Technical What’s this on my spark plug?

[AnthonyH]

I too prefer half inch as, being "old school" it's the size I tend to grab first and single hex every time too! The ones I bought fit the panda 1.2 and others without any issues.

Edit. Ebay is my default rather than Amazon. Daughter swears by Amazon though!

I prefer Amazon because i can often get next day delivery, that is possible on eBay but harder to find.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I prefer Amazon because i can often get next day delivery, that is possible on eBay but harder to find.

Ah yes. I'm never in that much of a hurry. I try to be as laid back as possible these days!

 

[AnthonyH]

Ok, the Neilsen ones are bought off ebay.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Ok, the Neilsen ones are bought off ebay.

You must let me know how you like them. I'll be surprised if you don't. I notice many of these two socket sets have an external hex on the drive end of the 21mm socket which is not present on the smaller 16mm size. I've often wondered why. I've also never needed to use that external hex but it's nice to have it as another option.

 

[bugsymike]

I too prefer half inch as, being "old school" it's the size I tend to grab first and single hex every time too! The ones I bought fit the panda 1.2 and others without any issues.

Edit. Ebay is my default rather than Amazon. Daughter swears by Amazon though!

I prefer 1/2inch for that sort of stuff also, I feel it gives better control than a smaller 3/8ths etc.
Ebay yes, I don't even bother with an Amazon account.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I prefer 1/2inch for that sort of stuff also, I feel it gives better control than a smaller 3/8ths etc.
Ebay yes, I don't even bother with an Amazon account.

I find just the mass of the tool makes it far less likely to "jerk" and maybe damage the ceramic. Also, with more "mechanical" stuff, back in the day it was larger size nuts and bolts, now it's 10mm sockets on so much of the small stuff and 3/8 works well on that.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

By the way Anthony. Those Nielsen's have to be good as they are "Nice 'n Shiny" - mine are matt finish - Rainman Ray always says Nice 'n Shiny is good!

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

By the way Anthony. Those Nielsen's have to be good as they are "Nice 'n Shiny" - mine are matt finish - Rainman Ray always says Nice 'n Shiny is good!

For those of you who haven't yet discovered the highly entertaining Rainman Ray, he's famous for using prodigious amounts of brake cleaner to get things Nice 'n Shiny - he really likes Nice 'n Shiny stuff:

 

[AnthonyH]

You must let me know how you like them. I'll be surprised if you don't. I notice many of these two socket sets have an external hex on the drive end of the 21mm socket which is not present on the smaller 16mm size. I've often wondered why. I've also never needed to use that external hex but it's nice to have it as another option.

I'm down to 1 working car at the moment, its a bind having to be a taxi, so I was hoping to make some progress on the 500X today but it rained all day...as soon as thats done i'll be changing plugs and report back what i think of the spark plug sockets.

I can't currently imagine what use the external hex has...anyone got an idea?

 

[AnthonyH]

I prefer 1/2inch for that sort of stuff also, I feel it gives better control than a smaller 3/8ths etc.
Ebay yes, I don't even bother with an Amazon account.

I didn't have a 1/2 inch ratchet for a long time so the stability of those in comparison to 3/8 inch was a revelation when it happened.

Amazon is a little quicker on average than ebay, but a bit more expensive too. If i had to lose one of them which would it be? Amazon i guess, i need those cheap car parts, motor factors have all the same parts as on ebay but they're up to 50% more expensive.

 

[bugsymike]

I can't currently imagine what use the external hex has...anyone got an idea?

So you can fit a ring spanner if in an awkward position.
Re the motor factors and tools being more expensive, possibly but more likely they are better quality tools as used regularly everyday by the trade, so if they failed the local mechanics would soon be around to tell them where to shove them!!!

 

[AB100]

For those of you who haven't yet discovered the highly entertaining Rainman Ray, he's famous for using prodigious amounts of brake cleaner to get things Nice 'n Shiny - he really likes Nice 'n Shiny stuff:

It's good but he can never match the professionalism and detail provided by the late Ichiban Moto, which is badaaaasss.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

It's good but he can never match the professionalism and detail provided by the late Ichiban Moto, which is badaaaasss.

Aye, very entertaining. I'm just a little sceptical though. He seems to be cutting the screws short using a pair of small scissors? and he says he left the sander, which he found in a Dumpster (skip) running overnight? Wish I could find stuff like that in skips! Have to say though, I do enjoy watching stuff like this.

One thing which I think particularly attracts me to Ray's videos is the way he "talks" to his tools, the parts he's using and the vehicles themselves. I have to say I've been doing this for years. Also that, before he moved to his own workshop, he was working in a workshop which reminded me in many respects of the "Tyre and Auto" workshop I went to work in when Firestone Racing Europe disbanded. Just brings back so many memories for me.

 

[AnthonyH]

You must let me know how you like them. I'll be surprised if you don't. I notice many of these two socket sets have an external hex on the drive end of the 21mm socket which is not present on the smaller 16mm size. I've often wondered why. I've also never needed to use that external hex but it's nice to have it as another option.

I changed the spark plugs on my EVO this morning. The new socket was lovely! I can't remember a time i've not dropped spark plugs into the engine and had issue fishing them out.

The electrode on the top most plug has worn unevenly and was causing a miss fire. Its sorted now. I also topped up the gearbox oil, it has a slight leak.

