Cleaning Spark Plugs is a Simple Job...

nrp wrote:

I found some small wire brushes about 3/8 inch dia that could
be chucked into an electric drill and slowly rotated in the threaded
hole to clean the crud out of the threads.

Probably .30 caliber rifle cleaning brushes.

George Patterson
Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to
use the Internet and he won't bother you for weeks.

On Sun, 25 Sep 2005 20:50:17 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:

If you have a shield around the exhaust check for dirt, sand and small
rocks. This will sound like the car is falling apart.

Thanks, Michelle -- but I just found the source of the rattle ten minutes
ago. I took the right rear door apart, and the retaining screws for the
stereo speaker had simply vibrated out over the last 8 years. The speaker
was just laying loose inside the door...

And to think I laid under the car for 30 minutes trying to find loose
stuff... Argh.
Jay you should have better faith in Subaru ;-)

OMG Jay that was one awsome read!! I had a smile on my face the whole time I
was reading it (all except the first part about the rough running engine) I
know cause I like to work on my own cars and trucks, And my wife is now
finally starting to accept the idea that she should get her hands dirty too!


One day when I finally get my PPL and can own a plane I would love to get
the tools out and tinker! I think I'll get the wife out to help too! :O


"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:SjLYe.157590$084.124008@attbi_s22...

wrote:
: It's a good idea, but if you really look at your post, you're not really
: teaching anyone anything.

: He's teaching much. A lot of other pilots might think cleaning
: and gapping plugs is a simple thing, and Jay's detailing of his
: experience showed that it's not. Reading his post saves them fumbling
: through the same process if they realize they're not going to enjoy it,
: and might save them money if it keeps them from damaging plugs or
: stripping plug threads out of the cylinder head.

Exactly. Ignorance is bliss, but not necessarily healthy for aircraft
maintenance. If you don't *know* you're doing something wrong or forgot to do
something right, you won't seek out the correct way.

-Cory

--

************************************************** ***********************
* Cory Papenfuss *
* Electrical Engineering candidate Ph.D. graduate student *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
************************************************** ***********************

I found some small wire brushes about 3/8 inch dia that could
be chucked into an electric drill and slowly rotated in the threaded
hole to clean the crud out of the threads.

I pump compressed air into the cylinder through one plug
hole while picking the crud out of the threads of the other. This makes
sure the stuff doesn't lay in the cylinder and get into places it
shouldn't. Got to wear goggles while doing it, and a respirator is a
good idea, since the dust has lead in it.
Chunks of the stuff have caused problems when they break
off in flight: they can foul a plug or get under a valve and reduce
power. Not a good thing if you're just lifting off.

Dan

Good idea using a gun cleaning brush & an air blast.

Which also brings to mind a thought that John Thorp expressed many
years ago. If compression is going to be measured, remove the bottom
plug first so crud doesn't fall on an open exhaust valve sealing
surface. Then rotate the engine to TDC before removing the top plug.

My (50 years in the business) A&P has me replace the gaskets each time
I clean the plugs. I never reuse them. He as all the nice equipment that
you mentioned. Easy job.


-------------
Regards, Ross
C-172F 180HP
KSWI


Jay Honeck wrote:
: Did he also show you how to install new spark plug gaskets or re-anneal
: the old ones?

: Yep.

Which reminds me... should one try to do that on the spark-plug thermocouples
for measureing CHT? It's always bothered me that they *replace* the original copper
gaskets.


No. As long as you get the gasket/washer/thermocouple on the same way
it came off, it's fine.

Which, by the way, is also true of the regular copper washers/gaskets
under your spark plugs, per my A&P.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

The speaker
was just laying loose inside the door...

Yum! Speaker eggs.

On 25 Sep 2005 19:26:01 -0700, "nrp" wrote:

snip
One minor additional thing - Occasionally also clean the sparkplug
helicoil threads in the cylinder. Somewhere (a surplus tore as I
recall) I found some small wire brushes about 3/8 inch dia that could
be chucked into an electric drill and slowly rotated in the threaded
hole to clean the crud out of the threads.

Champion useta sell a thread chaser for this purpose. Looked a lot
like a spark plug, had cut-outs in the threads to catch the crud. SOP
was stick a finger full of grease into the cut-outs to help it
"stick".

TC

In article ,
wrote:

On 25 Sep 2005 19:26:01 -0700, "nrp" wrote:

snip
One minor additional thing - Occasionally also clean the sparkplug
helicoil threads in the cylinder. Somewhere (a surplus tore as I
recall) I found some small wire brushes about 3/8 inch dia that could
be chucked into an electric drill and slowly rotated in the threaded
hole to clean the crud out of the threads.

Champion useta sell a thread chaser for this purpose. Looked a lot
like a spark plug, had cut-outs in the threads to catch the crud. SOP
was stick a finger full of grease into the cut-outs to help it
"stick".

TC


I don't see why you couldn't make a chaser out of an old plug, using a
Moto Tool to cut the tapping slots.