Dude! I'm over 60, been wrenching on cars for over 40 yrs and NEVER thought of doing this! So, a huge thanks!!! Still impressed with your clever, time-saving and efficient tips!
My lawnmower wouldn't start this year. Figured it was a clogged carburetor. Decided to check my spark plug. I cleaned out what I could with a paper clip and then used the propane torch method. Lawn Mower started first pull. Amazing.
My Prius was misfiring, two plugs had bridged gaps from some sort of debris. Did the torch trick then carb cleaner to all 4 and it's running great now, thanks!
I agree with you, I have cleaned my spark plugs for many years. especially when I was younger when I used to ride dirt bikes. it's not uncommon to have too clean the plugs on two stroke engines. I believe it was a person I used to ride with that showed me a trick. that a person can do if they don't have a torch available. we would go into the kitchen and set the plugs on a burner on the stove. turn it on high and let them sit there anywhere from ten to twenty minutes. depending on how fouled they were it works really good. brush off any loose debris put them back in the bike and continue riding. but even cleaning the plugs it's always wise to keep a spare spark plug with you with all two stroke engines. in fact on snowmobiles there's a place under the hood with threaded holes to put the spare plugs. the same with the belt for the CVT system and it's wise to have tools and a rope. a person doesn't want to be stuck out in middle of nowhere on a snowmobile they could freeze to death. I'm betting that you've seen them before but AC Delco used to make AC fire ring spark plugs. where they would intentionally have the arc run down the outside of the porcelain. I didn't care for them myself, every once in a while a spark plug will loose spark under compression. but it will have spark when tested outside the cylinder but that's extremely rare when that happens.
I hadn't changed the spark plug th-cam.com/users/postUgkx-6W-PtUzBRTmACHywsECak2ToY2OpjxN in my Toro 20" Recycler in the 6 years I've had it but have been good with all other maintenance. This season I noticed it sputtering a little bit every so often and just didn't feel like it was running as smoothly or as powerful as it used to. Switched out the spark plug for a new one yesterday and could immediately tell an improved difference. So I may have to make this a little more regular than every 6 years, especially for a $5 part!
Can't believe how much great advice you have on your website Moe!? You're like a McGivor! Thanks for this. Used to have a pneumatically operated wall mounted sand in the garage. They used an incredibly fine sand that never left residues but not as clean as a propane torch!
I lucked out at a yard sale years ago and got that same exact 12volt spark plug cleaner AND further along in some boxes there I grabbed an old radio shack 12 volt power supply with terminals on the back and a cigarette Jack on the front. Best part, both for $3!!! The media I replaced through Amazon was twice the price of that deal but still not bad overall for under $10 and it’s lasted for years. As far as the remaining particles go, I usually blast the plug with carb cleaner then air to ensure they’re clean as can be. Can’t beat the old stuff! Oh and the slotted rubber ring can be remade using an old inner tube😉
I saw this video several months ago and thought I'd try this next time I needed to clean a plug as I usually use emery paper. Today was my lawnmowers first use this spring and it wouldn't start. Used this method (using the same type of torch as yours which I know is irrelevant but the torch is so good it's worth a mention if anyone's thinking of buying a new one. It's a rothenburger quick fire which is by far the best I've ever owned). Anyway after cleaning, the mower started easy. Another great idea for the scrap book, thanks
I'll be danged, Been working on small engines for 38 years and used all the other standard methods for cleaning plugs, but had never seen a torch used B4. Great idea and thanks for sharing, I'll definitly give it a try.
Came to this for my car plugs. Wire brush and carb cleaner fixed misfire/cylinder shutdowns yesterday. Need to buy new plugs or... :) Never thought of using heat for a better clean...I do this to rejuvenate oil pan bolt washers....great idea for plugs. Definitely doing this for my small engines now. The car? Hmmm...tough one with a gapper coming in the mail today
Luckily I've gotten to the point where I'm so incredibly rich that I can just replace the plugs with new ones. I've cleaned many a plug in my day, but due to many unforeseen issues, like shorts and cracks, I'm paying that extra penny and alleviating the headaches with a fresh set, especially on cars/trucks/quads. Lawn gear might a get a quick cleaning simply because it's so easy. Nice informative video! Never heard of the torch method before! Thanks for sharing!
That's a might handy tip. I see no reason that the plug'll damage at all, so by your experience, that's fine and something I have never thought of. For the tips on arc lines also, thanks.
1965 f-100 2wd shorty here. I clicked on this video not expecting to learn something new. This is the best, fastest, least impact solution. I didn't expect that.
Thanks so much. I get peeved off when snobs say 'Parts are cheap, don't be a cheapskate, just buy a new one...' - well parts may be cheap in the US, but they're not a couple dollars where I live, here they're closer to US$8 each and that's if I wait til they're on special! The iridium ones are a ridiculous US$25 at the local auto chain store. I already replaced the old worn down plugs a couple years ago so they have plenty of electrode left (I inspected them this week), but I wanted to learn a good way to clean them further down the line if need be. I wondered about parts cleaner or a light sandpaper.... but this looks easy, effective, and I've been collecting excuses to buy my first propane torch for several years. I reckon I'll go shopping this week lol. Thanks again.
Nice to see somebody using the old methods. Not go for the BUY, BUY, BUY impulse... ;-) I've done it for more than 30 years and works every time. Although I do replace them after 3 or 5 cleaning cycles. Just a word of advise, it's more intrusive but worth the extra time. When the electrode get rounded edges it's good to open them up. Using a small file sharpen those edges and set the proper gap for your engine. worth every minute. ;-) Thanks for sharing be well. :-)
I will flatten the electrode after it gets rounded with my points file. Though I seldom do it as I'm concerned of fatiguing the ground strap. I would say on customers machines I will just clean them as they rarely are worn enough to get rounded edges, but on mine I probably do it every 3rd time I clean it.
