Spark Plug Washer

[Hairy Moose Knuckles]

I never did get that sucker out, but I'm about ready to remove the head. I have everything Loose and just need to lift it off. I figure once the head is removed, I can try again or take to machine shop.

 

[mikes5785]

That pic looks exactly like the carboned up threads in my 49 C cylinder head. But it wouldn’t hurt to have an auto machine shop work the head over

Mike

 

[Stanton]

I never did get that sucker out, but I'm about ready to remove the head. I have everything Loose and just need to lift it off. I figure once the head is removed, I can try again or take to machine shop.

If you haven't removed the head in this whole process, then remove it to determine if access is better from the underside of the head. You may be able to work on it from the inside out. I'm with the others who doubt it's a spark plug washer. Those washers are not made of very tough metal. Running a drill bit the exact diameter of the inside hole should shave off any excess metal of the obstruction, then a tap should be able to clean up the threads. But, not having my hands or eye on it, it's hard to tell.

 

[Hairy Moose Knuckles]

Thanks Stanton. I have the head ready to lift off. We've got rain scheduled the next few days, but as soon as we have a pretty day, I'll get it off. I don't have an area inside to work, so I have to pick and choose my days

 

[Stanton]

Thanks Stanton. I have the head ready to lift off. We've got rain scheduled the next few days, but as soon as we have a pretty day, I'll get it off. I don't have an area inside to work, so I have to pick and choose my days

Ok, been there too. Just thought it might be a bit premature to talk about taking it to the machine shop before investigating it from underneath.

Wishing blue skies and clear plug passages to you. :hattip:

 

[Hairy Moose Knuckles]

Thanks Stanton. I finally got it off. Depending on the advice from you guys, I will try to run thread chaser from inside. I have a cylinder that's stuck. A few of the head bolts didn't look that great either.

 

[Hairy Moose Knuckles]

I'm not sure how a sparkplug washer, that has an OD larger than that hole, could have gotten down in the hole. Not saying it absolutely can't happen, but it seems highly unlikely to me. I think it's more likely to be the last few threads of a previous plug.

Or maybe deposits allowed by a spark plug that was too short or not completely turned into the hole.

Don,Jim, and Mike

You guys absolutely called it! There was NO washer in there. With the head off and sitting on my bench, I was able to slowly go in with the thread chaser. I kept going in a bit and backing it out. I'd clean the chaser and start again. I kept at it till it went all the way. Cleaned it again and went back in all the way. Took spark plug and ran it in.

I went ahead while I was at it and did all 4 of them till the spark plugs went in easy with my fingers.

There was Lots of carbon built up on those threads!


Now my next order of business is putting spark plugs in to protect my pretty threads and clean that head up nice!

Whew! What a relief!


Now if I could just get that stuck engine to cooperate!

 

[Stanton]

...I went ahead while I was at it and did all 4 of them till the spark plugs went in easy with my fingers. There was Lots of carbon built up on those threads!...

Congrats! Glad that was all it was.

 

[BigBill]

To chase the threads once the abstraction is out I cut with a hacksaw an old sparkplug angled cuts on the threads to make my own thread chasers. Usually two or three cuts.

 

[Dennis]

Thank you for your tips, however, this thread is over a year old and appears to have been solved. I'm locking this one from further discussion and if necessary to continue the topic, we recommend starting a new topic. This one can always be referenced in a new topic.

Thanks,
Dennis