Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Attention Forum Users: On the 28th of December 2023 at 9:00am Central Time, we will be taking the forums down for maintenance while we prepare the new forums for your use. Please click here for more information.

Discussion Forum

Stuck Spark Plugs on a Ford

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
ferg

07-29-2001 23:20:02




Report to Moderator

Just bought a "dealer" serviced Ford....has a spark plug froze in...seems rusted in...tried PB Blaster...cooling the plug....I heard heating the plug red-hot and cooling it might work?

Any suggestions before I pull the head?




[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
Dan

08-02-2001 19:09:41




Report to Moderator
 Re: Stuck Spark Plugs on a Ford in reply to ferg, 07-29-2001 23:20:02  
It's a FORD. Sell the damn thing. No, seriously.
Here's what I did: Get a hole saw (a GOOD one) the size of the outer diameter of the plug. (The ford seats on a taper, that is where it's stuck, and why you can't get the penetrating oil to the threads. Make a pilot for the hole saw that fits the inside of the plug (after you break it off trying to get it out) and suck the ceramic out with a shop vac) The pilot will keep the chips out of the cylinder while you saw/drill down to the head and remove the tapered part of the plug. (NO FURTHER) The threads remaining will come out fairly easily with a large screw extractor. Put a new plug in it, and buy a DODGE !!!! I bought a Ford once, NEVER AGAIN. Quality is job one, engineering is about #567.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
BlueLite

08-04-2001 09:45:10




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Stuck Spark Plugs on a Ford in reply to Dan, 08-02-2001 19:09:41  
Another possible, cross thread. If installed using a tool rather than by hand that's what happens sometimes and they usually won't tell the customer.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Branden

08-01-2001 18:17:50




Report to Moderator
 Re: Stuck Spark Plugs on a Ford in reply to ferg, 07-29-2001 23:20:02  
I wouldn't try any of those tips. Go get some Marvel oil, 3 in 1. It comes in a little black and red can. I had a frozen engine where the pistons were rusted to the walls of the cylinders. A machinist told me to put some of that oil all around the edges and let it set overnight. I did, and the next day, it came apart ALOT easier.

Put some of that marvel oil around the edges, let it set overnight, and I would bet it will come out. Getting a little oil in there might foul your new plug when it burns off that oil, but, you can always repull it, clean it and reinstall. That's what I would do if it were mine. I would even try WD-40 before I would pull the head off or apply heat. One of these tips will work. Let us know what worked.

Branden

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
John Ne.

07-30-2001 20:44:06




Report to Moderator
 Re: Stuck Spark Plugs on a Ford in reply to ferg, 07-29-2001 23:20:02  
One more thing, try removing the plug at operating temp, just in off the highway. Instead of cold and sitting. Seems to work on some of the new stuff. Also if its an aluminum head I have twisted off spark plugs in the head, the threaded area stuck tight, drill it out, used a reamer that came with a rethreader tap and helicoil, made it oversize, tapped it, put in helicoil, the plug, and ran the engine another 20k. Just get all the debris off the top of the piston. John in Nebr.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Dean

07-30-2001 06:24:16




Report to Moderator
 Re: Stuck Spark Plugs on a Ford in reply to ferg, 07-29-2001 23:20:02  
If PB Blaster and tapping every so often with a tack hammer to set up a vibration to allow the PB Blaster to do its thing over a day or two doesn't work, you can heat the plug if you have good access to it and then cool it repeatedly. You don't have to get it red hot, just a little orange glow is fine. The "trick" is to do it many times. If that doesn't work, you can try to tighten the plug just a little and then back it off and then tighten again, and loosen again, etc.

The last two methods may harm the threads but the plug may be cross-threaded (lame mechanic with an impact wrench, no doubt) in which case you'll need to chase the threads when you finally get the plug out.

I've been using conductive anti-seize for years on plugs and most everything else and have never had one that was even hard to get loose, even after many years in the engine. For the anti-seize to work it must say that's it's conductive, the same type used on oxygen sensors. Permatex makes the one I use.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
ferg

07-30-2001 10:04:03




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Stuck Spark Plugs on a Ford in reply to Dean, 07-30-2001 06:24:16  
I tried PB Blaster for about a month....every night I would soak the seat with PB Blaster and tap the plug with a hammer (using a hardened piece of rolled steel to reach the seat). No luck. I even tried soaking the pug for a week using a cloth and foil to seal the Blaster in the plug hole.

I am concerned about the head...will the heat warp the cast iron head?

I am most angry with the dealer...this motor was serviced at the dealer...buyer beware I guess....

thanks for your advice...ferg

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
LarryG

08-10-2001 04:06:58




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: Stuck Spark Plugs on a Ford in reply to ferg, 07-30-2001 10:04:03  
If the dealer is responsible for the situation, why not let HIM fix it?



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Dean

07-30-2001 10:19:43




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: Stuck Spark Plugs on a Ford in reply to ferg, 07-30-2001 10:04:03  
Not if you are careful. Try to heat the plug only and not the head. Use a small flame and keep it on the plug only. This is an ugly job so take your time and don't get in a hurry.

Given that you tried PB Blaster for over a month, I'm betting that the threads are crossed. If the heat/cool method doesn't work after say 10 cycles, I'm afraid you might just have to go to step #3 and tighten it a little and then back it out a little and then tighten a little and so on. This will almost certainly get the plug out but the threads in the head will almost as certainly be damaged. After you clean the threads up with a tap, try to install a new plug with some oil on the threads to see if you can get it installed to the torque specification, whatever it is. If so, great! If not, you will have to pull the head and take it to a machine shop for a decent repair. Let us know how it goes!

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy