Leaky Spark Plug Hole

Hi Got a Bit of a Leaky Spark Plug Hole.

Anyone used Helicoil Sav a Thread:

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detai ... &ppt=C1986

Or is there another method of curing this Problem?

Your thought are most Welcome

Regards
Gary

 

Is it possible that you simply lost the crush washer at the bottom of the spark plug?

 

Oh..! how i wish that was the case, but alas No, the threads look very
Worn, not threaded just dull, not sharp and crisp, like the other threads.

 

Helicoils have been the standard repair for stripped threads for decades. They were developed for use in the aircraft industry, and are still the standard method for aircraft repair. Read the instructions, follow them exactly, do not rush the job, and you'll have a better-than-new spark plug hole. USe grease on the drill and on the tap when preparing the hole so chips don't end up in the combustion chamber. Follow up with a shop vac to clear out anything that didn't stick to the grease.

 

Not speaking from experience, but it would seem that a lot of people prefer the http://www.timesert.com/ over the helicoil. Very expensive, but I think you can get an equivalent from NAPA for a plug for about $19.00. Everything I have read seems to indicate that it is a better choice. But others with actual experience will hopefully will chime in.

 

The company behind it is Heli-coil so must be good quality, anyhoo, ordered Sav a Thread from company in Massachusetts, cheaper than i can get in Europe, (strange but true).

So should be here in a week or two, will keep you posted.

P.S.

Might make a complete, mess of it, so If anyone has a Spare 1980 cylinder head, that they would like to sell, and ship to Scotland, Stand By.

 

Sav a Thread Delivered today, Yippee! Unfortunately, Rain stops Play as have no free space in garage. fingers crossed for tomorrow!

 

Success Cut New Spark Plug hole All Seems Well..!

See Galley for Pictures

 

For others that read this post...as k-moe stated standard helicoils will work fine. The key is to let the bit follow the existing hole and to ping the tool firm enough to completely seat the coil. There are teeth at the top of the coil threads to prevent the removing the coil with the plug. @rsk: glad you got it sorted.

Gary

 

Rsk, is Sav a Thread a solid insert or a coiled insert like the original Heli-coil?

 

Its a Solid insert like Time-Serts not like normal Heli-Coil

There's no tang to break off, it has a knurled section at the top to help seat it.
(See Gallery: Insert Close_Up)

And comes with a Tool to fix it in Place (See Gallery)
By peening over the last threads.

Did this with the head on..!! I Know that Nagging Doubt did i get all of the Swarf out the Head, AARRGGHH...!!

Where's Erwin Schrödinger when you need him?

?

 

I wouldn't sweat it. I would guess a miniscule amount of soft aluminum shavings, if any, would get incinerated or spit out the exhaust valve. The softness of the shavings in comparison to the cylinder, piston, rings and valves are not going to hurt anything. Repairs I've seen have been with the head on.

 

Thanks for the reassurance XJOE,

Just got to order My Shims, Now..!

Caliper Strip and Rebuild is also on Track,

So All is Well .

 

I'm betting that you got all the swarf out, and also there's still some left in there.

 

Oh No..! Stop That..!

XJOE Just Convinced Me it Will Be Fine, Then You Show Up!

That Darn Cat!

 

Here is a guy on another forum who just put in a big sert when his heli-coil failed. I'm sure yours is a similar process you just went through.

http://www.kzrider.com/forum/13-bike-re ... 640#637393

Here is what he stated about debris:

"it really was simple...the vacuum did not feel like it was getting too much debri.....most must have stayed on the greased reamer and threader tips..."

No guarantees I guess. But this is a common repair.

 

Haha! Well you started it! :lol:

On the serious side... If you haven't run the motor yet, I'd take a piece of tubing just small enough to fit down the spark plug hole and tape it to the hose on my shop-vac. Stick the hose down the spark plug hole and go fishing.

You can swing it around a bunch down inside the cylinder and try to pull out anything that may have gone down there.

Might not even catch anything, but would give me piece of mind.

 

Yeah think it all sorted, thanks for the reassurances

Built Vacuum tool



Waiting for Shims so not tested but sure it will be OK.

.

 

put your garden hose in it and let it flow for awhile, water won't hurt anything

 

Yup. Just like that!

You won't know if you even pulled anything out, but fishing with that would give me reassurance as well.

Good luck with the rest of the work.

PS - Porsche!!

 

The oil pan can be removed with the engine in the frame. There is no assurance of getting all of the debris out by fishing.

 

There should be 0% chance of getting debris down into the oil pan unless he was doing the drilling with the calve cover off. And even then....?

Am I missing something? How would chips get down into the pan?

 

You are missing that I replied to the wrong thread, and on the wrong forum. Must go to bed earlier....must.....

 

If you're concerned about any remaining debris in the combustion chamber, Polock might be onto something. Instead of using water, just blow air into the chamber. Enough air (with the cylinder at TDC) should blow out any debris remaining when a long air needle is placed to the inboard side of the combustion chamber.

 

Thanks, Yeah She's Quite Nice

 

Awesome. She's a beauty! Did you do the build yourself or buy it done?

 

AutoZone has a Kit that is a New Sleeve --> NOT a HeliCoil.

www.oem-tools.com/prod...ts_id=1607

The Kit comes with everything you need to repair One Spark Plug Hole.

To keep the Taps cuttings from entering the Cylinder do the job SLOW.
Grease the Tap.
Cut half-way down.
Withdraw the Tap and CLEAN it.
(I scrape-off the mess with a small screwdriver ... then, shoot the Tap Clean with Carb Cleaner)
Re-Grease the Tap.
Finish cutting the Hole for the Sleeve.
USE THE RIGHT SLEEVE --> Read the Instructions.

Clean the Tapped Hole
Carb Cleaner or Alcohol

Use the High-heat Ultra-strond Thread Locker that comes with the Kit.
Install the Sleeve
Remove the Installation Tool
Stake with second too provided.

Editors note:

I have used this Kit on a XJ-Bike.
It works Great.
Dont overtighten the Plug after the install.
The sleeve might stay on the Plug when you Pull the Plug.

_________________
Rick Massey
MODERATOR & Tech Writer

 

Sure - but why did you leave your XJs fuel cap on the bonnet..?

 

Is the M14X1.25 the correct thread for the plugs? My #1 plug threads are buggered and I want to run a tap down first to see if I can save the threads before going the helicoil route.

 

The Kit I Used Was M14 x 1.25, if in doubt check the threads on your plug you took out.