Spark Plug issue

[Guest]

I was changing the plugs on my bike when i came across a washer with some hard black stuff on it. A closer look showed some of the top threads missing in the spark plug housing(pics attached). After cleaning what I could i tried to put the new plug on, only to realize that a could hear air being pushed out when i tried to start the bike. Soooooo, what was the black stuff(im thinking some sort of homemade gasket) and what can i do to fix this situation?

Get some of the mystery black stuff and make new gasket?

[chuck hahn]

What cylinder? I had number 3 on my 78 1000C strip and I used the Napa Save-A-Thread kit. Have the piston at about half way down, run the supplied tap, and insert the LONGEST thread repair adapter.

To remove any chips that fell into the cylinder, I used some 3/8 plastic tubing and taped it all into the end of the shop vac hose and duct taped it closed. Then i inserted the tubing thru the plug hole and sucked the crap off the top of the piston. Worked perfectly and did it right on the bike in under an hour. If its #2 or 3 you may need an extention for the tap and use a ratchet like I did.

This is the kit..about the same price as I paid at the parts counter.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SAV-A-THREAD-SPARK-PLUG-PORT-REPAIR-KIT-/281038121555?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item416f2d6a53&vxp=mtr

[Chris P]

Mine was #3 as well. I guess the previous owner used some RTV and a washer to seal up the broken threads. Good to know that somebody else out there has used the SAV A THREAD kit on something like this and it worked. Thanks for the info.

[tkent02]

If you do it with the head in place, make sure you get ALL of the metal particles. Make sure both the intake and the exhaust valves are closed before you start. You can use compressed air and the vacuum both, do it a LOT to get it all. Did this on an old BMW car once, lost a rod bearing five minutes later. I think some of the pieces went up into the intake, then somehow back through the engine. When I rebuilt tthe engine, that one bearing had a lot of aluminum bits in it, the other bearings had a little bit too.

[Nessism]

Looks like a helicoil might be in there already. Installed too deep though.

Not to go against anyone here, but a few aluminum chips in the cylinder usually don't hurt anything. They burn up or blow out the exhaust. No easy path into the crankcase.

[Chris P]

Does anyone object against using some form of RTV, like the stuff that was on there already? Especially if a helicoil is already in there

[trippivot]

snap on makes a tool that puts pressurized air into cylinder as you cut the threads.

some times it is just as easy to teflon tape the threads.

[Chris P]

"some times it is just as easy to teflon tape the threads"
I am fairly new to the mechanical side of engines, so forgive my ignorance but will the teflon hold up to what is occurring at this part of the engine, would i be better off using some RTV product?

[tkent02]

snap on makes a tool that puts pressurized air into cylinder as you cut the threads.

This sounds like a great idea.

[Nessism]

You can not seal a spark plug using RTV.

[Chris P]

So after doing some research its apparent that teflon tape will just melt off rather quickly, does anyone have a suggestion for a heat resistant gasket maker? Loctite?

[JEEPRUSTY]

Do not use a thread sealant please.

Get a spark plug repair kit and have it installed.

[tkent02]

You do realize I hope that if the remaining threads fail that spark plug is coming out like a shotgun slug aimed at your knee?