Topic: spark plug socket size?????

[70CB750]

Yeah, drilled second hole too to deal with #2  and 3.  Also I carry 1/4" socket set on Dorothy and use the 1/4" extension with the spark plug socket.

[dave500]

Dorothy?i guess you aint in kansas anymore?thats ok,just click plugs 1 and 2 together three times while saying,theres no place like home"

[70CB750]

Dorothy?i guess you aint in kansas anymore?thats ok,just click plugs 1 and 2 together three times while saying,theres no place like home"

LOL!  I called my first CZ Dorothy, back in the day only to learn it is a slang word for hookers.  I find it fitting 

[dave500]

err?i was being funny with the wizard of oz movie cliche.

[70CB750]

err?i was being funny with the wizard of oz movie cliche?by the way that little dog called 'toto"in the movie?it misses the rains down in africa.

I got that, you can't raise kids in USA not to know  Wizard of Oz. Not sure about Australia, but Europe does not car for that story much.

[dave500]

if it was the wizard of aus it would be filmed in a pub!

[acollin]

This forum amazes me once again.
I have  a cb 750 k4 and a K2. I picked up the K2 last summer and was really concerned when I could not get my 18mm socket to slide down onto the plug in cylinder # 2. I did make the reach with the tool from a honda tool kit. I reached and probed --- used mirrors and air and could not turn up a thing that did not appear to correct.  I eventually ground down the sides of a deep well 18mm socket which I can now use on every plug. I thought for sure the PO had messed something up.

Is this only an issue on cb 750 k2 number 2 spark plug?

 Is this a honda factory error/ inconsistency that only happened on 1972 cb 750s?

[edwardmorris]

Looks like every new owner goes through this.

+1 for Craftsmen 18mm deep well, put the socket on first and thenthe 3/8th ratchet for #2, worked well for me on all 4.

[754]

What is wrong with the stock socket,
 Well even better is when you weld in a 1/4. Drive socket, so you can use 1/4 in ratchet..

[Duanob]

if it was the wizard of aus it would be filmed in a pub!

Love it!

Or the "Wizard of AHHHHs!" Filmed in San Fernando valley (look that one up)

[70CB750]

What is wrong with the stock socket,
 Well even better is when you weld in a 1/4. Drive socket, so you can use 1/4 in ratchet..

Clever, I may just do that.

[seanbarney41]

This forum amazes me once again.
I have  a cb 750 k4 and a K2. I picked up the K2 last summer and was really concerned when I could not get my 18mm socket to slide down onto the plug in cylinder # 2. I did make the reach with the tool from a honda tool kit. I reached and probed --- used mirrors and air and could not turn up a thing that did not appear to correct.  I eventually ground down the sides of a deep well 18mm socket which I can now use on every plug. I thought for sure the PO had messed something up.

Is this only an issue on cb 750 k2 number 2 spark plug?

 Is this a honda factory error/ inconsistency that only happened on 1972 cb 750s?

that's what I have been wondering, too...I would like to hear from other k2 owners...I have learned here that k2 was the period of transition from the old to the new factory, so maybe there was something going there...especially when my Craftsman 3/8" drive 18mm deepwell worked fine on my K1?

[edwardmorris]

that's what I have been wondering, too...I would like to hear from other k2 owners...I have learned here that k2 was the period of transition from the old to the new factory, so maybe there was something going there...especially when my Craftsman 3/8" drive 18mm deepwell worked fine on my K1?

I'm a relatively new owner of a K2, and the Craftsman 3/8" drive 18mm deepwell is what saved the day for me. I too, had a thread about this going about a month ago. The issue turned out to be that in the #2 cyl, there was a non standard (14mm or 16mm) plug that I've no idea where it came from. I've installed and removed new DE8blah ones from the manual just fine since, for all 4. Only thing I recall doing was turning the handlebars to get some clearance.
BUT, I've also been told that looking at my VIN, I have a super early K2 which is close to a late K1, so it may still be an issue for other K2 owners...

[ekpent]

This forum amazes me once again.
I have  a cb 750 k4 and a K2. I picked up the K2 last summer and was really concerned when I could not get my 18mm socket to slide down onto the plug in cylinder # 2. I did make the reach with the tool from a honda tool kit. I reached and probed --- used mirrors and air and could not turn up a thing that did not appear to correct.  I eventually ground down the sides of a deep well 18mm socket which I can now use on every plug. I thought for sure the PO had messed something up.

Is this only an issue on cb 750 k2 number 2 spark plug?

 Is this a honda factory error/ inconsistency that only happened on 1972 cb 750s?

that's what I have been wondering, too...I would like to hear from other k2 owners...I have learned here that k2 was the period of transition from the old to the new factory, so maybe there was something going there...especially when my Craftsman 3/8" drive 18mm deepwell worked fine on my K1?

I don't recall an issue with the K2's Sean but will poke a Sears socket in a couple next time down at the shop. Sounds like your not alone.

[seanbarney41]

basically, what would happen was you could get the socket on the plug, loosen it, but then the socket would not come out of the cavity, unless you then tightened the spark plug up again.

[MoMo]

#2 is problematic with most 750s unless you own a thin wall 18mm spark plug socket-the tool kit plug wrench fills that bill....Larry

[754]

There is a reason the notch is milled in the valve cover, on that plug.. Think its on all years.

[acollin]

I don't think so. This is very different. As most of you , i have pulled a lot of spark plugs in my day and cross threaded my share.

This feels like something is wrong. That said with the proper tool, the plug goes in and out -- seals nicely and fires just fine. If all you ever used was the tool from the tool kit, you might never have experienced the issue. There is something wrong with the way the head is shaped for # 2 cylinder on a select  number , maybe all --1972 cb 750 k2s.

I would not be surprised if there was a factory notation in a service guide. Can one of you guys with a deep stash of service guides please check to see if the factory noted an issue.

As I said, this does not effect much of any thing in terms of service and reliability--- Just a qwerk.

[MoMo]

I don't have any service bulletins but I was a mechanic back then and do not recollect any  bulletins. I never found a plug socket that fit down well so I always used the tool kit one, even bought one so I did not have to struggle with a "normal" socket...Larry

[acollin]

I think its odd to see that an 18 mm deep well does just fine in three of the spark plugs holes on my 1972 cb 750 and all the slots on my 1974 and the slot in question is #2 on the 1972 and others have the same experience.

As I stated in my original reply, this is truly an amazing forum. There is tons to learn by simply speculating on an issue that you have.

My real take away-- is let the situation be-- its no big deal and nothing to be concerned about.

[754]

 I dont think its odd at all, the factory notched the valvecover for more clearance, supplied a tool with every bike that works..
 And then people get gakked when their second guessing of factory procedure does not do the..

 Seriously..the Orient Motor Company,. Has a pretty competent engineering department..
 Like I said the best trick I have seen is welding the 1/4 drive into the factory socket.., its been done since the early 70,s

[750K]

Frank, the new ones you can still get from Honda have a hex shaped end that a socket fits on. Much better than the old version with just a hole for a screw driver to slide through.

[LJohnson]

This works great.