karinvail Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 Where do I buy the thread chaser tool that Ed mentions in the threads on cross-threaded spark plug holes? I have two plug holes in my engine that are messed up a bit - one bad enough that the plug doesn't seat all the way, the other one was just a pain to remove the plug and replace it (but that one did seat all the way luckily). Before I tear into the timing belt covers to check that they are installed properly, I want to see if I can get that plug thread fixed so I can see if that is part of my rough idle (the plug not seating all the way). Of course the bad threads have to be in the #1 cylinder too And, I'd rather try a thread chaser before we resort to a helicoil kit...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edrach Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 NAPA or any other quality autoparts store will carry them. They are great for cleaning the threads and making everything right again; I use never-seeze compound on the plug thread to prevent future trouble also. However, the thread chaser tool will normally not fix a cross-threaded fitting unless you're very lucky. Where do I buy the thread chaser tool that Ed mentions in the threads on cross-threaded spark plug holes? I have two plug holes in my engine that are messed up a bit - one bad enough that the plug doesn't seat all the way, the other one was just a pain to remove the plug and replace it (but that one did seat all the way luckily). Before I tear into the timing belt covers to check that they are installed properly, I want to see if I can get that plug thread fixed so I can see if that is part of my rough idle (the plug not seating all the way). Of course the bad threads have to be in the #1 cylinder too And, I'd rather try a thread chaser before we resort to a helicoil kit...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karinvail Posted April 25, 2005 Author Share Posted April 25, 2005 NAPA or any other quality autoparts store will carry them. They are great for cleaning the threads and making everything right again; I use never-seeze compound on the plug thread to prevent future trouble also. However, the thread chaser tool will normally not fix a cross-threaded fitting unless you're very lucky. Well, it's worth a shot I guess. I might get lucky once in my life, LOL. Are threads on spark plug holes different sizes for different brands? These holes almost felt like the wrong plugs with the wrong threads were put in it at one time - they don't look like they go in crooked......they are just tight (one is extremely tight). We always use anti-seize on our plugs too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWet Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 Well, it's worth a shot I guess. I might get lucky once in my life, LOL. Are threads on spark plug holes different sizes for different brands? These holes almost felt like the wrong plugs with the wrong threads were put in it at one time - they don't look like they go in crooked......they are just tight (one is extremely tight). We always use anti-seize on our plugs too. There are 2 basic spark plug threads. IIRC, they are 18mm and 14mm, with the larger being the most common. The larger is also the same thread as for most O2 sensors. Regarding being tight, I thought that I had a similar problem removing some plugs on my 87... the plugs were SOOOO tight. I squirted PB at the hole/plug, and didn't help. Worked it out a rotation and back in... didn't help. Realized I wasn't using a sparkplug socket, switched to my sparkplug socket and the plugs came out smooth as butter. The problem: The socket I was using had a SLIGHTLY thicker wall than my sparkplug socket, and was getting wedged between parts of the head casting near the hole. Just a thought to check... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karinvail Posted April 25, 2005 Author Share Posted April 25, 2005 There are 2 basic spark plug threads. IIRC, they are 18mm and 14mm, with the larger being the most common. The larger is also the same thread as for most O2 sensors. Regarding being tight, I thought that I had a similar problem removing some plugs on my 87... the plugs were SOOOO tight. I squirted PB at the hole/plug, and didn't help. Worked it out a rotation and back in... didn't help. Realized I wasn't using a sparkplug socket, switched to my sparkplug socket and the plugs came out smooth as butter. The problem: The socket I was using had a SLIGHTLY thicker wall than my sparkplug socket, and was getting wedged between parts of the head casting near the hole. Just a thought to check... Nope, we used the spark plug socket. #2 and #3 we were able to take out with fingers once they were loose (and put new ones in with fingers). But, #4 and especially #1 were tight and difficult. #4 wasn't too terribly bad, but (like I said) #1 was so tight we couldn't get the plug in all the way.... I wish we would have known they were new NGK's in there before we took them out to replace them (but we needed #1 out to find TDC anyhow - I would have been much happier knowing there wasn't this problem as well. This car has just fought me the whole way one way or another....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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