Stripped spark plug thread

[dern]

My 2000 blade fired its left hand (from the perspective of sitting on it) spark plug out of the engine today which was quite exciting as I had the throttle wide open at the time . Does anyone have any experience of working on these bikes? Obviously I need to take the head off in order to helicoil it but is it easier (or even possible) to take the head off with the engine in situ or is this an engine out job?

Thanks,

Mark

[Carrera2]

I don't think enough people will have had this problem to start a thread about it.


Sorry, I'll get my coat.

[Steve_T]

See if you can get a Haynes manual or better still the workshop manual for the bike and see if there any pictures that give a clue one way or another. Also worth seeing if there is an owners club on the web you could ask the same question to.

Steve.

[Smart Roadster]

Are you sure it has stripped the thread? I have had plugs come loose and pop out before. I'd put money it is an engine out job to get the head off so it is worth a look.

[black-k1]

Smart Roadster said:

Are you sure it has stripped the thread? I have had plugs come loose and pop out before. I'd put money it is an engine out job to get the head off so it is worth a look.

I would also say it's worth checking that the thread has actually gone. I to have had plugs pop out before and they've always just gone straight back in.

Edited by black-k1 on Tuesday 6th June 15:28

[dern]

black-k1 said:

Smart Roadster said:

Are you sure it has stripped the thread? I have had plugs come loose and pop out before. I'd put money it is an engine out job to get the head off so it is worth a look.

I would also say it's worth checking that the thread has actually gone. I to have had plugs pop out before and they've always just gone straight back in.

I stripped the tank and airbox off this morning after I had the bike recovered and where the other plugs grab the thread about 1cm above where they are tight this one almost sits down into the head as far as a fitted plug before it starts to grip the thread and then turns one revolution before its tight and sitting at the same height as the other plugs.

I'll get the workshop manual out later but just wondered if anyone knew this bike and was able to put my mind at rest that I could get the bike back on the road sooner rather than later as it's my main transport.

[dern]

Carrera2 said:

I don't think enough people will have had this problem to start a thread about it.


Sorry, I'll get my coat.

Thanks, that's very helpful.

[Carrera2]

dern said:

Carrera2 said:

I don't think enough people will have had this problem to start a thread about it.


Sorry, I'll get my coat.

Thanks, that's very helpful.

You did see the joke there right?

Thread....as in 'The big brother thread' etc...'the stripped spark plug thread'......I'm off.

[Mikey G]

Dern, if the head has bolts as opposed to studs to hold it on at a guess i would say that if you have enough clearance to lift the head off any locating dowels it should come out the side of the bike. If its studs forget it, the engine will have to come out.
I notice the plugs in my Blade engined locost loosen with alarming regularity but i'm afraid to tighten them too much incase i strip them.

[dern]

Mikey G said:

I notice the plugs in my Blade engined locost loosen with alarming regularity but i'm afraid to tighten them too much incase i strip them.

I know what you mean. It's such a pain in the arse to get to the plugs in the bike (the tank and the airbox have to come off) so I don't check them as frequently as I would otherwise. I'm half tempted to helicoil all 4 in order to make them more secure.

[dern]

Checked with haynes and it's an engine out job.

Arse.