The spark plugs for my big outboard costs 10 bucks each and I have previously had to replace them at least once, sometime twice a year. I will try this out and see if it works. Thanks for the tip!
Same Bernzie torch I've been using 20+ years as a well driller, pump mechanic , plumber and it has been dropped in water sand mud lost in a crawl space for 2 years & it just keeps working
I don't buy spark plugs often either, preferring to soak in acetone and wire wheel with my bench grinder. Of course, that doesn't get all of the carbon out like your torch burning method, which I will do next time I need to. I also have noted that the wire wheel leaves the porcelain looking gray and shiny sometimes, which I assume to be a transfer of steel particles. That has never bothered the plug function but could lead to arc shorts I guess.
Great way of recovering a plug :-), and it dont cost $2 of gas to do it eather :-) I had one of those old mini plug blasters, worked ok when new but didnt last very long, the blast media wore away the motor housing, very cheap crap really lol. The other plug problem is the resistor in the porcelain part, they die and you end up dropping a nail in to get a connection. Allways enjoy your wisdom :-)
I have eight pieces of OPE that equals 8 spark plugs at 3 or 4 bucks apiece. I think the savings is worth it cleaning the plugs this way. It also saves time looking for the correct plug once you get to the store.
oh cool idea. i've been thinking about making an addon to the torch. basicly youd unscrew the pump mechanism and replace it with a little adapter. the adapter could be fed with a regulated stream of propane or acetylene. it would burn hotter than gasoline and you wouldnt need to let it warm up in order to vaporize the fuel anymore. i'd make sure to bleed the air out of the tank so it wouldnt back up and explode. hrmm maybe gasoiline would be easier after all...
Fixed up an old Craftman Lawnmower and couldnt get it started. Cleaned the carb changed a fiew things and still nothing. I seen this Video before and decided to give it a try. 2 pulls and it started. Good tip!
I had most of my double platinum plugs crack last week as they all had evidence of arc lines and were glazed ('08 Dodge Caravan 3.3L), lasted not even 50,000 Km. I suspect there was a fuel issue that did them in, went from good running to constant misfire and stalling. Swapped them out for copper plugs, already runs better, and I bet will last the same as the platinums did (have always had problems with platinums, never with copper).
+dkannegi I'm with you. Platinum have given me issues and never last what they claim. I end up swapping them way before they claim they should. I've had arcing and the entire tip snap off(luckily the ground strap held the piece)at aroung 10,000km. Now I run copper in everything. Contrary to what they want you to think, Copper is a far better conductor than platinum and will give you better performance/fuel economy. Platinum in the lab lasts longer though, but at what cost? If the plugs aren't a nightmare to replace; Copper All The Way.
VERY GOOD TIP !! But don't throw away the cracked plugs. They make excellent fishing sinkers. Guys use to use them decades ago below the hydro dams on the TN river. In the fast water snags were commonplace and guys would visit auto repair shops and get the old plugs rather than spend money on lead sinkers.
I know my mower gets used 10x more in a year than my snowblower does. But a lot has to do with the engine and carb. If it is running a tiny bit rich it will foul plugs. It can run rich because of a slightly dirty air filter which mowers get very easily and snowblowers have none.
I`ll have to try this, thanks. I save all my old plugs anyhow. I usually can get a fouled one working again in a pinch by burning the fouling off with carb cleaner.
Thanks for posting and sharing... Your 12 Volt media plug cleaner.. If U still have it... Could you substitute blasting soda in place of the granular media it comes with ? Might eliminate grit in engine cylinder after 'blasting' with your 12 Volt or other folks' compressed air powered plug cleaners. ... I don't own one to try it... Just curious.
Hi. I was working at about 30 celsius for about a hour, than for 10 minutes i put the machine at a shade spot for rest, than i begun again. My spark plug was moist when i saw that my grass trimer (Alpin 520) was not working anymore, the next day when i tried to work. I changed the spark plug with a new one and the machine doesen't work still, but at least the spark plug is not moist. I put my finger on the spark plug hole and i sense compresion when i pull the trimmer cord. I didn't clean the carburator yet and all the test i have done is without the tube (pipe) bar of the trimmer attached. Why nobody test a trimmer without a pipe atached to it ?
Thanks for the info, I need to change my mowers oil and hey I guess I will do the spark plugs too, When I was a kid I used old push mowers and one I was using I would have to undo spark plug to shut it off, usually grabbed a stick, well one day I seen this big ol nail I thought that will work just perfect I went to undo the spark plug and boy did my arm get a nice lesson in Spark Plugs and Medal :)
I constantly am cleaning spark plugs especially if it is a project i just got ahold of im not buying new spark plugs and brake rotors for a project i just got i know hardly nothing about...i use a wire brush, brake kleen CRC red can, and the mapp gas not propane torch, and the wire brush and wire wheel on the brake rotors and the brown red and green scotch brite pads, and eventually if it is decent or worth repair ill buy the new parts if and as needed..
This is very interesting. I had never heard about cleaning spark plugs like that but it does make sense. I will try that on an edger or lawnmower spark plug and see how it does. Thanks for the cool videos.
Thanks for the great videos! Are you aware of any re-tempering of the metal electrode that would shorten spark plug life after burning the plug as in video? How long have you been burning your spark plugs this way?
I've been doing this for easily the past 10+ years. The metal in a plug isn't tempered to begin with so there are no worries their. Plugs become fouled from running to cold, rich mixture(causes plug to run too cold), or leaking oil past piston rings which also cools the plug. All these essentially keep the plug from burning off the fouling material naturally.
