Help, Spark Plug Socket Stuck On #6

Gordo2 · Gordo2's Garage

Quick help please, before I decide to give up for the night and drown myself in alcohol. It's stuck on the plug, not wedged in wierd or anything.

Re-removing the new plug is an option but very painful. For some reason it would spin by hand about a half turn and then require the socket wrench at 2 clicks a pop (i.e. about 20 min to get the plug in).

Gordo

Sign me up for the dumb A$$ award. As I was moving through the other plugs I was thinking, man it would blow if my plug socket got stuck down there. Meanwhile in my toolbox I have a 8" extension with a locking ball (for another vehicle, too long for the Porsche). But I was thinking it would be nice to have a 6" one for the 911. Napa (where I bought the locking extension) is just down the street, but no... Toooo lazy.

Kick me while I'm down.

By the way, if Napa makes a 6" locking extension I'm all over it. If you haven't seen one check on it, they are slick.

singpilot · 03-03-2004, 06:30 PM

Man, I sure hope it's not cross threaded.

Jay Zollinger · 03-03-2004, 06:31 PM

Pop the valve cover off--just be careful with the gasket?

vash · vash's Garage

two, 3" locking extensions from sears! i lost #6 too. that was before i found this bbs. i almost cried. wierd, dont buy one 6", too long. but on my car i stick one 3 in and then lock the other 3 onto it. cake.

cliff

don911 · don911's Garage

It doesn't sound like you have the factory socket wrench. If you don't have one, pick one up when you have a chance. It makes plug changes less of a PITA.

Gordo2 · Gordo2's Garage

Thanks Unfixed,

Was hoping to wrap it up tonight, sounds like it's alcohol for me.

P.S. Need some angry drinker smilies.

Gordo2 · Gordo2's Garage

I loosened it and found I was able to unscrew it with my fingers without any binding. The old one was painful coming out, this one was painful going in, but it came out by finger. I did put a little anti-sieze on the threads of the new one prior to installation.

By the way, I do have the factory wrench. Just found out. I always wondered what was in that black bag in the trunk. Slick tool, wish I would have used it for the other 5...

Thanks folks,

Gordo

vash · vash's Garage

as i understand, do not use antiseize on the plugs. you dont need to tighten that much anyways.

singpilot · 03-03-2004, 07:06 PM

Oh man, what a relief!

Now it's time for the alcohol.

Zeke · 03-03-2004, 07:15 PM

A trace of antisieze doesn't hurt from the consensus that I have noticed. The only thing too much antisieze does is apparently keep the plug from grounding properly. This again from a couple year's reading here.

IMO, that can be corrected by making sure the plug seat, crush washer and head seat stay clean.

poorsha · 03-03-2004, 07:29 PM

Invest $5 in one of these from BERU.
It is flexible and makes plug installation a snap.

Gordo2 · Gordo2's Garage

Poorsha,

What is that thing, can't tell from the pic (looks like an ugly stick)? Where do you purchase it? I'm always up for new tools (except when I'm too lazy to drive to the store or look in my trunk).

BTW are you the same Poorsha that was in DC a while back?

Gordo

poorsha · 03-03-2004, 08:23 PM

Gordo.
No DC for me.
Too cold for me.
The tool is a very simple spark plug installation tool.
The plug is pushed into one end and you simply turn it into the motor.
Saved my bacon many times.
You should be able to get it at any place that sells Beru plugs.
If you can't find it just let me know and I will get one for you.

thastings · 03-04-2004, 04:22 AM

Gordo,
A 6" piece of rubber gas line or vac. line works well also. Stick the plug into one end (make it a tight fit), slide it into the tunnel and rotate it slowly. This method also prevents you from cross threading the head because the hose will slip on the plug before the plug can cut the threads.
I welded a 3" ext. to a plug socket (with rubber insert, a must). I know I got a tool kit with the car 20 yrs ago, but I must have put it away somewhere for safe keeping, or my wife cleaned up the 2nd floor of my garage one day, trying to make more room for her junk and it is now lost forever.
Terry

targa911S · 03-04-2004, 05:14 AM

I use a piece of rubber hose stuck over the top of the plug to get it started, you have better "feel". Once it is there I set the first locking 3" then the second after that. A walk in the park.

Jim Chambers · 03-04-2004, 08:03 AM

Don't think I have ever tried the tool kit plug wrench but I will next time. When I use a socket with rubber insert I use duct tape to attach socket to extension. Works fine.

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

for mine, i just wrapped masking tape around the plug and extension to keep them together for the job...
ryan

pwd72s · 08:21 AM

Hazet makes a cute plug wrench...adjustable length. Not cheap tho... here's a link:
http://www.samstagsales.com/images/hz2505-2.jpg

another way to go is a sears locking 3" extension, hooked to a 13/16" swiveling plug socket...the swivel on the socket makes for the proper length, the locking extension makes for no sockets lost down the hole. Also, snap on makes a 4" extension, allowing the use of a standard 13/16" spark plug socket. Lot of ways to do this job, evidently....

FA-18C · 03-04-2004, 08:49 AM

This discussion is similar to one on the earlyS board a couple of weeks ago. The Craftsman set up with the 4" locking extension and the swivel plug socket from Sears is about perfect for the 911.