Topic: Re-using a fouled plug

[eigenvector]

How many here will reuse a fouled plug?

Sure, the plug can be replaced for cheap - assuming you can find a replacement (some of the older bikes take obscure plug models not commonly stocked at an auto parts store).  But when it's Sunday, stores are closed, and you'd like to get that bike running - is there any benefit to cleaning them off or do fouled plugs basically get ash-canned?

I've brushed a fouled plug - all it seemed to do was make the fouling look less shiny.  Haven't soaked it in brake cleaner yet, or tried to ultrasonic it. 

[Terry in Australia]

I've done it heaps of times on old cars and bikes with crappy points ignitions. I think I've still got a little 12V spark plug abrasive blaster in my garage somewhere, you'd just connect it to your bike/car battery, shove the plug's threaded end into a rubber diaphragm, and press the button, and after a few seconds the plug would come out like new.

When I was a poor young soldier I owned an old 6 cylinder Ford with a points ignition that used to occasionally foul the plugs, so I'd whip them out, blast them and put them back in, I had that car for years, and don't remember ever buying new plugs for it. Cheers, Terry.    

[BobbyR]

I've done it heaps of times on old cars and bikes with crappy points ignitions. I think I've still got a little 12V spark plug abrasive blaster in my garage somewhere, you'd just connect it to your bike/car battery, shove the plug's threaded end into a rubber diaphragm, and press the button, and after a few seconds the plug would come out like new.

When I was a poor young soldier I owned an old 6 cylinder Ford with a points ignition that used to occasionally foul the plugs, so I'd whip them out, blast them and put them back in, I had that car for years, and don't remember ever buying new plugs for it. Cheers, Terry.

Good memories Mate. Money was tough to come by and we resorted to old school tricks. The grit machines did a good job.  I used to squirt a bit of carb cleaner around the electrode to wash away any left over grit. 

[Terry in Australia]

Ha ha, my cousin gave me an old Champion spark plug tester/cleaner from his shop recently Bobby, I remember using them at school when I was a kid, so it is nice "Garage Art". It still works fine, so it's still handy for maintaining and diagnosing ignition issues, especially on old machines. I've got a 1950's BSA lawn mower here and I doubt if I'll find a plug on the shelf at my local mower shop.......... Cheers, Terry.

[b52bombardier1]

+1 to using the abrasive blaster and to spraying away residual grit. These abrasive blasters are the only way to bring a fouled spark plug back from the dead. No solvent or brush can clear away that conductive coating that gets laid down on that internal porcelain.

And it is that conductive layer that saps the spark.

Rick

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

[grcamna2]

I've cleaned-up a lightly dirty plug(all it had was a light oil film on it but still clean looking)before w/ Brakekleen and it helps.I used to sandblast them and clean them,works ok if you can't get new right then or just doing a quick touch-up.The sandblasting does make the carbon stick a lot quicker later though.. Best thing to do is sort-out the problem that's fouling them and they will burn clean.

Make sure to completely clean the grit from the plugs after blasting before re-installing..

[eigenvector]

That's optimal of course - fix the problem.  Problem is, sometimes the fouling becomes self-perpetuating - it fouled because it wasn't firing properly, now it's not firing properly because of the fouling.

[jgger]

I remember when blasting the plugs was part of a minor tune up, you didn't want to have the added cost of those $0.60 spark plugs driving up the price of the tune! Haha!

[Terry in Australia]

That's optimal of course - fix the problem.  Problem is, sometimes the fouling becomes self-perpetuating - it fouled because it wasn't firing properly, now it's not firing properly because of the fouling.

Yep, and fouled plugs were always common in two strokes back in the day, it was always better to run them a tad rich, than a tad lean............

[Trevor from Warragul]

Another way to clean a fouled plug is with a propane torch.  Works very well...

[grcamna2]

That's optimal of course - fix the problem.  Problem is, sometimes the fouling becomes self-perpetuating - it fouled because it wasn't firing properly, now it's not firing properly because of the fouling.

Yep, and fouled plugs were always common in two strokes back in the day, it was always better to run them a tad rich, than a tad lean............

Terry,
I know what you mean about 2-stroke plugs.. I owned an RD350 back in the 70's and used it as my only transportation.I would always ride it strong until I got jambed-up sitting behind cars,then I would need to change my plugs not long after even though I was running automotive coils for a hotter spark at the time.They just load-up too easily as that was a little screamer.

[Terry in Australia]

That's optimal of course - fix the problem.  Problem is, sometimes the fouling becomes self-perpetuating - it fouled because it wasn't firing properly, now it's not firing properly because of the fouling.

Yep, and fouled plugs were always common in two strokes back in the day, it was always better to run them a tad rich, than a tad lean............

Terry,
I know what you mean about 2-stroke plugs.. I owned an RD350 back in the 70's and used it as my only transportation.I would always ride it strong until I got jambed-up sitting behind cars,then I would need to change my plugs not long after even though I was running automotive coils for a hotter spark at the time.They just load-up too easily as that was a little screamer.

Yeah mate, I remember back to 1979 racing my Suzuki GT750 "Water Bottle" against a guy on a hotted up Kawasaki H2 750 for 100 miles or so, the Suzy was thirsty but better on plugs than the H2, it's rider was wearing an old Army "Great Coat" (not much good cold weather motorcycle clothing back then) and he had a pocket full of spark plugs, which he's pull over and change every 30 miles or so. (which was handy for me, I'd catch up to him just as he'd finish doing his plug change, the H2 was a rocket compared to the old Water Bottle) Cheers, Terry.    