I have the very same type of spark plug cleaner, you are right the black granuals in those type of plug cleaners can get in the engine and cause cylinder wear. I also use a propane torch to clean my small engine plugs but I never let it get cherry red....maybe that is why it did not work for me....LOL Great video Moe !!
Posted this below for the sake of another viewer of this vid, but I think it should be its own warning. "Hey guys, be super careful! Brake cleaner is NOT safe to use with the torch or any other heat source of that magnitude. The application of welding and possibly MAP gas/torch to something cleaned in brake cleaner actually creates PHOSGENE GAS! This is the exact same gas used in trench warfare in WW1… It is not a joke or worth messing with. Please look it up and get the facts! Phosgene gas will instantly and permanently damage your lungs, eyes, throat and nervous system… If you are lucky it will kill you because the lifelong pain/medical issues are horrific! Please look this up so you know I'm not F'ing with you, them please pass the info to everyone you know who welds or does mechanical work!"
Great stuff.. one question, do you scrape or brush off the plug after administering the heat and burning the carbon.. or is it cool to just put it in the cylinder head and use it?
I mainly work with automotive spark plugs with a internal resistor. They should test between 5.8-7.3 KΩ on a multimeter. (6.3KΩ is ideal) confirm with a new plug with same PN. Test plugs going from bottom electrode to spark electrode tip with leads. Do not test side of tip, only the top part that throws spark to ground. The ones you are showing have no resistor and should be less than 0.04KΩ or no resistance at all. You then test from electrode tip (- lead) to the thread body (+ lead) on Ω setting using multimeter and if you get any reading on the metal threads or metal side casing with hex shape then your plug is bad, it means it's shorting + to ground. The multimeter should show "OL" which means open lead in the circuit. That's the proper way to test spark plugs! Before and after cleaning your spark plugs, do this test and then compare to a new spark plug of same type (resistor or no resistor plug) Automotive plugs have a resistor and the number on plug will have an R to indicate this on most brands. In my experience a cleaned plug will never operate as well as a OE brand new spark plug.
If they are easy to reach in a car(I-4) I will generally just clean them a few times over their life depending on ground strap/electrode wear. If they are hard to reach I will just replace them, especially if they are the platinum/iridium garbage as they can barely handle a sizing gauge run through them without wearing out. Now copper plugs are robust as they come and can be cleaned nearly indefinitely and even have the electrode sharpened(flattened). You clean those every 20kmiles and they will give you way better performance than the 100k platinum/iridium.
I always took a torch tip cleaner to scratch inside at the bottom of plug and then rince it out with brake cleaner and work good all the time so far but ill try that overheating it see if I have any luck with it without burning myself haha good vid bud
Hey guys, be super careful! Brake cleaner is NOT safe to use with the torch or any other heat source of that magnitude. The application of welding and possibly MAP gas/torch to something cleaned in brake cleaner actually creates PHOSGENE GAS! This is the exact same gas used in trench warfare in WW1… It is not a joke or worth messing with. Please look it up and get the facts! Phosgene gas will instantly and permanently damage your lungs, eyes, throat and nervous system… If you are lucky it will kill you because the lifelong pain/medical issues are horrific! Please look this up so you know I'm not F'ing with you, them please pass the info to everyone you know who welds or does mechanical work!
Why that would be advertising that you can actually maintain them yourself and they'd sell less of them to you as a result. Bad for business if it's good for the customer.
I wish I could buy spark plugs for a buck in the UK. The last small plug I bought was nearer £10 and I seem to remember being shocked at the price of 2 stroke outboard plugs the last time I bought one. It was a couple of years ago so I dread to think how much they are now. The best way to decide if the plug needs replacing is to look to see if it says NGK on it. If it does bin the damn thing. ;)
I've done it on some of my old trucks they had fouled plugs do to oil burning. Those you can feel/hear when they start misfiring, and those are easy to change. I wouldn't do it on a car that had difficult to reach plugs or plugs that had really high mileage.
great tip man! how long will a spark plug last ? i have the same sparkplug in my yardworks snowblower for seven years now and it still starts the first pull and runs great. my lawnmower i have to replace yearly ,why is there such a differance?
Just in time. I'm just getting ready to service multiple small engines and I've always just changed the plug thinking they had a service life of a couple of years (depending on how much you use the engine of course). This will save me some money, thanks.
what simple modifications can a 16 ear old with an extremly low budget do to a 12hp briggs and stratton flat head lawn tractor exhaust or anything or even a better cooling system as its oil cooled and it get excessively hot too quick for my likeing thanks loving the videos mate and also adjusting th hand throttle becuas at the moment it only seems to have full throttl or extremely rough half throttle and then it kills it thanks again
Motor Man The muffler port on the engine should have threads. They are the same as 1 inch galvanized plumbing pipe you can buy from the Home Depot. You can buy straight pipe and bends for pretty cheap. They do run hot, but if it is getting too hot there is probably grass clogging the cooling fins. Pull the couple bolts holding on the top shroud on to check it out.
im goign to look dumb as now but the top shroud is the part that looks like a radiator or is that like the larger main cover that u mean that goes over the altinator
The top shroud is the main large metal piece that has the Briggs and stratton logo along with the 12hp Decal. It is held on by 4 small bolts on the sides. Sometimes you need to remove the small bolt that holds on the oil filler and the 2 that hold on the little plastic starter motor top cover.
ah ok thanks i have removed that already when i firts got it out to check it still had compression and to check everything and are the cooling fins at the very front as i have blown them out with an air line and i have refilled the oil but i need to drain the oil again when i took the filler cap off to check the level after it being running for a few minutes to pump the oil around it was steaming
There are some similarities with this to cleaning cast iron pans. I wonder if a lye bath would be good for cleaning spark plugs since it should dissolve the carbon? I just read that lye should not be used on tin zinc or aluminum. Assuming these metals aren't used on spark plugs, i wonder how lye would work.
