When installing your spark plugs the best approach is installing them by hand. Unfortunately us DSM'ers are not able to reach our plugs with just our hands.
The worst thing you can do at this point in your tune up is cross thread a spark plug leaving the mess in your valve cover or worse combustion chamber. This can prove to be a costly mistake and quite the hassle.
What I do to avoid this problem is to use a small section of hose to insert and turn my spark plug until I'm sure its seated correctly instead of a socket. You may be tempted to use the same tool used to remove the plugs, unfortunately this runs the chance of you not realize you have damaged your threads until its to late.
All you need to do it safe is:
# 8 - 12 inches of 3/8'' hose.
# Small amount of electrical tape
# One knife
Cut yourself a 8 -12 inch piece of 3/8" plastic/rubber hose, making sure to leave one end with a straight cut. Now you have the hard part done.
Next you'll want to cut a small 1" inch slit in the straight end of your hose like you were cutting a hot dog for the barbecue. Start at your straight end of the hose end and work in wared one inch. Make your slit at a 90o angle to this hose end. This will give you room to insert the spark plug.
With the slit cut, you'll want to wrap some electrical tape around the slit starting 1/2 inch from the hose end and working in wared. This will cover half of your slit and leave the other half and the hose end exposed. The tape will help hold the plug in wile you apply pressure installing your spark plugs into the plug hole in your valve cover. The tape will also help keep your hose from splicing further as you use and reuse your new plug installer. Your done.
Thats it, simple and cheap. Much easer that having your cylinder head retreaded.
It doesn't look like much, but you will find yourself looking for it every time your change your spark plugs from now on!
The worst thing you can do at this point in your tune up is cross thread a spark plug leaving the mess in your valve cover or worse combustion chamber. This can prove to be a costly mistake and quite the hassle.
What I do to avoid this problem is to use a small section of hose to insert and turn my spark plug until I'm sure its seated correctly instead of a socket. You may be tempted to use the same tool used to remove the plugs, unfortunately this runs the chance of you not realize you have damaged your threads until its to late.
All you need to do it safe is:
# 8 - 12 inches of 3/8'' hose.
# Small amount of electrical tape
# One knife
Cut yourself a 8 -12 inch piece of 3/8" plastic/rubber hose, making sure to leave one end with a straight cut. Now you have the hard part done.
Next you'll want to cut a small 1" inch slit in the straight end of your hose like you were cutting a hot dog for the barbecue. Start at your straight end of the hose end and work in wared one inch. Make your slit at a 90o angle to this hose end. This will give you room to insert the spark plug.
With the slit cut, you'll want to wrap some electrical tape around the slit starting 1/2 inch from the hose end and working in wared. This will cover half of your slit and leave the other half and the hose end exposed. The tape will help hold the plug in wile you apply pressure installing your spark plugs into the plug hole in your valve cover. The tape will also help keep your hose from splicing further as you use and reuse your new plug installer. Your done.
Thats it, simple and cheap. Much easer that having your cylinder head retreaded.
It doesn't look like much, but you will find yourself looking for it every time your change your spark plugs from now on!
