kabarakh Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 Anyone have any tips on removing a spark plug that has a missing hex head? One in my EJ22 wouldnt grab in my socket, and on further investigation it had the hex fall/shear off. Not sure what caused it, as it was all there when i installed it, but at this point I just need to get it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
987687 Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 First step is to get all the broken pieces out, what's under the hex head? If it's metal, you might have luck with one of those extractor sockets you hammer on and it grips the broken whatever to pull it out. You might have to search around a while to find a deep one, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 I don't know how the access is on the ej22.... one broke like that on one of my ea82s. I welded a bolt to the piece of plug that was in the head, and unscrewed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kabarakh Posted July 7, 2016 Author Share Posted July 7, 2016 Theres a little bit of metal left bit not a lot. I picked up one of those universal sockets yesterday, but unfortunately it's too wide to fit into the tube. And I can't get an arc down in there to weld anything on, the EJ22 has them recessed in a tube down through the valvetrain. If it was my '88 it would be a much simpler puzzle to solve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 can you grind down the outside of the special socket enough to both fit and still work? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kabarakh Posted July 7, 2016 Author Share Posted July 7, 2016 Got home to late to try yesterday, but I'll take a look this evening. Bound to be worth a shot, I think the socket was only ten bucks so even if I can't use it again it's worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNY_Dave Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 Is the access much better with the valve cover off? Access goes from zero to good on some. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kabarakh Posted July 7, 2016 Author Share Posted July 7, 2016 Covers are off and no, sadly... I'm taking the heads to a shop for some valve work and I'm assuming it can get drilled out or whatnot there, but I'm trying to get it out beforehand to save on labor costs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 (edited) If you're pulling the heads off just wait until they're out. Put the head on the bench and knock the center ceramic and all out of the middle of the plug and try using an easy-out on it. Also spray PB all over it to help get any rust or corrosion loose first. Edited July 7, 2016 by Fairtax4me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forester2002s Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 From the underside of the head, you'll need to turn the spark-plug clockwise to get it out. An easy-out may not work, as it will only grip in the counter-clockwise direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted July 8, 2016 Share Posted July 8, 2016 No no, don't try to get it out from the under side. Stick the ez out in the top side and use an extension to turn it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kabarakh Posted July 11, 2016 Author Share Posted July 11, 2016 Just wanted to follow up in case this ever happens to anyone else.... the ez out got it. Still a royal PITA, but $20 in tools is much cheaper than a shop doing it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazyeights Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Good Job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 Good deal! Get those heads surfaced if they have any corrosion between the coolant ports. Set of Felpro head gaskets and she'll be running great again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kabarakh Posted July 13, 2016 Author Share Posted July 13, 2016 A visual reference for any who need it: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.tigraionline.com/broken_sparkplug.html&ved=0ahUKEwiM4uL7z-_NAhUP-GMKHeMgA5UQFghEMAQ&usg=AFQjCNHZ15ArKRITnodmn84A1l2evPLyjQ&sig2=YHBd_FKep4weTUGoBiZvKQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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