I have used easy off oven cleaner when I didn't have anything else, only left it on long enough to disolve the gunk and then wirebrushed it, came out like new.
Man you give great advice! I bet you can get most things running again without much money at all. Sign of a good mechanic in my opinion. Thanks your videos have helped me on a few different projects over the years!🫡
Your stuff is great man, very useful. I don't usually come out and say that, but your vids have a lot of extremely helpful info. I mean your orange spikey hair combined with the orange spikey beard kinda freak me out, especially when you wear bright clothes, but it's totally worth it :)
sixtyfiveford Thanks again. I'll use a propane torch like you do on my power equip. I usually was just doing a quick wirebrush. But I always use new plugs on my better vehicles. Oh BTW do you have a video or suggestion for 1 stuck plug in a 97 S10 2.2. Changed 3 but cannot budge #1. I've tried soaking with Kroil, PB and a few others but does no move either way. Steel plug aluminum head - I have time and patience and truck runs well so maybe someday it will come out without damage. Thanks. Subscriber and another thumbs-up.
I've read that you shouldn't use a wire brush on the platinum coated plugs because the coating is thin and comes off with the wire brush. Do you know if this method is ok to use on platinum plugs?
+mute8s I have and haven't had any issues and have cleaned Platinum on several occasions. Platinum is actually a worse conductor than standard copper cheap plugs. Since I clean most plugs I just use copper plugs in everything as they are a better plug for power than anything out there. Platinum is a great material if you never want to clean or hassle with your plug in an engine that is very difficult to access the plugs.
How many times could I do this with a car plug? I ask because mine are new and burned a lot of oil, but I they're premium and I'm too cheap/broke to replace them so soon.
Cleaning vs buying new plugs for outdoor power equipment. It’s not really the cost as it is the time to go to Auto Zone to go buy one spark plug. If plug is good and just dirty, clean it. Plugs last a long time usually.
I just worry about annealing the anode and making it brittle, last thing you want is the anode part of the plug getting brittle breaking off and and bouncing around it your upper cylinder. So can you still gap your plugs after cherry heating them?
Hey sixtyfive...before I went from a 750cfm carb to my current 600cfm Edelbrock carb on my 72 Duster I use to gas foul the plugs (Champion RN12YC) a lot while idleling in traffic. I went through a lot of plugs.Would your heating fix work for gas fouling?
Dude! I'm over 60, been wrenching on cars for over 40 yrs and NEVER thought of doing this! So, a huge thanks!!! Still impressed with your clever, time-saving and efficient tips!
Thanks.
My lawnmower wouldn't start this year. Figured it was a clogged carburetor. Decided to check my spark plug. I cleaned out what I could with a paper clip and then used the propane torch method. Lawn Mower started first pull. Amazing.
That's great.
My Prius was misfiring, two plugs had bridged gaps from some sort of debris. Did the torch trick then carb cleaner to all 4 and it's running great now, thanks!
This fix started my snow blower after fighting with it for hours. Thanks for the gap size and the tips for the spark plug!
Corey Friesz -Awesome, I'm glad you tried it out.
I agree with you, I have cleaned my spark plugs for many years. especially when I was younger when I used to ride dirt bikes. it's not uncommon to have too clean the plugs on two stroke engines. I believe it was a person I used to ride with that showed me a trick. that a person can do if they don't have a torch available. we would go into the kitchen and set the plugs on a burner on the stove. turn it on high and let them sit there anywhere from ten to twenty minutes. depending on how fouled they were it works really good. brush off any loose debris put them back in the bike and continue riding. but even cleaning the plugs it's always wise to keep a spare spark plug with you with all two stroke engines. in fact on snowmobiles there's a place under the hood with threaded holes to put the spare plugs. the same with the belt for the CVT system and it's wise to have tools and a rope. a person doesn't want to be stuck out in middle of nowhere on a snowmobile they could freeze to death. I'm betting that you've seen them before but AC Delco used to make AC fire ring spark plugs. where they would intentionally have the arc run down the outside of the porcelain. I didn't care for them myself, every once in a while a spark plug will loose spark under compression. but it will have spark when tested outside the cylinder but that's extremely rare when that happens.
I hadn't changed the spark plug th-cam.com/users/postUgkx-6W-PtUzBRTmACHywsECak2ToY2OpjxN in my Toro 20" Recycler in the 6 years I've had it but have been good with all other maintenance. This season I noticed it sputtering a little bit every so often and just didn't feel like it was running as smoothly or as powerful as it used to. Switched out the spark plug for a new one yesterday and could immediately tell an improved difference. So I may have to make this a little more regular than every 6 years, especially for a $5 part!
Can't believe how much great advice you have on your website Moe!? You're like a McGivor! Thanks for this. Used to have a pneumatically operated wall mounted sand in the garage. They used an incredibly fine sand that never left residues but not as clean as a propane torch!
Hey Thanks..
Beautiful!
Thank you for CARING to TEACH what you've learned.
Any time!
I lucked out at a yard sale years ago and got that same exact 12volt spark plug cleaner AND further along in some boxes there I grabbed an old radio shack 12 volt power supply with terminals on the back and a cigarette Jack on the front. Best part, both for $3!!! The media I replaced through Amazon was twice the price of that deal but still not bad overall for under $10 and it’s lasted for years. As far as the remaining particles go, I usually blast the plug with carb cleaner then air to ensure they’re clean as can be. Can’t beat the old stuff! Oh and the slotted rubber ring can be remade using an old inner tube😉
I saw this video several months ago and thought I'd try this next time I needed to clean a plug as I usually use emery paper. Today was my lawnmowers first use this spring and it wouldn't start. Used this method (using the same type of torch as yours which I know is irrelevant but the torch is so good it's worth a mention if anyone's thinking of buying a new one. It's a rothenburger quick fire which is by far the best I've ever owned). Anyway after cleaning, the mower started easy. Another great idea for the scrap book, thanks
Yep, that's the exact same torch I use (10+years now). Here in the US it is labeled under the Bernzomatic TS4000 name.
