Marty Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 (edited) I have been unfortunate enough to have a plug shear off in the head just as i was undoing it to do a spark plug change The plug itself was very tight for some reason, and very brittle too, so it broke very easy. Now, i'm worried this is going to be a head off job Anyone got any idea's how to get the bugger out any other way? Edited May 10, 2009 by Marty (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjy Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 As far as i'm aware mate, it's head off to do it. drilling it out whilst still on will fill the bore up with swarf, which isn't good. Get this all the time at work on Focus'. PITA!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistonbroke Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 I believe most good garages will have spark plug removers specifically designed to remove snapped plugs. It may be worth phoning round to see if there is one local to you, then get it recovered to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjy Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Suppose you could always try lots and lots of lube/rust dissolving spray and an easy out, just try not to go all the way through the spark plug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themodifiedkid Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 I had this a while ago with my mates fiesta. I tried an easy out and ended up snapping that in the plug which was a PITA. In the end I got a HSS drill bit 1mm smaller than the thread of the sparkplug, I then drilled down the spark plug whilst holding a magnet near so all the swarf was collected, once through the plug it just took a flat bladed screw driver to dig the reat out that was in the screw thread in the head. I no its well risky, with the chance of bits falling in the head but it was only a fiesta LOL. Finally I got one of those telescopic magnets and put it down the spark plug hole to collect any remaining swarf that may have dropped down into the head. Job done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie-R Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Do the job properly, head off, you know it's right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyT Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Do the job properly, head off, you know it's right This is right. You cannot guarantee you'll get all the swarf magnetically. It doesn't take a lot to seriously compromise expensive components in your engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supra matt Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 What plugs were you running mate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Do the job properly, head off, you know it's right Well said,that man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Did the ceramic come out with the rest of the plug? If so I can get it out for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordy07 Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Good luck with this,sounds like a nightmare! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomgeer Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Unlucky mate, good luck with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted May 10, 2009 Author Share Posted May 10, 2009 As far as i'm aware mate, it's head off to do it. drilling it out whilst still on will fill the bore up with swarf, which isn't good. Get this all the time at work on Focus'. PITA!! This is what i'm thinking too, i don't fancy drilling it as like you say, the debris will end up inside the engine. I believe most good garages will have spark plug removers specifically designed to remove snapped plugs. It may be worth phoning round to see if there is one local to you, then get it recovered to them. Thanks for that, i'll ring about and see what they can suggest Suppose you could always try lots and lots of lube/rust dissolving spray and an easy out, just try not to go all the way through the spark plug. There is still a lil bit of it i can get to, its snapped below the hexpart where the socket attaches, so the whole lot of the thread, and ceramic are still in the head, some lube may free the threads a bit. I had this a while ago with my mates fiesta. I tried an easy out and ended up snapping that in the plug which was a PITA. In the end I got a HSS drill bit 1mm smaller than the thread of the sparkplug, I then drilled down the spark plug whilst holding a magnet near so all the swarf was collected, once through the plug it just took a flat bladed screw driver to dig the reat out that was in the screw thread in the head. I no its well risky, with the chance of bits falling in the head but it was only a fiesta LOL. Finally I got one of those telescopic magnets and put it down the spark plug hole to collect any remaining swarf that may have dropped down into the head. Job done If my engine hadn't have cost me so much money i may be tempted to do that Do the job properly, head off, you know it's right i know but i'm going to try my best to get it out 1st without drilling etc. This is right. You cannot guarantee you'll get all the swarf magnetically. It doesn't take a lot to seriously compromise expensive components in your engine. What plugs were you running mate? I have platinum plugs in, they arent too old either, 4k miles, i put them in too so i know they weren't overtightened Did the ceramic come out with the rest of the plug? If so I can get it out for you. Fraid not half of it is still stuck in there Good luck with this,sounds like a nightmare! Unlucky mate, good luck with it Thanks guys, its going to be a challenge I'll take a pic tomorrow morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted May 11, 2009 Author Share Posted May 11, 2009 Right, got some pics, poor quality though i'm afradi as i only have my old camera phone to hand. One of plug... One of whats left in head, which isn't a lot to work with, the metal ring is where the thread starts, its not a lot, but if i can get something on it i may be able to work it out. I have some liquid nitrogen spray, i'm tempted to get a tad on whats left of the plug, in the hope that it will contract the metal enough to loosen it in the hole. Although i'm not too convinced that whats left of the ceramic will take too kindly to the nitrogen and will shatter and depart in to the bore hmm.. what to do ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignum Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 What about drilling a very small hole near the edge/inside the thread maybe a couple of mm deep them use a sharp object like a hole punch to tap it round, tbh you mayaswell try to get it out obviously using the least tricky/best method 1st if you end up taking the head off anyway,if you do get it out successfully couldn`t you use a borescope thingy to look for any debris. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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