[BobbyR]

Ha ha, my cousin gave me an old Champion spark plug tester/cleaner from his shop recently Bobby, I remember using them at school when I was a kid, so it is nice "Garage Art". It still works fine, so it's still handy for maintaining and diagnosing ignition issues, especially on old machines. I've got a 1950's BSA lawn mower here and I doubt if I'll find a plug on the shelf at my local mower shop.......... Cheers, Terry.

I doubt you will find a plug for it. My old man was not one to part with a buck without a fight. We were all running recapped tires, batteries flushed out and recharged. He was the make do generation. People ask me why I lease my cars, I tell them I have spent too many years busting my ass on cars. I am gonna live the American dream. 

[Terry in Australia]

Good job Bobby, by the time I retired from the Army I was senior enough to have a "work car" allocated to me, then company vehicles right up to the end of 2014. Suddenly I had to buy and maintain my own car again, and that wasn't much fun, so I leased a new "Top of the range" Ford SUV, and as much as I really don't need it now that I'm back home again, I do enjoy not having to dip into my pocket for fuel, tyres or maintenance any more. Cheers, Terry.

[Don R]

X2 on the propane torch.

[Gene]

Another way to clean a fouled plug is with a propane torch.  Works very well...

Heard this.

[BobbyR]

Good job Bobby, by the time I retired from the Army I was senior enough to have a "work car" allocated to me, then company vehicles right up to the end of 2014. Suddenly I had to buy and maintain my own car again, and that wasn't much fun, so I leased a new "Top of the range" Ford SUV, and as much as I really don't need it now that I'm back home again, I do enjoy not having to dip into my pocket for fuel, tyres or maintenance any more. Cheers, Terry.

Same here Mate. I got away from the SUVs also, had them for years. Now I run around in a Ford Fusion Titanium  with AWD as we do get snow here. The thing has a dashboard that looks like a multiplex theater. I do not want to own all that technology. I am not sure I trust the turbocharged engine for a long haul.

I do keep my ancient lawn tractor running. The CB750 is stable enough so I only change the oil and replace the plugs.

The propane torch is good, but you never get it as clean as the old abrasive blast. The probelm is those blasters are not readily available.     

[b52bombardier1]

Sure it is . . . the spark plug cleaner is most certainly still available. Ten bucks buys it though you will need a good size air compressor to use the cleaner.

http://www.harborfreight.com/pneumatic-spark-plug-cleaner-32860.html

Rick

[BobbyR]

Sure it is . . . the spark plug cleaner is most certainly still available. Ten bucks buys it though you will need a good size air compressor to use the cleaner.

http://www.harborfreight.com/pneumatic-spark-plug-cleaner-32860.html

Rick

Great news! I think I will buy one.

[JoeCooley]

As with everyone else, the plug blaster is the way to go. I used one back in the day when I worked at a go-kart track. We never replaced the plugs. Just pull em out and blast. Then Reinstall and back on the track. I recently picked one up at a swap meet. Paid a whole dollar for it. I've yet to try it on my motorcycle plugs but i bet it will work just fine.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

What's with this? I see an Amazon link? When I tried to add a Harbor Freight link the Amazon link suddenly became Harbor Freight and I haven't had a drink in 2 weeks?!

 http://www.harborfreight.com/pneumatic-spark-plug-cleaner-32860.html

[b52bombardier1]

It goes to Harbor Freight and the item for me. Try Google searching for the Harbor Freight site all by itself and then search on Harbor Freight for "spark plug cleaner" or just plain "spark plug ".

Rick

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

[ekpent]

 As for the original question I toss them in the garbage can but I don't have a bike that uses an obscure plug. Most of us I am sure have a box of good used plugs around from doing tune-ups etc..

[Terry in Australia]

Same here Mate. I got away from the SUVs also, had them for years. Now I run around in a Ford Fusion Titanium  with AWD as we do get snow here. The thing has a dashboard that looks like a multiplex theater. I do not want to own all that technology. I am not sure I trust the turbocharged engine for a long haul.

Ha ha, Ford must love "Titanium" Bobby, my new Ford Territory is the top of the range "Titanium" also. Ford production ceased in Oz last year sadly, so all our Fords will be imports soon (Mustangs are already pretty common here) so it'll be interesting to see if we get the Fusion to replace the (now extinct) Aussie built Ford Falcon that had a model run of 55 years..........  

[BobbyR]

Same here Mate. I got away from the SUVs also, had them for years. Now I run around in a Ford Fusion Titanium  with AWD as we do get snow here. The thing has a dashboard that looks like a multiplex theater. I do not want to own all that technology. I am not sure I trust the turbocharged engine for a long haul.

Ha ha, Ford must love "Titanium" Bobby, my new Ford Territory is the top of the range "Titanium" also. Ford production ceased in Oz last year sadly, so all our Fords will be imports soon (Mustangs are already pretty common here) so it'll be interesting to see if we get the Fusion to replace the (now extinct) Aussie built Ford Falcon that had a model run of 55 years..........

It's already there called the Mondeo. The interior layout is a bit different. I sit on the left side of course. They did away with he transmission selector stalk and replaced it with a twist knob, there are paddle shifters if you need to shift.  Just leased the 2017 for the wife and ordered another one for me.