I'll be danged, Been working on small engines for 38 years and used all the other standard methods for cleaning plugs, but had never seen a torch used B4. Great idea and thanks for sharing, I'll definitly give it a try.
+gorp27 I really enjoy this method, especially on all the 2 stroke stuff that fouls easily.
Came to this for my car plugs. Wire brush and carb cleaner fixed misfire/cylinder shutdowns yesterday. Need to buy new plugs or... :) Never thought of using heat for a better clean...I do this to rejuvenate oil pan bolt washers....great idea for plugs. Definitely doing this for my small engines now. The car? Hmmm...tough one with a gapper coming in the mail today
I guess i am old, i knew to do this but forgot or got lazy! thank you for the refresher!
Sam Pratt Thanks for watching.
Luckily I've gotten to the point where I'm so incredibly rich that I can just replace the plugs with new ones. I've cleaned many a plug in my day, but due to many unforeseen issues, like shorts and cracks, I'm paying that extra penny and alleviating the headaches with a fresh set, especially on cars/trucks/quads. Lawn gear might a get a quick cleaning simply because it's so easy.
Nice informative video! Never heard of the torch method before! Thanks for sharing!
Real handy info on cleaning spark plug. When things get tight, dollars are scarce, its great to know there's an easy way out.
That's a might handy tip. I see no reason that the plug'll damage at all, so by your experience, that's fine and something I have never thought of.
For the tips on arc lines also, thanks.
1965 f-100 2wd shorty here. I clicked on this video not expecting to learn something new. This is the best, fastest, least impact solution. I didn't expect that.
Thanks so much. I get peeved off when snobs say 'Parts are cheap, don't be a cheapskate, just buy a new one...' - well parts may be cheap in the US, but they're not a couple dollars where I live, here they're closer to US$8 each and that's if I wait til they're on special! The iridium ones are a ridiculous US$25 at the local auto chain store. I already replaced the old worn down plugs a couple years ago so they have plenty of electrode left (I inspected them this week), but I wanted to learn a good way to clean them further down the line if need be. I wondered about parts cleaner or a light sandpaper.... but this looks easy, effective, and I've been collecting excuses to buy my first propane torch for several years. I reckon I'll go shopping this week lol. Thanks again.
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. I've cleaned 100's of spark plugs with this method.
Nice to see somebody using the old methods. Not go for the BUY, BUY, BUY impulse... ;-)
I've done it for more than 30 years and works every time. Although I do replace them after 3 or 5 cleaning cycles.
Just a word of advise, it's more intrusive but worth the extra time. When the electrode get rounded edges it's good to open them up. Using a small file sharpen those edges and set the proper gap for your engine. worth every minute. ;-) Thanks for sharing be well. :-)
I will flatten the electrode after it gets rounded with my points file. Though I seldom do it as I'm concerned of fatiguing the ground strap. I would say on customers machines I will just clean them as they rarely are worn enough to get rounded edges, but on mine I probably do it every 3rd time I clean it.
I dip/soak only the tips in regular store bought vinegar for a few hrs and they are as good as new
Why not spray oven cleaner on them and let it sit for a couple of hrs.
When you say tips do you mean down to the treat or just the part you gap?
The spark plugs for my big outboard costs 10 bucks each and I have previously had to replace them at least once, sometime twice a year. I will try this out and see if it works.
Thanks for the tip!
+Micke Mike If they are simply fouled this this will clean them right up, good as new.
I've never sharpened the edges of the electrode. That's a great idea.
Since people are always asking; the propane torch I used in the video is linked in the description.
Same Bernzie torch I've been using 20+ years as a well driller, pump mechanic , plumber and it has been dropped in water sand mud lost in a crawl space for 2 years & it just keeps working
I don't buy spark plugs often either, preferring to soak in acetone and wire wheel with my bench grinder. Of course, that doesn't get all of the carbon out like your torch burning method, which I will do next time I need to. I also have noted that the wire wheel leaves the porcelain looking gray and shiny sometimes, which I assume to be a transfer of steel particles. That has never bothered the plug function but could lead to arc shorts I guess.
Great video and easy to understand! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with folks like me who have no clue.
+cinderalie Thanks for watching.
Great way of recovering a plug :-), and it dont cost $2 of gas to do it eather :-)
I had one of those old mini plug blasters, worked ok when new but didnt last very long, the blast media wore away the motor housing, very cheap crap really lol.
The other plug problem is the resistor in the porcelain part, they die and you end up dropping a nail in to get a connection.
Allways enjoy your wisdom :-)
I have eight pieces of OPE that equals 8 spark plugs at 3 or 4 bucks apiece. I think the savings is worth it cleaning the plugs this way. It also saves time looking for the correct plug once you get to the store.
oh cool idea. i've been thinking about making an addon to the torch. basicly youd unscrew the pump mechanism and replace it with a little adapter. the adapter could be fed with a regulated stream of propane or acetylene. it would burn hotter than gasoline and you wouldnt need to let it warm up in order to vaporize the fuel anymore.
i'd make sure to bleed the air out of the tank so it wouldnt back up and explode. hrmm maybe gasoiline would be easier after all...
... I dig you from your grave! Yee ole comment hath been resurrected!
He's right look at all them old classic American cars from the 50s in Cuba still going strong without any parts ...
Good point.
