stiff plug!

[mak]

any one had a spark plug thats just begging to snap, i've replaced all but 1 and its bloody solid, it doesn't help that u've got to use a wobbly on it so the torque is not central, i snapped a plug on an old 300zx turbo years ago and lets just say its a very low and sickening experiance, any ideas people?

[GreenV8S]

Get two hands on it, one on the end of the bar and the other on the UJ in line with the plug. Put equal loads on each hand so all the socket sees is pure torque, no side load.

[mak]

cheers mate, i've treid that but i'll give it 1 more go and hopefully my next post wont be head off how much? lol. Is it a myth that its wotrh trying when its hot or does it make a differensce.

[GreenV8S]

Hot means you burn your hands on the headers!

[tvr keith]

Mak, did you get it out?
try spraying penetrating oil around it and leaving overnight before you try again

[mak]

i'm gonna have a nother go at the weekend mate and give it the v8s;s two hand grip to try spread the load, between now and then though my freind i will keep dowsing it with wd and hope it seeps in a little, cheers. Makes me wonder if it was stiff on the last service and they left it to because the others where fine lol.

[smb]

why don't you apply some wd40penetrating oil and leave overnight first

[Rum Runner]

Mak if it does snap it will normally just leaves the threaded part in the head (don't no about your 300zx ), it used to happen a lot with Mk2 Fiesta Kent Motors as the plugs had no washers and countersunk and water sat around the plug , left hand thread extracters were used quite often to remove the what was left, it my well work if the worst happens. Also try going a little tighter them try backing off. Don't know it you can get hold of an air ratchet as the hammer style action can sometimes help break free. Best of Luck .

[that daddy]

Try getting the engine up to running temperature first,let the manifolds cool enough to get your hands in there,oh as the others said try and soak before hand,with plenty of WD40.THE HEADS are ali so they expand more than your steel plug body,try working back & forth,hope this helps,take your time.good luck.copper slip the threads on the new ones.use one of the old plugs run in & out of the tight thread to chase the crap out of the threads.

[Ribol]

mak said:

between now and then though my freind i will keep dowsing it with wd and hope it seeps in a little

Forget WD40, it is not penetrating oil, get hold of Plus Gas, it is by far the best for this sort of job.
Works best if you put it on when the engine is warm(not hot).