Any tips on fitting spark plugs?

[106_Andy]

Going to take the plunge tomorrow and fit my spark plugs, weather permitting.
got a flexible spanner thing and the right head for it, Haynes manual and some WD40.

Parents have got me all worried about snapping a plug off inside the engine block, is it easy to snap one inside the engine?
if i do that i know im fucked...

Anyone got any tips on the best way to cause the least amount of **** ups?

[titch]

Simple job mate tbh, the only thing that can really go wrong is if the plugs have been cross threaded when they were put in, which means they're likely to break the block where they're seated, like mine did, then, if you're lucky, they'll still seal, as mine did, or if they dont then its new block time really.
In reality though, 99% of the time its a piece of piss job mate. :)

[RallyeDan]

you should really use a spark plug socket, long extension and a ratchet. Mine came out with no resistance whatsoever lol

[shunteruk]

a bit of advice tht haynes give is get some rubber tubing big enuf to fit over the top of the spark plug and use that to screw them in hand tight, as this way if they start to snag the rubber will slip on the spark plug and not carry on so u wont end up cross threading them. then ur free to undo them and try agen without damaging the thread. once they're in hand tight finish them off with the wrench ;)

[slammed106]

a bit of copperslip on the thread when you put new ones in will make furute work headache free....

[GTi Andy]

Don't over tighten them either!

Some good tips above, get the right socket, hand tighten them gently first.

[106_Andy]

i got one of these things with the head fitted:
http://tooltray.com/Images/Products/16569.jpg

Cheers for the heads up guys, i doubt they are cross threaded already, i dont think they've ever been changed.

[carl_xsi]

yes tool would work but at the angle the plugs are yoou will find you wont have enough leverage. when i did mine i used two 3/8 inch extension bars and a 14mm spark plug socket as the plugs are quite far down.

[GTi Andy]

If your cars a 95 reg they should have been changed...

^^^never seen 1 of those before, i always used a socket, extension and rachet

[gowmonster]

when i changed mine for super4's,i just counted how many turns i did to remove them, and reversed the process for putting them in

[hrg]

i wouldnt do what gowmonster has said.

just do them tight enough.

[106_xsi]

By the looks of it you wont snap a plug off with that tool, it takes some serious beefy rachet to break a spark pulg, ive done it lol.

[106_Andy]

well went without a hitch, i was turning one the wrong way for about 20 mins, dad came out and did it in about 2 secs lmao...
Bodged a pencil and a bit of tape to hold the spark plug on when putting it back in so that i didnt cross thread them...

Starts up well, old ones were black as shit, still sounds like a diesil tho :(
Hole in the exhaust i think, There was also some very light "tinging" noises, when i put the my ears above the engine i could hear it, what do you recon? valves hitting pistons?

Most of the HT leads, well the bits on the ends were broken (rubber bits that go onto the spark plugs) so gonna get a new set soonish.

Cheers for the help guys.

[106_Andy]

I alway manage to speak too soon:

http://i10.tinypic.com/86t96zd.jpg
just got back from a drive, managed about 5 miles, car got really juddery, had to drive back 5 miles with 2 cylinders running, 1 + 4, 2 + 3 blew their HT leads off...

Anyone know why this has happend? just not put the leads in tight enough or the spark plugs are in wrong?

[GTi Andy]

Were the spark plug gaps correct?

As you said in your earlier post, could be time for new HT leads

[106_Andy]

would the gap make that much of a difference, i measured them up to the eye and they all looked the same. 0.8mm ?

[Luke]

Should have bought/borrowed a torque wrench and then you know theyre in tight enough :p

[106_Andy]

Im not saying its fixed, im not saying the engines running fine because i always put my foot in it but, i took them out and put them back in, tighter, and well, the leads stayed on... but thats not a garentee... not for one minute with my luck.

[Rallye James]

Fingers crossed Andy! I couldn't find those leads BTW :(

[mat106]

Did the ht leads click into place when you put them back on, in 6 years ive never had any leads come off, you should just tighten the plugs up so they are nipped then a quarter turn, but after a while you get to know how tight to do them, as ford plugs dont need to be as tight otherwise they dont come out next time as easily.

[106_Andy]

dont worry james, just got back from a drive (had to take the mother, wondering why the car was feeling sluggish, aint used to 2 ppl in it) seems alright...
Cheers for the help guys.