Fixed up an old Craftman Lawnmower and couldnt get it started. Cleaned the carb changed a fiew things and still nothing. I seen this Video before and decided to give it a try. 2 pulls and it started. Good tip!
That's great, I'm glad you tried it out. I've saved a lot of time and money over the years.
Greetings from Estonia. Nice vid.
I had most of my double platinum plugs crack last week as they all had evidence of arc lines and were glazed ('08 Dodge Caravan 3.3L), lasted not even 50,000 Km. I suspect there was a fuel issue that did them in, went from good running to constant misfire and stalling. Swapped them out for copper plugs, already runs better, and I bet will last the same as the platinums did (have always had problems with platinums, never with copper).
+dkannegi I'm with you. Platinum have given me issues and never last what they claim. I end up swapping them way before they claim they should. I've had arcing and the entire tip snap off(luckily the ground strap held the piece)at aroung 10,000km. Now I run copper in everything. Contrary to what they want you to think, Copper is a far better conductor than platinum and will give you better performance/fuel economy. Platinum in the lab lasts longer though, but at what cost? If the plugs aren't a nightmare to replace; Copper All The Way.
Liked, subscribed a while ago and always appreciate simple Accurate ways to fix and repair equipment.
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it.
my plugs are 17 apiece so I'll try this. gonna buy new ones but for now a cleaning will ah e to do
Those are expensive plugs.
JC Garage no. I had a rx8 before tho. very expensive. I now have a 2013 dart rallye turbo
Yup this is my problem right now with my new rx8
I'm looking at close to $30CAD each. 1988 Rx7. They gouge with Rotary plugs
Timothy Reid no I was 340ish this year close to 400
VERY GOOD TIP !! But don't throw away the cracked plugs. They make excellent fishing sinkers. Guys use to use them decades ago below the hydro dams on the TN river. In the fast water snags were commonplace and guys would visit auto repair shops and get the old plugs rather than spend money on lead sinkers.
DoingItCheap That's a neat tip.....
Great tip mate. Used it today and my lawnmower is purring again :)
I'm glad you tried it.
Saved money is always a good thing.
Yeah, the carb cleaner/wire brush works great as well.
great tips ! thanks alot saved me alot of time thinking that it wasnt the spark plug !
Thanks for watching.
I know my mower gets used 10x more in a year than my snowblower does. But a lot has to do with the engine and carb. If it is running a tiny bit rich it will foul plugs. It can run rich because of a slightly dirty air filter which mowers get very easily and snowblowers have none.
I`ll have to try this, thanks. I save all my old plugs anyhow. I usually can get a fouled one working again in a pinch by burning the fouling off with carb cleaner.
I've had really good luck cleaning them this way.
Thanks for posting and sharing... Your 12 Volt media plug cleaner.. If U still have it... Could you substitute blasting soda in place of the granular media it comes with ? Might eliminate grit in engine cylinder after 'blasting' with your 12 Volt or other folks' compressed air powered plug cleaners. ... I don't own one to try it... Just curious.
i'm glad you chose to burn it off, i've heard that works pretty well too.
Love watching your videos during my spare time. But still your paying for the torch tank
Hi. I was working at about 30 celsius for about a hour, than for 10 minutes i put the machine at a shade spot for rest, than i begun again. My spark plug was moist when i saw that my grass trimer (Alpin 520) was not working anymore, the next day when i tried to work. I changed the spark plug with a new one and the machine doesen't work still, but at least the spark plug is not moist. I put my finger on the spark plug hole and i sense compresion when i pull the trimmer cord. I didn't clean the carburator yet and all the test i have done is without the tube (pipe) bar of the trimmer attached. Why nobody test a trimmer without a pipe atached to it ?
i did this method and yes it works. saved me a hundred bucks. I used wire brush after for finishing touch
Thanks for watching.
cool idea!, I clean the metal and threats on a wire wheel as well,
then WD-40 clean the insulator and then blow everything clean with compressed air!
Thanks for the info, I need to change my mowers oil and hey I guess I will do the spark plugs too, When I was a kid I used old push mowers and one I was using I would have to undo spark plug to shut it off, usually grabbed a stick, well one day I seen this big ol nail I thought that will work just perfect I went to undo the spark plug and boy did my arm get a nice lesson in Spark Plugs and Medal :)
I constantly am cleaning spark plugs especially if it is a project i just got ahold of im not buying new spark plugs and brake rotors for a project i just got i know hardly nothing about...i use a wire brush, brake kleen CRC red can, and the mapp gas not propane torch, and the wire brush and wire wheel on the brake rotors and the brown red and green scotch brite pads, and eventually if it is decent or worth repair ill buy the new parts if and as needed..
I heat them up really well and wire brush them. works well every time
This is very interesting. I had never heard about cleaning spark plugs like that but it does make sense. I will try that on an edger or lawnmower spark plug and see how it does. Thanks for the cool videos.
Thanks. It works very well and use it as routine maintenance on virtually every machine that I work on.
Question is. How often to clean those spark plugs, every what miles??.. 3,5,6k miles?.
Zack Fair
In a mower, maybe once a year. In a typical fuel injected car, more than likely never. In an old carburetor vehicle, maybe every other year.
Thanks for the great videos! Are you aware of any re-tempering of the metal electrode that would shorten spark plug life after burning the plug as in video? How long have you been burning your spark plugs this way?
I've been doing this for easily the past 10+ years. The metal in a plug isn't tempered to begin with so there are no worries their. Plugs become fouled from running to cold, rich mixture(causes plug to run too cold), or leaking oil past piston rings which also cools the plug. All these essentially keep the plug from burning off the fouling material naturally.
Thank you for your quick and knowledgeable answer!
Like your posts. really helpful, no bs, no useless bla bla bla. Keep up the good work and thank you
Thanks Man.