Ive been very busy with my GP of late, but currently nothing car repair like to do. Guess i'll have to give them a hoover...

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I changed the spark plugs on my EVO this morning. The new socket was lovely! I can't remember a time i've not dropped spark plugs into the engine and had issue fishing them out.

View attachment 477200

The electrode on the top most plug has worn unevenly and was causing a miss fire. Its sorted now. I also topped up the gearbox oil, it has a slight leak.

Ive been very busy with my GP of late, but currently nothing car repair like to do. Guess i'll have to give them a hoover...

Those plugs look like they've been in use for a very long time/high mileage. The top one has noticeable wear on it's side electrode and the bottom one's central electrode is almost burnt away. Second down from the top looks almost serviceable, but I'd be changing it anyway and the third one down is the best of the bunch and looks like that cylinder has the cleanest burn of them all - Unless, of course, they are not a set which were all fitted at ther same time? Whatever, they're done and a new set is needed/overdue.

I guess you're talking about the Neilsen magnetic plug spanner you recently bought. Way to go isn't it? and to think I struggled with my old rubber insert ones - which the inserts had fallen out of! - when I could have had a set of magnetic ones long before I actually bought them!

 

[The Panda Nut]

Thanks for that, informative.

I haven't bought just yet in case i missed something, but i'm now certain its 16mm i need. Magnetic is the win. The only small issue i could have is that the one on Amazon is 3/8 inch square socket, i'd prefer 1/2 inch, but maybe i have to let that go because i also need a "thin wall" for these Puntos of mine. A thicker walled socket won't go into the spark plug recess.

Many of those on ebay are 12 point sockets, are yours? I seem to think they'd be bad, i like the 6 point one i'm thinking about.

I also wonder why so many on ebay come with a swivel head bar that is attached to the socket. That just seems to be giving the spark plug an opportunity to move and de-thread.

So you realise its a pita and return to buy a normal socket. Those things were out of time before they were invented.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

You must let me know how you like them. I'll be surprised if you don't. I notice many of these two socket sets have an external hex on the drive end of the 21mm socket which is not present on the smaller 16mm size. I've often wondered why. I've also never needed to use that external hex but it's nice to have it as another option.

Just to clarify, What I'm puzzled about here is why they don't have an external hex on the smaller size?

 

[AnthonyH]

Those plugs look like they've been in use for a very long time/high mileage. The top one has noticeable wear on it's side electrode and the bottom one's central electrode is almost burnt away. Second down from the top looks almost serviceable, but I'd be changing it anyway and the third one down is the best of the bunch and looks like that cylinder has the cleanest burn of them all - Unless, of course, they are not a set which were all fitted at ther same time? Whatever, they're done and a new set is needed/overdue.

They are from a different set. The top and bottom ones are around 30,000 miles and the other 2 around 10,000 miles. I used to be of the mindset I should economise... meaning i bought copper spark plugs and replaced just 2 of them...its a false economy though. This time i replaced all 4 together, i did put more copper ones in, but only because i'd already bought them.

So you reckon the bottom one was worse than the top?

I guess you're talking about the Neilsen magnetic plug spanner you recently bought. Way to go isn't it? and to think I struggled with my old rubber insert ones - which the inserts had fallen out of! - when I could have had a set of magnetic ones long before I actually bought them!

Aye. The Neilsen magnetic sockets are very good. On the back of this conversation I also bought some regular sockets that are magnetic, they were quite difficult to find.

12PC EXTRA SHALLOW 3/8IN DR MAGNETIC SOCKET SET | eBay UK

12pc Magnetic Socket Set - 3/8in. Supplied on a Rail. With Internal Magnets.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[AnthonyH]

Just to clarify, What I'm puzzled about here is why they don't have an external hex on the smaller size?

I can confirm the smaller one doesn't have the external hex, not sure why. Maybe it'd make the material to thin?!

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

They are from a different set. The top and bottom ones are around 30,000 miles and the other 2 around 10,000 miles. I used to be of the mindset I should economise... meaning i bought copper spark plugs and replaced just 2 of them...its a false economy though. This time i replaced all 4 together, i did put more copper ones in, but only because i'd already bought them.

So you reckon the bottom one was worse than the top?


Aye. The Neilsen magnetic sockets are very good. On the back of this conversation I also bought some regular sockets that are magnetic, they were quite difficult to find.

12PC EXTRA SHALLOW 3/8IN DR MAGNETIC SOCKET SET | eBay UK

12pc Magnetic Socket Set - 3/8in. Supplied on a Rail. With Internal Magnets.

www.ebay.co.uk

I'm very happy with using the old type "copper core" plugs in all the older family cars. The exception I make is that if the original manufacturer fitment was a long life plug then I'll replace like for like. So, for instance, I wouldn't dream of putting an older type plug in the Scala.

The top plug still had some centre and side electrode, the bottom plug had almost no centre electrode at all. All academic though as they were all pretty much rubbish!

Interesting idea, "normal" magnetic sockets. I could see the point when trying to get a nut or bolt started on a thread in a difficult position. However I've managed fine without them all these years so probably won't buy any at this point in my life. I have a number of Nielsen and Bergen (now US Pro) branded tools and find them very good for "serious" home use. The Bergen deep impact sockets I have stand up to my very powerful Chicago Pneumatic "rattle gun" - which shatters standard sockets without breaking any sweat!