trick to getting spark plugs out?

[cowboyz]

ok. need to get spark plugs out of this damn bike. got the 2 left hand ones out but the right hand ones are damn tight. I am breaking a sweat here trying to undo them. Brought a new sparkplug spanner and little bar that came with it to make the job easier but I bend the bar in half trying to get these right hand sparkplugs out. There must be some kind of trick to get out really tight spark plugs . I am a little worried about putting a big power bar on it but it may come to that.

any ideas?

[HenryDorsetCase]

LOTs of CRC/WD40, leave it overnight, try it in the morning use a proper socket with an extension bar.

Pray to jebus that it isnt X threaded already....

you'll find out when you do get it out if it is or not.

good luck..


you know that the ones on that side of the bike are opposite side threading, right???*













*its a joke people, dont try this at home.

[Gontour]

If the CRC overnight makes no difference, I would stick the two plugs you have removed back in then start it for about thirty seconds this can let the cylinder head expand slightly, then have another go at loosening the plugs, always take care not to overdo it though as the head is probably Aluminium Alloy and inherently soft.

Good Luck

[cowboyz]

All it took was a little more swearing a a really big powerbar. Christ they were tight. One has the entire middle bit (technical term) of the spark plug missing, or rather, burnt down about 7mm into the spark plug. I dare say that spark plug wasn't doing a whole lot which should be why my bike is running like a piece of shit. Get new spark plugs tomorrow (they are special ones made from unobtainium and had to order them) and then all will be good in my world again.

[DevoDave]

Sounds like you need to check them more often and then when you put the new ones in they only need to be tightened by a quarter turn. So you tighten them till they are just starting to crimp the washer then the final quarter turn

[scumdog]

Before putting in the new plugs give their threads a smear of "Copper-Cote" or similar high-temp anti-sieze compond, life will be better next time you need to take them out.

[cowboyz]

My bike gets a birthday every 5000k. I have just clicked over my first 5000 on this bike (well 4700 actually) when it started playing up. I think superman owned the bike before me cause it really can't be humanly possible to tighten the damn things up that much. It should be alot better now, once I get those good spark plugs.

i should have given it my own service when I brought it but it run so well and i swore the guy said he just done it. Oh well. all will be good tomorrow.

[classic zed]

as with any tight nut or bolt, is not to pull it as hard as you can rather "snatch" it i.e give it a sharp tug much like an inpact gun. I find it makes things a lot easier.

[WINJA]

as with any tight nut or bolt, is not to pull it as hard as you can rather "snatch" it i.e give it a sharp tug much like an inpact gun. i find it makes things a lot easier.

i actually try to use the impact gun , i usually run mine off nitro so i can easily adjust the preasure ,i usually run low preasure and low setting on small bolts and nuts , used correctly you ade less likely to snap stuff , cause the impacts are small and in a turning motion only , when you use a power bar it sometimes puts force in the wrong direction on a bolt

[Ixion]

Best way is to use a power bar, pull it up hard so you're putting a fair torque on the bolt, hold that with one hand, and then with the other hand give the bar a good biff with your open palm. The "snap" loading breaks the stiction fee. Or use an impact driver or a rattle gun.

[T.W.R]

get the bike running & warm it up first then once its starting to cool down attack the plugs then. deep reach plug spanner & bar & tapping the bar as you load pressure on it. ham fisted harrys always over tighten plugs for some reason? the should only be done up pinch tight then another 1/4 turn from there.

[Sniper]

dont put the spark plug in your mouth to test them!

[T.W.R]

dont put the spark plug in your mouth to test them!

allocate tags to each spark plug lead that relate to each cylinder too aye Sniper

[Stevo]

allocate tags to each spark plug lead that relate to each cylinder too aye Sniper

Couldn'ta put it better myself.
I was reading this thread and was thinking you should ask Sniper about spark plug removal. Better you don't perhaps. The Sniper Motorcycle Manual, Page 531 suggests removal of all fairings (front and back both sides), tank/airbox cover, tank, radiator and airbox, change sparkplugs, put all back together.