Date:         Sat, 25 May 2002 14:49:40 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      Re: Aluminum in the threads
Comments: To: Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Mike Finkbiner wrote:

> Two or three of the threads near the tip of the spark plug are filled with
> shiny material, presumably aluminum.  I took another sparkplug, cleaned the
> threads thoroughly, lubed them lightly, and carefully tried to start them in
> the hole.
>
> No dice, and when I pulled it out, the end of the plug had specks of silver
> coating the oil.
>
>
> Is this normal?  If not, how serious is it?

If a new plug doesn't go back readuly, ane metal came out with the plug when it
was initially removed.....then yes.... I would consider it a serious problem. It
sounds as if the plugs were cross threaded in their installation or they were
over torqued when they were installed.

I come from the aviationj world with my mechanical experience and in this case
the first step is the thread chaser. But if you have lost the top two or three
threads you may have a problem that requires more serious work, and may require
the heads to be pulled in order to accomplish adequate repair. In any case, if
the thread chaser doesn't get the job done, talk to Bob Donalds and get his
input. With all his re-build activity and experience, he will probably be of
significant help.

 I once had to pull a jug (cylinder)  from a big radial engine mounted on an
airliner of the times, just because  the threads came out when the plug was
removed. I had to work on a ladder 15 feet up, and remove all the cowling,
aluminum baffles, exhaust collector sections, intake pipes, etc. It was a
bitch!!!  So, from the dictates of  my experience in aviation, I use on my own
van an antiseize compound on the plug threads and use a torque wrench to seat
the plugs just to avoid just such a situation.

Good luck.

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver