650 twin spark plug removal ? (quick one)

Im in the middle of doing my rocker cover gasket, In regard to the spark plug caps (coils) do you twist then pull or just pull to get them away from the rocker cover, If it is a twist and pull, do you twist anti clockwise ?
Told you it was a quick one....Cheers Tosh

Sorry Tosh, I've never done this, but I'd imagine that they are just pull (but carefully!).

Just checked my Haynes manual.
You need a ignition coil puller or I spose pliers if your really stuck and fecking careful, it also says disconnect. The wiring from the coil first, it also says if the coil is stuck to spray some penetrating oil around the coil first.
BMW sell a service tool to take coil sticks off, there is a plastic cool puller in the tool kit.




..........EDIT.........
took some piccy's

I didn't fancy messing anything up with a screwdriver so bought the one labelled A. Although it was labelled for the boxers it fits ours too.

S

I once posted a lengthy diatribe on here that some people didn't understand, good luck with this one.

You do not need a puller though it will be easier, and you will be sorry if you use a screwdriver and have no idea what you are doing. These coil sticks are very expensive and if you bugger one, you'll be whimpering when you watch the ceremonial raping of your wallet by BMW. It won't be pretty!

Look at what you are faced with.
Disconnect the wiring at the rear on the tang on each and tuck it away.
Understand that the soft rubber shrouds can be doubled back and this will give you added grip. Using your fingers (which depending on how strong they are could be cramped for hours afterwards as you try to lift your beer glass) apply gentle lifting with a very gentle twisting. Think Clapton here and not Malmsteen. You want a slowhand.

Resist the incredible temptation you will be faced with, which is trying to use the tang where the cable connects.
Like the proverbial farmer's daughter, do not even think about it.

They will come loose eventually, the coil stick, not the farmer's daughter unless she's from the highlands or something.

But now the fun will really start!

Make damn sure you have a thin wall socket to get the plugs out, because if you use a normal sized socket you run the risk of jamming it in the "well" of the motor and how are you going to get it back out?

So, since it is Christmas, you can buy the right sized socket from BMW and the puller from either BMW or someone else, and spread around the wealth.
Or you can be a cheap bastard like myself and use the oldest plug socket you have in the tool box that just happened to be a real thin wall tool, and your fingers. Whatever you do, you do not want to get a socket jammed in there.

I was able to get one of those plastic pullers (B) from a BMW dealer fairly easily.

Have you used it? Or are you in the planning stage?

I got one just so I have it for the future, Im sure I will need it eventually. So no, I havent used it yet.

Don't be surprised if it spreads apart or breaks.

And there are two different types of the plastic one, an early model for a different type of boot and the late model which is larger in overall size.
My dealer would only sell me the early useless model, BMW Mexico will not sell a customer the metal one or the larger plastic one. Motorrad policy in Mexico.
That means I would have to import the metal or the plastic one. They won't even give you the part number at the dealer.

Round the world bike my arse, not with that kind of dealer support and you better hope you have a thinwall socket with you, try finding one that will fit in some parts of the world.

Whilst we're on the subject - the thin wall spark plug socket is a 10mm.

I was naive enough to think that rubber grip would stay in the socket and not come off on the top of the spark plug. It didn't which was a PITA. So it may be worth gluing in this piece inside the socket before starting the job. Trying to fish the rubber gripper out of the socket from between the spark plug and top cover was a rather too long bit of life i'll never get back

S

If you have any doubts about the socket, duct tape it to the extension which can give you a fighting chance if it gets stuck slightly. If it is jammed in you are going to be bending over and it wont be pleasent.
I have seen some GSAs that have the puller and the thinwall all in the toolkit, hunt down someone who has one and invite them over and whilst they sample your single malt, you can sample the tool kit.
This didnt work for me as I have no friends nor single malts.