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Snapped a spark plug off in a Lycoming this morning
Third engine this month on the midnight shift at KDAL and the #3 cylinder plug just seized up on me. Tried the usual penetrating oil and a gentle back and forth, but it twisted clean off. Had to spend 2 hours extracting it with a reverse thread kit and now the customer is breathing down my neck about the delay. Anyone got a go-to trick for these stubborn plugs before I lose my mind?
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the_laura1d ago
Give the engine a heat cycle first, not just penetrant on a cold engine.
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henrycooper1d ago
Did you try heat cycling the engine before hitting it with penetrant, or just go straight at it cold?
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My buddy Mike tried doing it cold on his old F-150 and spent three days cussing at a stuck bolt. Heat cycled his neighbor's Chevy the same week and had it loose in under an hour with just a little PB Blaster. He swears by getting the engine warm, letting it cool, then hitting it again before the penetrant even goes on. You ever try it cold and regret it?
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