Please Help! Stripped spark plug threads!!

[flipside]

Well, turns out going to the gym is a bad thing! The "guns" got away from me today. My dumbass was doing all the PM on my 2009 Nytro XTX today. Including replacing the spark plugs. And when I was retorqueing one, the threads let loose. Stripped out. F**K!!!!!!

WHAT NOW!? I guess I'm looking for suggestions from you guys. Are they repairable? Do I have to buy a new head? If so, are there better heads out there than the stock one?

Any info helps!

Thanks!

 

[snoway]

helicoil
link;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHCv0xmeLHg

 

[Supa Dexta]

Pain in the #*$&@.. Try a helicoil, atleast its better than a 2 stroke where you need to change plugs all the time, theres more of a chance of the helicoil staying put.

 

[snoway]

What's up with you TYers being overly concerned about changing plugs on yur 4 strokes....lemming syndrome?
I have over 40,000 miles logged on a 3 yammie 4 strokes and have yet to swap out plugs.

 

[flipside]

LOL! I think the guys at the parts counter looked at me weird to when I asked for them to. No reason, I'm just an anal retentive prick evidently. I get a little carried away when it comes to PM. I would much rather go through a little hassle in the garage than huge mess on the trail ya know.

 

[Crewchief47]

There may be a guy in your area that 'specializes' in helicoiling spark plug holes. Ask around at the local garages for someone that repairs them. We have a local guy to us we use for helicoil work and Ford 5.4L plug extraction work. We use him because he offers a guarantee, on the Ford work anyway.

 

[Mooseman]

There are instances where we need to replace the plugs on our 4 strokes, main one being when they are fouled from not completely warming up the sled before shutting it down repeatedly.

 

[yamariv]

Checked out a few videos on the Helicoil, neat solution but your definitely gonna have to remove the head to install it! The link above claims you can do it without head removal but I doubt you could get all those metal shavings out of the engine.

Gonna be alot of work to get at it but it looks repairable. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[flipside]

Sooooo.....you guys aren't gonna believe this! I feel even more stupid now than I did yesterday!

I remember hearing a 'snap' when i thought I stripped the threads. I tried to tighten again, and sure enough...it just spun easier. I assumed I stripped it out and walked away. Was too pissed to keep messing with it. Figured I would just take it to the dealer to get their opinion on a helicoil or a new head.

After watching the helicoil videos (thanks for the input guys!!) especially the part about 'locking' the insert down. I started to wonder if maybe in was helicoiled before...I mean, why else would I of heard a "snap". If the threads stripped, it would of just came loose quietly.

So I tore back into it, and as I was trying to remove the spark plug, it didn't feel right and I hear another 'snap'. I'm thinking ohhh...what the hell! And what I get out is a plug with porcelain and no threads or electrode. the Threads of the plug w/the electrode are still in the head. what I fealt give way was the plug itself, not the head! WHEW!!!!!!!!!! Squish band wasn't even full compressed yet. So I didn't tighten it to hard.

Must of just been a defective plug??

Anyway, with a little handy contraption I made to chuck up a screw extractor being those plugs are so far down in there. Problem solved!!!! One new plug and baby is purrin' like a ferocious Doo eatin tiger again!

Thanks for the helicoil links guys! If I hadn't watched them, I wouldn't of thought about it anymore and just took the sled in to the dealer.....Which would of led to a lifetime of humiliation and smack talk from all those guys once they found out it was something so silly.

So I'm gonna eat the rest of my 'humble sandwich' and go get the boat and bike out. Maybe by next winter I won't be so embarassed anymore!

Watch those plugs boys!

Good day!

 

[fxnytro1050]

FYI dunno if anybody has used this method but use grease when rethreading if you do not want shavings to get into the head. When yourfinished use a vacuum/shop vac to remove the grease.

 

[bottlerocket]

For the future I use a piece of fuel line and slide it over the insulator to install deep mounted plugs. The hose will slip before you can cross thread it. Once its started you can get the hose off and tighten with socket.

 

[Mooseman]

And when installing the plugs, a bit of anti-seize on the threads can also save some grief later.

 

[snoway]

Good to hear yur pythons wasn't the problem flip....alls well that ends well....party on!

 

[Mountaintech]

Seen the same thing happen on a 2 stroke plug. They ain't makin' them like they used to.

 

[BenderSRX]

Flipside i was in the same postion you were, but with my RX1 and thought i was SOL, researched getting the Helicoil done etc. once i found out it was just the spark plug busted, what i used was a long Flat head screw driver and the remaining spark plug came right out.