first.

[Rubin215]

When you do finally get them out, you are probably going to find that the reason for them sticking in the first place is that the coils have started to disintegrate. They will be split, swollen and corroding.

I've seen them so bad before that the whole top section broke off and we ended up chipping the rest into pieces and vacuuming it out.

Budget about £50 for new (used) ones, they're common enough.

[shielsy]

1 of them safely removed by hand after a day soaked in penetrating oil. Topped it up again and we'll see out it goes tomorrow.

[trickywoo]

Is there anything you can apply when refitting to prevent it happening again?

Silicone spray lube maybe?

[Rubin215]

I use red rubber grease.
It doesn't conduct, doesn't swell the rubber grommets and doesn't wash out

[Krikkit]

Or remove and refit once every service/year? Depends how accessible they are I suppose.

[shielsy]

This has turned out to be an absolute c*nt of a job.

As above, make sure you take your coils out from time to time and grease them to save this hassle.

[Rubin215]

If you can just face up to the fact that you're going to have to replace them, then try drilling straight down into each one and driving a screw into the hole.
Then use a claw hammer and a block of wood to lever them out.
Don't forget to film yourself doing it and get it on YouTube though...

Sometimes the acceptance of failure and destruction can be cathartic...

[shielsy]

Yep, they're fked

[Rubin215]

shielsy said:

Yep, they're fked

Pah!

'Tis but a flesh wound!


Seriously, I've seen them much worse than that; to the point where the coil body has actually split open and they have arc-welded themselves to the inside of the head.

[Biker's Nemesis]

shielsy said:

Yep, they're fked

Adidas Samba or Gazel trainers?

[shielsy]

Biker's Nemesis said:

Adidas Samba or Gazel trainers?

Neither, N-5923 :-)