There's a lot on the net about spark plugs insulators that have broken off inside the cylider...but I broke the insulator on the outside of the cylinder.

I was replacing my plugs and the rearmost one had tight working space. I was having a very difficult time getting my torque wrench on the extension, so I tried combinations of different extensions to get enough space for the wrench. I finally got the wrench in, turned it a little, and it felt and sounded funny. I pulled the extension out and realized I forgot the fucking socket.

I think what happened was the extension got jammed next to the plug terminal. When I cranked on the extension it probably pushed the terminal to the side resulting in a shattered insulator. So...now I have shards of ceramic insulator in whatever you call the hole where the spark plug goes.

I'm asking for advice on how to proceed before I further fubar my shit. I'm thinking I should vacuum out the hole, unscrew the plug, hope there's enough insulator for my socket to hold the plug as I pull it out, then hope none of the ceramic falls in.



[Edited on August 28, 2016 at 8:26 PM. Reason : ]

8/28/2016 8:18:31 PM

Sounds like you're on the right track. Im not sure if a shop-vac would produce enough suction to lift the pieces out from down in there, if not try compressed air to blow them out(watch your eyes).

8/29/2016 11:44:45 AM

Maybe put the shop vac on into the big end of a funnel and stick the small end of the funnel into the hole?

8/29/2016 1:05:13 PM

I duct taped a fat silicon straw to a vacuum and sucked most of it out. Two little fragments wouldn't come out so I finally took the risk and pulled the plug. The plug was fine on the cylinder side. I stuck the straw back in and sucked up the two remaining pieces. Truck seems to run fine now.

8/29/2016 6:27:15 PM

should have tried air blowing into the hole before that risky move but glad you got it

8/29/2016 9:00:56 PM