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Stuck GLOW PLUGS...(5)!!

dallassnowman

dallassnowman

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Anyone know how to get stuck glow plugs out?? I'm afraid I'll break them inside the block. What can I do.....It's an 82k5 6.2 diesel...with about 290,000 miles:confused:
5 of the 8 are stuck!!!
 
There are a few different models of glow plug extraction tools floating around out there. Here's a link to one type:

OTC Tools GP Extractor

There are quite a few posts about swollen GP removal in the Diesel Forum. Maybe you should spend a few minutes spoking around in there, brother.:waytogo:
 
My experience with glow plugs. Go ahead and break them off then pull the head, drill it out and throw some helicoils in there. Have this problems with the 6.5's at work and is very common.
 
79Stomper said:
My experience with glow plugs. Go ahead and break them off then pull the head, drill it out and throw some helicoils in there. Have this problems with the 6.5's at work and is very common.
Click to expand...

I'm just not to thrilled about pulling heads and crap like that...Is that a weekend type job. I'm a learn as you go type. Everything I have done its been by myself and learn as I go.

Aren't the glow plugs at the bottom of the block? Can I reach them with the heads off?
 
Are the tips expanded or are the plugs not even coming loose. If the tips are expanded:

You can take a sharp chisel. Break the plug off, pull the injector, stick a magnet down there and pull the piece out. How the military does it. They usually put the magnet in there while breaking it( two man job that way). I have only done it once and worked fine for me.

BTW, the glow plugs are in the head not block. IF you are going to pull the heads. Don't waste your time breaking them then pull the head. Just pull the head then break them. Shouldn't take more than 1/2 a day to pull and reinstall heads if you have done it or any of the steps required to do it.. Maybe a full to a full day and a half if you never have.
 
The threads on the GP's should be fine...only the tips are swollen so they won't clear the hole. I've heard (don't you love second hand info?:) ) that if you keep threading them out and let the swollen tips break off you can get the remains out by removing the injector for that cylinder. The tip should remain in the pre-chamber when it breaks off, and a shop vac should be able to suck it out through the injector hole.

I'd avoid pulling heads on a motor with that many miles if I could.

Rene
 
Go ahead and break them off then pull the head, drill it out and throw some helicoils in there.
Click to expand...

Doesn't that seem a little extreme? I've never had an issue with the threads in the head- the GPs get stuck because of issues with the GP core swelling, not the actual threads getting buggered. Why go to all the trouble of installing a helicoil? Unless I'm missing something?:dunno:
 
CanmoreK5 said:
Doesn't that seem a little extreme? I've never had an issue with the threads in the head- the GPS get stuck because of issues with the GP core swelling, not the actual threads getting buggered. Why go to all the trouble of installing a helicoil? Unless I'm missing something?:dunno:
Click to expand...

From Muddog's post I'll assume you unthread the GP's then use the chisel so the tip breaks off.

Rene
 
I love this site....I'd much rather try the shop vac thing..When I try to thread them out they come almost out then just keep turning. Are they metal, for the magnet way?
 
Yes, they are metal. Shop vac is a good ideal too.


Also, tRustyK5, I did mean once you unthread them.
 
I had a couple GPs that did exactly that, brother. I got them out by grabbing the end with a pair of vice grips and twisting and pulling on the GPs until they eventually popped out. One of them took about 3 minutes of steady twisting and tugging, with no broken tip......

Just make sure that you avoid moving it up and down or side to side too much. Hey, it's worth a shot instead of just breaking the suckers off to begin with.
 
CanmoreK5 said:
I had a couple GPs that did exactly that, brother. I got them out by grabbing the end with a pair of vice grips and twisting and pulling on the GPs until they eventually popped out. One of them took about 3 minutes of steady twisting and tugging, with no broken tip......

Just make sure that you avoid moving it up and down or side to side too much. Hey, it's worth a shot instead of just breaking the suckers off to begin with.
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:cool1: If that will work ill try that.
Just sucks I have 5 that are stuck!! I need all the advice I can get. This site is my only source for diesel related questions!!
 
I'd try it Canmore's way first...nothing to lose but some time. Then my advice would be a set of "Quick heats" from Kennedy diesel.


Rene
 
I got one stuck one too

I cant get the frontmost glow plug on the passenger side of my 82 GMC 6.2 out of the head either--it unscrews,but the tip just wont come thru the hole--rather than break it off,I said screw it and left it--I dont need to be pulling injectors and breaking off the injector lines,or removing a head--it starts OK with only 7 new glow plugs so far,and its been very cold here,below zero a few times last month...I might never try to get it out!!:blush:

I had a hard time getting most of mine out they all unscrewed allright but I had to use vise grips to twist them,and soaked them good with PB Blaster to help get the carbon off and make it easier to get them out..I put AC G60 glow plugs back in,they cost 68 bucks for 8 at autozone--when I bought the truck,everyone here reccomended them,but I've heard more than a few have had problems with them--I have only put 2500 miles on my truck in the past year,but I do lots of short trips and have to use the glow plugs often,so far its started OK,but I havent checked too see if any of them died yet...

If there was a way to clamp onto the hex portion of the glow plugs,I bet you could "spin" them out with an electric drill in reverse while pulling back on them,but access is a problem ....it might break them off anyway..:blush:
 
Another method (not sure where I did read about it recently):

Just unscrew one of the stuck GP. Put a piece of wood over it for protection. Then start your engine. The compression should pop it right out of the hole and into the wood.

Do it at your own risk!

Regards,
Walter
 
dieselponyexpress said:
Another method (not sure where I did read about it recently):

Just unscrew one of the stuck GP. Put a piece of wood over it for protection. Then start your engine. The compression should pop it right out of the hole and into the wood.

Do it at your own risk!

Regards,
Walter
Click to expand...

Yeah let me know if it works!!!! I don't want to be the first.......
 
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