Just chuck them.
Cleaning fouled plugs?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 8
From: Sumter South Carolina
Cleaning fouled plugs?
Wondering if there is an effective way to clean pulgs that are still new but have been hit with a ton of gas. I was making a new preliminary tune and flooded the engine several tims. Problem is now they aren't firing consistently which is making things worse. I just bought a new set of plugs to get it running well but the fouled ones only have about 3 hours track time on them. How can I get the caked black layer off. Wire brush doesn't seem to be getting it ...
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,406
Likes: 2,744
Wondering if there is an effective way to clean pulgs that are still new but have been hit with a ton of gas. I was making a new preliminary tune and flooded the engine several tims. Problem is now they aren't firing consistently which is making things worse. I just bought a new set of plugs to get it running well but the fouled ones only have about 3 hours track time on them. How can I get the caked black layer off. Wire brush doesn't seem to be getting it ...
What brand? Part #?
I'd call the tech-line for the brand and ask - you aren't going to likely use them any way and they won't do the lawn mower so "stuff them in the drawer"
Last edited by WVZR-1; Apr 16, 2016 at 06:14 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,430
Likes: 609
From: Minneapolis Mn
Maybe try soaking the ends in some brake cleaner? I've used that along with a brass brush and plastic scrapers to decarbon the heads of small engines before with good luck.
I know years back they sold what amounted to an abrasive blaster to clean plugs. I never like to see them used as they abrade the surface of the plugs IMO.
I know years back they sold what amounted to an abrasive blaster to clean plugs. I never like to see them used as they abrade the surface of the plugs IMO.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 111
From: Cherokee National Forest TN
Wire brush = no no.
Cleaner & abrasive see link, clamp it in your bench vise. Blow the business end of the plug with compressed air after cleaning to ensure all media is removed.
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog...k+plug+cleaner
A bag from Crown Royal or the toe end of a sock makes a good media bag if the bag ever needs replacement.
Cleaner & abrasive see link, clamp it in your bench vise. Blow the business end of the plug with compressed air after cleaning to ensure all media is removed.
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog...k+plug+cleaner
A bag from Crown Royal or the toe end of a sock makes a good media bag if the bag ever needs replacement.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,430
Likes: 609
From: Minneapolis Mn
I'm not so sure, note that I said a brass brush, not a steel wire one. We're talking soft brass wires here.
I've use one on many alloy heads for small engines and never so much as left a mark on them when decarboning them. A couple I actually ran a rotary brass wire brush over the plug while it was still in the head, didn't appear to screw anything up though it cleaned the plug tip up just fine. Brake cleaner, brass brush and plastic scraper - that's it for decarboning small engines. I agree you'd want to do some testing but I suspect it would be OK unless you got rambunctious.
I've use one on many alloy heads for small engines and never so much as left a mark on them when decarboning them. A couple I actually ran a rotary brass wire brush over the plug while it was still in the head, didn't appear to screw anything up though it cleaned the plug tip up just fine. Brake cleaner, brass brush and plastic scraper - that's it for decarboning small engines. I agree you'd want to do some testing but I suspect it would be OK unless you got rambunctious.
Oil Producer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9,380
Likes: 2,744
im sure if you soak them in a bit of gas, diesel, seafoam, carb clean, most of the crud will come off. do it and then plug the plug into your wire and hold it with pliers with black tape on the jaws and see if it sparks. if its a good spark, you are good to go.
if you are trying to build a track racing vette, forget this advice and get new plugs ftw.
cheers.
if you are trying to build a track racing vette, forget this advice and get new plugs ftw.
cheers.
I'm not so sure, note that I said a brass brush, not a steel wire one. We're talking soft brass wires here.
I've use one on many alloy heads for small engines and never so much as left a mark on them when decarboning them. A couple I actually ran a rotary brass wire brush over the plug while it was still in the head, didn't appear to screw anything up though it cleaned the plug tip up just fine. Brake cleaner, brass brush and plastic scraper - that's it for decarboning small engines. I agree you'd want to do some testing but I suspect it would be OK unless you got rambunctious.
I'd do that before I'd use an abrasive blaster on a plug. They can pit or fracture the porcelain of the plug.
I've use one on many alloy heads for small engines and never so much as left a mark on them when decarboning them. A couple I actually ran a rotary brass wire brush over the plug while it was still in the head, didn't appear to screw anything up though it cleaned the plug tip up just fine. Brake cleaner, brass brush and plastic scraper - that's it for decarboning small engines. I agree you'd want to do some testing but I suspect it would be OK unless you got rambunctious.
I'd do that before I'd use an abrasive blaster on a plug. They can pit or fracture the porcelain of the plug.
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