Ok. Today I decide to change the dreaded plugs.

First two come out ok, the 3rd one breaks. No problem Lisle tool to the rescue, right? Nope. Lisle too didn't remove the plug the first time and I can't get it to thread again.

Am I hosed? Do I need to have it towed to the dealer and let them fix it?

Crap!

 

No. Just get the rest of it out, and use a 1/2 inch hose on a shop vac hose to suck out the cylinder of debris. Just stick it on in there and turn it on for a minute or so. That should get everything like the porceline and stuff out.

 

How do I get the rest of it out? The electrode housing is still in there?

 

Just get a 1/4" easy out and reverse it out... If it drops anything into the cylinder, thne just get a shop vac with a 1/2" hose and suck it on out. It ain't rocket science...

 

You can also open the exhaust valve and pressurize the cylinder to blow it out through the exhaust.

 

not to insult you, but do you know the tool threads in backwards (left hand thread). just asking, no disrespect intended.

 

On the topic of the tool, there appears to be a difference between the Lisle and the ATD tool. Is one more efficient than the other?

 

Yep. I had it threaded in the first time, nice and tight, too. but when I tried to pull it out, it just slipped and I can't get the threads to bite again. So, I am stuck with the electrode shield in there, with the ceramic part in the shield, still. The self-tapping threads on the tool are crappy and were dull from me trying to get it started again.

I have tried to find a long length regular tap. My thought was to tap some real threads in in and run a screw with matching threads down it.

Is the bonding agent method supposed to get the ceramic out of the shield? I used the pusher tool first, to push the creamic further into the shield, which is supposed to leave enough room to tap the threads.

 

isn't there a tool that pushes the porcelan down so you can thread into the shield farther.

 

Sure is. The Lisle tool includes a pusher. You thread the guide in until it bottoms out on the plug threads, then you thread the pusher into guide, untill it bottoms out. I bought a metal dowel that may work to push the ceramic in further, but I would need something longer with good threads, that I can tap into the shield. It sucks living in a small town, sometimes. Hard to find stuff you need.

 

have the same problem, how'd you fix this?

 

When I did mine last week and I had too much ceramic down in there even after crushing it completely I used air to blow out any lose pieces. If it still wouldn't catch I used a o-ring pick tool (looks like dental tools) and broke it up a little more so I could blow more out. I broke 7 out of 8 and got them all out. Hope this helps!

 

I messed up the first time. I screwed in the pusher w/o putting the pusher pin in first. The instructions say to screw in the guide, then screw in the pusher. I was wondering what that extra part was for Once I did that, it pushed the porcelain down far enough and I was able to get the other part of the tool threaded. You need to make sure to thread it down good and tight. I ended up breaking 5 out of 8, but the tool worked well to get them out.

 

Didn't your mother tell you always... read... directions... first! Works better that way.

 

Glad you figured it out!