Before I end up breaking it, are there any workshop wizard tips on releasing a spark plug that, at the moment, will not fekkin budge at all? 
Thanks in anticipation!
Thanks in anticipation!
Spark plug won't budge
- Thread starter Tinytim
- Start date
Try some boiling hot water, poured on it
Worked for me on some seriously stuck bolts over the years
Worked for me on some seriously stuck bolts over the years
Thermal shock is your friend, heat around the head and liquid nitrogen onto the plug.
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Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
Tell him you saw someone messing with his Sprinter. 
if the vehicle still runs ??
Start it up and get it warm especially that side
DO NOT go near it with the liquid nitrogen
Once warmed up fit the spark plug socket with a bar and hit its a sharp crack with a hammer (firm but not a stupid strong blow)
and a firm pull ANTICLOCKWISE if it still does not go then tap on the pull bar or screwdriver or bar in an anticlockwise direction Whilst trying to control the end of the extension or sparkplug tool with your hand
It will come out, I have noticed for some reason Hex heads do seem to get wee stones in and round the plugs much worse than the oilheads do
Start it up and get it warm especially that side
DO NOT go near it with the liquid nitrogen
Once warmed up fit the spark plug socket with a bar and hit its a sharp crack with a hammer (firm but not a stupid strong blow)
and a firm pull ANTICLOCKWISE if it still does not go then tap on the pull bar or screwdriver or bar in an anticlockwise direction Whilst trying to control the end of the extension or sparkplug tool with your hand
It will come out, I have noticed for some reason Hex heads do seem to get wee stones in and round the plugs much worse than the oilheads do
Karlread
Registered user
Plus Gas ?
StewMcGrew
Registered user
This isn't helpful at the moment, but a little bit of copper slip on the threads of the new ones when you install them, will help with removal next time.
Good luck with getting them out. Fingers X you don't need to take the head(s) off.
Good luck with getting them out. Fingers X you don't need to take the head(s) off.
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Warm the engine up and try again. You could try Plusgas but you’d be hoping for a capillary action so best left until the engine is warm then try to shift it with a socket, if it fails tip the bike over a reasonable amount, spray it with Plusgas and leave it overnight. After it’s had time to creep around the threads try it cold then try it hot.
Thanks all. Not familiar with working on the GS really so another question, ( a stupid one for them that knows) and one that doesn't seem to be explained in Haynes. Will the rocker box come off with the plug still in situ? Looks like it, but I'm not near the bike now I've thought of this.
And no, I can't get the bike running at the moment to warm it up, as doing other jobs on it at the same time.
Cheers again.
Looks like it, but I'm not near the bike now I've thought of this.And no, I can't get the bike running at the moment to warm it up, as doing other jobs on it at the same time.
Cheers again.
Hot air gun, and a digital infrared thermometer.Thanks all. Not familiar with working on the GS really so another question, ( a stupid one for them that knows) and one that doesn't seem to be explained in Haynes. Will the rocker box come off with the plug still in situ?
And no, I can't get the bike running at the moment to warm it up, as doing other jobs on it at the same time.
Cheers again.
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Also be careful when you are putting force on the plug. Make sure you keep the socket on the metal flats on the plug and don’t lean on the ceramic part. My neighbour snapped the top of a plug in the past so had no option but to get the broken bit out ( car not a bike) . He couldn’t take the car anywhere for help so I ended up having to take the head off and take to an engineering works for removal!
I would try removal with a warm engine - try plus gas as well if you want to. WRT oiling or greasing threads, I believe NGK suggest not as the plating on the plug thread acts as a lubricant. Fit new plugs correctly and don’t over tighten!
I would try removal with a warm engine - try plus gas as well if you want to. WRT oiling or greasing threads, I believe NGK suggest not as the plating on the plug thread acts as a lubricant. Fit new plugs correctly and don’t over tighten!
Success! Got the bastard out eventually. Rocker cover off to keep box spanner tight and straight. Plenty of heat from underneath the pot. Plenty of calculated hammer taps on the box spanner, bit of anti clockwise then clockwise torque and finally the bastard came out and nothing broken. 'Twas nailbiting to say the least, being well aware of my historical ham fistedness/bad luck.
Thanks all for your reassuring advice/common sense.
Thanks all for your reassuring advice/common sense.
Well done . We were all rooting for you. 
. We were all rooting for you. 
Good one Tim 
Working my way down the thread I was going to suggest make sure you use a quality well fitting 3/8" 1/2" proper plug socket and not some cheap crappy box spanner
Working my way down the thread I was going to suggest make sure you use a quality well fitting 3/8" 1/2" proper plug socket and not some cheap crappy box spanner
Well done Tim, I think many of us identify with "hamfistedness"!
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