The best laid plans and all that.

[loki_the_glt]

The Valdez is booked in for its MoT on Monday so I decided to give it a quick once over - lights, wipers etc., nothing too complicated.
As part of this exercise I thought it might be a good idea to check the spark plug gaps as they hadn't been done for some time, and that's where it went awry.

No.1 plug out and re-gapped from 0.8 to 0.7mm.
No.3 plug out and re-gapped from 0.8 to 0.7mm.
No.4 plug out and re-gapped from 0.8 to 0.7mm.

No.2 plug is, as all you observant 900-series forum people will have noted by now, not on that list. That's because it has decided that it is NOT, under any circumstances whatsoever, leaving its comfy home.

As I see it, I have a few options: leave it well alone even though it is probably also gapped to 0.8mm; get a bigger ratchet than the 1/2" one I resorted to; apply some form of lubricant/seal-breaking compound in hopes of freeing it off.

Sensible and practical suggestions are welcomed - removing the cylinder head is not, IMO, among them.

[SalvadorP]

Originally Posted by loki_the_glt

The Valdez is booked in for its MoT on Monday so I decided to give it a quick once over - lights, wipers etc., nothing too complicated.
As part of this exercise I thought it might be a good idea to check the spark plug gaps as they hadn't been done for some time, and that's where it went awry.

No.1 plug out and re-gapped from 0.8 to 0.7mm.
No.3 plug out and re-gapped from 0.8 to 0.7mm.
No.4 plug out and re-gapped from 0.8 to 0.7mm.

No.2 plug is, as all you observant 900-series forum people will have noted by now, not on that list. That's because it has decided that it is NOT, under any circumstances whatsoever, leaving its comfy home.

As I see it, I have a few options: leave it well alone even though it is probably also gapped to 0.8mm; get a bigger ratchet than the 1/2" one I resorted to; apply some form of lubricant/seal-breaking compound in hopes of freeing it off.

Sensible and practical suggestions are welcomed - removing the cylinder head is not, IMO, among them.

Did you try removing it while the engine was hot or cold? Hot engine might facilitate the removal i guess.

[GingerMagic]

I once partly sheared off a glowplug by using a little* extra force - had a of known at the time that a warm engine was beneficial then I would have done it that way.

I've used a warm engine every time since

[Roverdaftrich]

I would try some decent penetrating oil and leave it overnight.
Were the plugs put in dry or were they greased prior to installation.
I always put mine in dry and torque them.
Never had any problems this way👍

[Offgrid]

Have you checked that 0.7 is the correct gap. If I remember correctly, 0.7 is correct for NGKs, but 0.8 is the gap for Bosch on my B200E engine

[SalvadorP]

Originally Posted by GingerMagic

I once partly sheared off a glowplug by using a little* extra force - had a of known at the time that a warm engine was beneficial then I would have done it that way.

I've used a warm engine every time since

Heat will uncease most metal connections.
I guess it's because things are made of different metals and compounds, so they expand and contract at different rates and speeds!?

Either way, it is amazing how something that seems completely ceased will come of like butter after a little bit of torching.

[griston64]

Originally Posted by Offgrid

Have you checked that 0.7 is the correct gap. If I remember correctly, 0.7 is correct for NGKs, but 0.8 is the gap for Bosch on my B200E engine

The gap should be the same regardless of the make of plugs. It's set for the engine.

[SalvadorP]

Originally Posted by griston64

The gap should be the same regardless of the make of plugs. It's set for the engine.

but a 0.1 difference is ok, right?

[griston64]

Originally Posted by SalvadorP

but a 0.1 difference is ok, right?

Yes. B230FK should be 0.7 to 0.8

[classicswede]

Give it a soak in plug gas
get your MOT out of the way and then have another go at the plug