I have the very same type of spark plug cleaner, you are right the black granuals in those type of plug cleaners can get in the engine and cause cylinder wear.
I also use a propane torch to clean my small engine plugs but I never let it get cherry red....maybe that is why it did not work for me....LOL
Great video Moe !!
I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks..
Posted this below for the sake of another viewer of this vid, but I think it should be its own warning.
"Hey guys, be super careful! Brake cleaner is NOT safe to use with the torch or any other heat source of that magnitude. The application of welding and possibly MAP gas/torch to something cleaned in brake cleaner actually creates PHOSGENE GAS! This is the exact same gas used in trench warfare in WW1… It is not a joke or worth messing with. Please look it up and get the facts! Phosgene gas will instantly and permanently damage your lungs, eyes, throat and nervous system… If you are lucky it will kill you because the lifelong pain/medical issues are horrific! Please look this up so you know I'm not F'ing with you, them please pass the info to everyone you know who welds or does mechanical work!"
?
Greg, you have your hand up... do you have a question?
Use Chlorine free brake clean removes the potential issue.
Thx Larry, good thing to look for!
It's okay to let the gas blow over to your neighbor's yard, if they're assholes.
Great stuff.. one question, do you scrape or brush off the plug after administering the heat and burning the carbon.. or is it cool to just put it in the cylinder head and use it?
Yes and no. If I see any loose debris then I will give it light brushing but the majority of the time they are ready to install.
Awesome. Sounds like you know exactly what your doing.
I mainly work with automotive spark plugs with a internal resistor.
They should test between 5.8-7.3 KΩ on a multimeter. (6.3KΩ is ideal) confirm with a new plug with same PN.
Test plugs going from bottom electrode to spark electrode tip with leads. Do not test side of tip, only the top part that throws spark to ground.
The ones you are showing have no resistor and should be less than 0.04KΩ or no resistance at all.
You then test from electrode tip (- lead) to the thread body (+ lead) on Ω setting using multimeter and if you get any reading on the metal threads or metal side casing with hex shape then your plug is bad, it means it's shorting + to ground.
The multimeter should show "OL" which means open lead in the circuit.
That's the proper way to test spark plugs!
Before and after cleaning your spark plugs, do this test and then compare to a new spark plug of same type (resistor or no resistor plug)
Automotive plugs have a resistor and the number on plug will have an R to indicate this on most brands.
In my experience a cleaned plug will never operate as well as a OE brand new spark plug.
If they are easy to reach in a car(I-4) I will generally just clean them a few times over their life depending on ground strap/electrode wear. If they are hard to reach I will just replace them, especially if they are the platinum/iridium garbage as they can barely handle a sizing gauge run through them without wearing out. Now copper plugs are robust as they come and can be cleaned nearly indefinitely and even have the electrode sharpened(flattened). You clean those every 20kmiles and they will give you way better performance than the 100k platinum/iridium.
Thank You Jim Gaffigan
Just call me Jimmy.
Great tip. Never thought of burning the carbon off.
sixtyford thank you for this video i learn something today cool
Carlosp Jimenez Thanks for watching.
Just saved $5. Thanks!
I always took a torch tip cleaner to scratch inside at the bottom of plug and then rince it out with brake cleaner and work good all the time so far but ill try that overheating it see if I have any luck with it without burning myself haha good vid bud
+mecanicman66 Yeah, they get toasty. I always hold them with some pliers.
ok
Hey guys, be super careful! Brake cleaner is NOT safe to use with the torch or any other heat source of that magnitude. The application of welding and possibly MAP gas/torch to something cleaned in brake cleaner actually creates PHOSGENE GAS! This is the exact same gas used in trench warfare in WW1… It is not a joke or worth messing with. Please look it up and get the facts! Phosgene gas will instantly and permanently damage your lungs, eyes, throat and nervous system… If you are lucky it will kill you because the lifelong pain/medical issues are horrific! Please look this up so you know I'm not F'ing with you, them please pass the info to everyone you know who welds or does mechanical work!
Thanks great tip and so easy. Surprised the spark plug manufacturers don;t tell you this?
Why that would be advertising that you can actually maintain them yourself and they'd sell less of them to you as a result. Bad for business if it's good for the customer.
I wish I could buy spark plugs for a buck in the UK. The last small plug I bought was nearer £10 and I seem to remember being shocked at the price of 2 stroke outboard plugs the last time I bought one. It was a couple of years ago so I dread to think how much they are now.
The best way to decide if the plug needs replacing is to look to see if it says NGK on it. If it does bin the damn thing. ;)
:-)
Spark plugs are $5 CND last I checked around where I live. Feel bad for you, £10 is brutal
Great idea using a torch! Thanks for this. Definitely subbed! 😊
we did this to our 2 stroke dirt bikes in the early 70's. think it should be done for car plugs ?
I've done it on some of my old trucks they had fouled plugs do to oil burning. Those you can feel/hear when they start misfiring, and those are easy to change. I wouldn't do it on a car that had difficult to reach plugs or plugs that had really high mileage.
I have cleaned my own plugs as you described, but will give this a try. Thanks
dude.......love it.....been cleaning mine for ever on a wire brush......but this is great
I hope you try it out.
great tip man! how long will a spark plug last ? i have the same sparkplug in my yardworks snowblower for seven years now and it still starts the first pull and runs great. my lawnmower i have to replace yearly ,why is there such a differance?
