Well I finally got around to changing the plugs in my truck. I am down to the back two on the drivers side. The back one broke so I whipped out the lisle tool for the forth time. The problem I am having now is after running the plunger in to push the porcelain down, I still can't thread the puller in to get the electrode out of the head. I thought that maybe the electrode is spinning but I can't really tell. Of all the plugs I was hoping would come out in one piece it was this one. A hammer won't fit back there or I would have beat the sh.. out of it already. Any suggestions?

 

After much swearing and fist pounding I finally got it the tool to thread in and pull the electrode. I had to will all my crazy, pissed off power, mounted the engine bay and really lean into the ratchet to get it to catch and thread. After removal I still had a few choice words for the small piece of metal that has kept me busy on an off for the better part of 3 hours. For the other broken plugs I only needed to turn the tool with my fingers to tell it was going to catch so I knew I was in trouble when this one didn't follow suit. I was starting to sweat it out a little as I have to drive back up to Manitiwoc, Wisconsin tomorrow afternoon for work (about a 250 mile drive).
All-in-all a not so pleasant experience but I have the satisfaction of getting it done myself (conquering the mountain). The Lisle tool was worth it's weight in gold and after I limped through the first use of it I wasn't real worried if I broke another. 5 of the 8 broke by the way. I didn't prep my truck for the change as others have as I have been working 72 hours a week and was my first chance at getting them changed since I rolled 100k miles almost 8k miles ago. I did dump some Techron in the tank when I had a chance to do so.
Well, no I am off to Wally World to get some oil. Have a good one guys and gals!

 

Did it go a little something like this...

 

^^^

Good job, OP.

 

Congratulations.... I fell the same way, The Lisle tool is definitely worth $95.00 and is a drop in the bucket for what it saves you in mechanic fees.

 

FYI, I paid about $60 for the Lisle tool at Amazon.com.

 

Lucky you!!!! I read a bunch of posts here with guys struggling to get these plugs changed and thats the reason I didnt do it myself. Dealer wanted $650.00 to change them and a good friend of a friend only was going to charge me $150.00 plus parts. I took this route and it ended up costing me around $1100.00 Five out of the eight broke and the lesile tool would NOT pull out one of the plugs. Therefore in rare cases as stated in the lesile tool instructions the heads had to be removed to get the plugs out. With that said I wish I would have just taken it to the dealer. Instead I was charged $650.00 for labor plus parts. Which is still cheaper cause from my understanding head removal costs alot more than that. OH WELL; Since the plug change the truck has been running great. Think next time I will attempt to do it myself.

 

I think your friend must not know how to use the tool correctly for him to not have success with even one of the plugs. My plugs were pretty nasty looking and had almost 109k miles on them and with the exception of the one, the tool performed flawlessly. I would not hesitate to do it again. $1100 is way too much to pay for a plug change but I am glad things are good with your truck now. I agree, do it yourself next time around.