sheared off spark plug
1 - 17 of 17 Posts
Joined
·
19,120 Posts
There have been many discussions on this topic and it falls into two distinct catagories. The head off group and the head on and hope for the best group.
1. Head off group. take the head off and then drill the plug out being careful not to damage the thread and then reinstall. This means headgasket, cambelt kit, headbolts so not a cheap option. This is the correct sollution to the problem and would advise you to do this everytime:thumbs:
2. Head on group. Drill the plug out with the head on. Then suck the swarf out with a straw attached in a lash up style to a hoover. Then start and hope that any left over gets either burried in the top of the piston or leaves via the exhaust valve. This is very risky and not really the ideal sollution so I can't recommend it. The swarf missed could get stuck on the valve seat and then you would bend a valve. However I have done this on my spider as the previous owner broke one off and just left it. It made a horrible tap noise for about 10 seconds and then cleared so I was lucky. If it had bent the valve you could always look at the fact that I would have had to take the head of anyway so changing a bent valve isn't the end of the world. Remember this is your car so I can not condone this second option and would advise you do the first one. But as it will get mentioned anyway you might as well hear it from me.
1. Head off group. take the head off and then drill the plug out being careful not to damage the thread and then reinstall. This means headgasket, cambelt kit, headbolts so not a cheap option. This is the correct sollution to the problem and would advise you to do this everytime:thumbs:
2. Head on group. Drill the plug out with the head on. Then suck the swarf out with a straw attached in a lash up style to a hoover. Then start and hope that any left over gets either burried in the top of the piston or leaves via the exhaust valve. This is very risky and not really the ideal sollution so I can't recommend it. The swarf missed could get stuck on the valve seat and then you would bend a valve. However I have done this on my spider as the previous owner broke one off and just left it. It made a horrible tap noise for about 10 seconds and then cleared so I was lucky. If it had bent the valve you could always look at the fact that I would have had to take the head of anyway so changing a bent valve isn't the end of the world. Remember this is your car so I can not condone this second option and would advise you do the first one. But as it will get mentioned anyway you might as well hear it from me.
Good advice id try the second one its a chance worth taking the 1st will cost too much you could just put another engine in. i have a complete one for 250 lol
ps i bet its green with a body kit and dished alloys lol
just a thought,but a mate had a focus with a similar dilemma,it was cured by welding a bolt(or nut,not sure which!)onto the remains of the plug and then undoing it,carefully!no taking head off or swarf in the engine.......think the heat from welding helped loosen the plug remnants,too!as i said,just a thought
Joined
·
19,120 Posts
Good idea but the plugs are right down inside the head so it would be nealy impossiblejust a thought,but a mate had a focus with a similar dilemma,it was cured by welding a bolt(or nut,not sure which!)onto the remains of the plug and then undoing it,carefully!no taking head off or swarf in the engine.......think the heat from welding helped loosen the plug remnants,too!as i said,just a thought
Joined
·
391 Posts
Joined
·
294 Posts
Be careful with these screw extractors, i used the exact same ones for my broken spark plug on my 145 and the end sheared off inside the spark plug.
B******s - Alfa Romeo 145 - 146 Forum
Joined
·
3,206 Posts
Depends what you what out of the car if your going to keep it, its only going to cost you a about £70 more than a cam belt/water pump change to remove the head and get it skimmed and a new head gasket...
Me i wouldnt waste money on cheap drills or stud extractors, and put it towards the parts...
On the other hand if all you want is to get the car running, or your going to get someone else to do the work then you have nothing to loose buy trying to drill out the old plug, just make sure you dont drill out the thread...
Me i wouldnt waste money on cheap drills or stud extractors, and put it towards the parts...
On the other hand if all you want is to get the car running, or your going to get someone else to do the work then you have nothing to loose buy trying to drill out the old plug, just make sure you dont drill out the thread...
Joined
·
19,120 Posts
Yep I remember someone mentioning this to me when I did it. If you break the extractor off which is actually quite easy to do you have to take the head off then as the metal in the tool is too hard to drill.Be careful with these screw extractors, i used the exact same ones for my broken spark plug on my 145 and the end sheared off inside the spark plug.
B******s - Alfa Romeo 145 - 146 Forum
hi guy's, thanks for all your info much appreciated, my intention was to get the car up and running, put it back on the road and use it for a while so that i knew it was running ok, then i will make up my mind weather to keep it or sell on and get another project
hi guys, just thought i would let you know mechanic managed to remove sheared spark plug and fit new one, got engine started only to find that the big end has had it, engine knocking and banging big time, so i've decided to break it up and look for another, its going to want too much doing to get back on road with the engine and other things that need doing for test
That takes the p#*s.
if it helps i've got a good engine you can have for 250 and that can be fitted for a good price ir u can get it fitted yourself or if you want ill px your non runner with a 147 1.6 or sele
breaking them isn't always a good idea especially when the engines no good, iv got loads of spears and hardly ever get calls. I end up using the bits for others i get in.
pm me if you are interested
if it helps i've got a good engine you can have for 250 and that can be fitted for a good price ir u can get it fitted yourself or if you want ill px your non runner with a 147 1.6 or sele
breaking them isn't always a good idea especially when the engines no good, iv got loads of spears and hardly ever get calls. I end up using the bits for others i get in.
pm me if you are interested
thanks antman but wasn't looking at keeping the car and i dont wont to put silly money into the car as it was just a project and from the discription on e/bay seemed a simple repair but on reflection this is not so, BUT what price are you asking for the 147 and the sele and what would you give me p/x against these, contact number 07887 571372 gary, cheers
1 - 17 of 17 Posts
