Topic: Over torquing of spark plugs.

[gregwaits]

I have come to the conclusion as to how the hell one of my spark plugs broke in half as I was trying to take it out.

I dropped the bike by a local mechanic who works cheap and knows his #$%*. He had to drill out the remaining spark plug, remove what was left and then install a helicoil. Now I am up and running again, but he told me that when he went to change out the other plugs, #2 and #3 were so damn tight that he was afraid that they would break off too.

That pretty much tells me that my last mechanic torqued the plugs down too tight. And here I am, stuck.

I told my new mechanic that I will start socking away a little bit of $ here and there, and hopefully by next winter I will have enough saved up to have him pull the head and get the problem sorted out.

I may just look for a replacement head, and have it all ready to go on the shelf.

It was great to be back on the bike again today. I had the bike parked for the last 4 weeks. 

[rhinoracer]

Since you're going to patiently wait until winter, why not soak the plugswith liquid wrench or some other stuff thru a few heat cycles. Maybe by winter they'll come out easier w/o disassembly, consider also it could be galvanic corrosion between aluminum head and steel plugs.

A few taps with an impact driver and the correct socket wouldn't hurt either. Good luck.

[gregwaits]

Thanks Rhino. Great suggestion.

Even though I said I was stuck, in reality the bike is running again and quite well.

The lesson I have learned is to not use alcoholic mechanics. 

[Verbal]

The lesson I have learned is to not use alcoholic mechanics. 

Oy!
I can quit anytime

[bistromath]

The REAL lesson:

Don't use mechanics at all, unless you absolutely, positively have to. Just do it yourself! It's not that hard.

Last time I didn't have time to work on the car, I dropped it off to have the radiator replaced. Well, they replaced the radiator, all right, but they forgot to put any coolant in! And that's the last time I trust someone else to do my car work.

[Patrick]

You know non-alcoholic mechanics? And you trust their work?

Patrick