spark plug hole thread stripped

bcrossman Learner Dubber

17 posts · joined Mar 2012 · 30 Apr 2012, 6:51 pm

#899545

I was driving my daily home today when she popped a spark plug (I did plant it to overtake a frustrating truck). I can't get it to tighten up so the thread on the head is obviously stuffed. It was cylinder number four, closest to the rear on the left-hand side.

The car still drives on three cylinders (and sounds like a low-flying helicopter) so my question is could I simply drive it into a specialist and have them put a new thread in without dropping the motor?

Unfortunately I park it on the street and don't have much gear to drop the engine myself so it would be an expensive pain in the arse. Is there a product I can use to put a new thread in myself?

Any advice from the wealth of experience on this site would be most welcome!

hellbugged 48's and straight cuts

5,080 posts · joined Apr 2003 · 30 Apr 2012, 6:57 pm

#899552

yes take it to a pro who knows VW's, it can be done insitu........where are you located?

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,785 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 30 Apr 2012, 7:49 pm

#899566

Had this happen to me

They used a Time-sert to fix in insitu

http://www.timesert.com/html/sparkplug.html

I wouldnt try it yourself - it is fairly easy with the right tools and experience

Futue te ipsum!!!

bcrossman Learner Dubber

17 posts · joined Mar 2012 · 1 May 2012, 6:50 am

#899643

Thanks guys, that's a relief. I had just tuned it up for the first time since I got it a few weeks ago too and it was running like a gazelle.

I'm located in Ashfield in Sydney- has anyone got any suggestions for a capable mechanic near me somewhere?

Thanks in advance,

Ben

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,785 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 1 May 2012, 7:44 am

#899650

I would give Boris a call at Vintage Vee Dub
They are at Campsie on 97891777

Futue te ipsum!!!

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 1 May 2012, 6:37 pm

#899707

bcrossman wrote:I was driving my daily home today when she popped a spark plug (I did plant it to overtake a frustrating truck). I can't get it to tighten up so the thread on the head is obviously stuffed. It was cylinder number four, closest to the rear on the left-hand side.

The car still drives on three cylinders (and sounds like a low-flying helicopter) so my question is could I simply drive it into a specialist and have them put a new thread in without dropping the motor?

Unfortunately I park it on the street and don't have much gear to drop the engine myself so it would be an expensive pain in the arse. Is there a product I can use to put a new thread in myself?

Any advice from the wealth of experience on this site would be most welcome!

this happens because the previous owner didn't use never seize on the threads... the steel spark plugs bind in the alloy threads..
although I use it on all spark plugs in all cars..

I did read a long time ago about some brand of spark plugs which had a slightly different pitch in the thread...

LEE

Good to know they can fix it easily... Lee.

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Lucky Phil Wolfsburg Wizard

480 posts · joined Aug 2010 · 5 May 2012, 8:46 pm

#900256

Yes, the dissimilar metals share electrons and bond together. It's called galvanic corrosion.
When you crack off the sparkplug when removing them, this is what is holding them tight.
I was told years ago to crack off sparkplugs clockwise (ie tightening) before removing.
That way any aluminium which picks up in the thread is then laid back down and doen't gall up and wreck the thread.
I think it works because I have removed some stupidly tight plugs without damage.
Neversieze is the go and I ALWAYS use it on sparkplugs.