Just in time. I'm just getting ready to service multiple small engines and I've always just changed the plug thinking they had a service life of a couple of years (depending on how much you use the engine of course). This will save me some money, thanks.
what simple modifications can a 16 ear old with an extremly low budget do to a 12hp briggs and stratton flat head lawn tractor exhaust or anything or even a better cooling system as its oil cooled and it get excessively hot too quick for my likeing
thanks loving the videos mate and also adjusting th hand throttle becuas at the moment it only seems to have full throttl or extremely rough half throttle and then it kills it thanks again
Motor Man The muffler port on the engine should have threads. They are the same as 1 inch galvanized plumbing pipe you can buy from the Home Depot. You can buy straight pipe and bends for pretty cheap. They do run hot, but if it is getting too hot there is probably grass clogging the cooling fins. Pull the couple bolts holding on the top shroud on to check it out.
im goign to look dumb as now but the top shroud is the part that looks like a radiator or is that like the larger main cover that u mean that goes over the altinator
The top shroud is the main large metal piece that has the Briggs and stratton logo along with the 12hp Decal. It is held on by 4 small bolts on the sides. Sometimes you need to remove the small bolt that holds on the oil filler and the 2 that hold on the little plastic starter motor top cover.
ah ok thanks i have removed that already when i firts got it out to check it still had compression and to check everything and are the cooling fins at the very front as i have blown them out with an air line and i have refilled the oil but i need to drain the oil again when i took the filler cap off to check the level after it being running for a few minutes to pump the oil around it was steaming
There are some similarities with this to cleaning cast iron pans. I wonder if a lye bath would be good for cleaning spark plugs since it should dissolve the carbon? I just read that lye should not be used on tin zinc or aluminum. Assuming these metals aren't used on spark plugs, i wonder how lye would work.
I have used easy off oven cleaner when I didn't have anything else, only left it on long enough to disolve the gunk and then wirebrushed it, came out like new.
Another great and helpful idea from 65...thanks
My plugs are $9 online and $20 from the dealer. I'll try this first, Thanks!
Those are some expensive plugs.
Yea, it's the price of owning a Lexus. The OEM plugs are Iridium plated and are manufactured by Denso.
Good observation on the sandblaster. Thanks !
Thanks Man.
Glad you enjoyed it. -Moe
Thanks Kevin. You can see me make in another video
How to Build a Muffler GlassPack tractor stack Cherry bomb
Man you give great advice! I bet you can get most things running again without much money at all. Sign of a good mechanic in my opinion. Thanks your videos have helped me on a few different projects over the years!🫡
Hey Thanks. I have probably saved over well 5 grand not buying new plugs for everything that goes though my shop over the years.
Your stuff is great man, very useful. I don't usually come out and say that, but your vids have a lot of extremely helpful info. I mean your orange spikey hair combined with the orange spikey beard kinda freak me out, especially when you wear bright clothes, but it's totally worth it :)
Good job totally worth the effort
sixtyfiveford Thanks again. I'll use a propane torch like you do on my power equip. I usually was just doing a quick wirebrush. But I always use new plugs on my better vehicles. Oh BTW do you have a video or suggestion for 1 stuck plug in a 97 S10 2.2. Changed 3 but cannot budge #1. I've tried soaking with Kroil, PB and a few others but does no move either way. Steel plug aluminum head - I have time and patience and truck runs well so maybe someday it will come out without damage. Thanks. Subscriber and another thumbs-up.
Always try to undo when the engine is hot helps a bunch with "stuck" stuff. ;-)
I have one like this as well. It doesnt do a very good job, but is still better than a wire brush.
That's awesome I'm so doing this from now on thanks ur videos are AWESOME
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it.
Does it work for 2 stroke engines as well? Thanx agin for the brilliant tip
E.S.Z. PROKOPAKIS YES. That is where I use it most as they are notorious to fooling plugs.
Thank you very much. Great information.
I've read that you shouldn't use a wire brush on the platinum coated plugs because the coating is thin and comes off with the wire brush. Do you know if this method is ok to use on platinum plugs?
+mute8s I have and haven't had any issues and have cleaned Platinum on several occasions. Platinum is actually a worse conductor than standard copper cheap plugs. Since I clean most plugs I just use copper plugs in everything as they are a better plug for power than anything out there. Platinum is a great material if you never want to clean or hassle with your plug in an engine that is very difficult to access the plugs.
Hi sixtyfiveford, Tried this today and it works a treat....Thanks for the tip.
Phil Cose Great. I'm glad you tried it.
How many times could I do this with a car plug? I ask because mine are new and burned a lot of oil, but I they're premium and I'm too cheap/broke to replace them so soon.
Great ideal friend.I will try this in the future.
Cleaning vs buying new plugs for outdoor power equipment. It’s not really the cost as it is the time to go to Auto Zone to go buy one spark plug. If plug is good and just dirty, clean it. Plugs last a long time usually.
Totally agree
that's may be the reason my two cylinder lawn mower starting up rough with a little rumble a few minutes and smooth
Put the plug in front of one of your large gasoline torches... Those things are cool.
I just worry about annealing the anode and making it brittle, last thing you want is the anode part of the plug getting brittle breaking off and and bouncing around it your upper cylinder. So can you still gap your plugs after cherry heating them?
Annealing makes it softer and less brittle. They gap just like a new plug. I have plugs that I've done this to 20 times.
Tank You. I think that torch is for emergency cases. Looks cheaper to Buy a new spark plug than use propane torch
Hey sixtyfive...before I went from a 750cfm carb to my current 600cfm Edelbrock carb on my 72 Duster I use to gas foul the plugs (Champion RN12YC) a lot while idleling in traffic. I went through a lot of plugs.Would your heating fix work for gas fouling?
Yes, it will clean the carbon right off and they work like new. I use it for both gas and oil fouling on old cars all the time.
Thanks for watching. Yeah it does cost the propane in the tank but this is probably only a penny or two worth.
Awesome tip just learned something new
i just rub the Tip with Sand Paper because i think a little dirt inside won't block the Sparks right ?