Broken/snapped glow plug

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ThomasDK said:
Thanks for the link. There isn't much of the body sticking out of the head, and I don't know if theres room for a dremel tool - but you got me thinking. Could use a screwdriver inside, would have to maybe hammer it down, and by doing that risking to loosen the glow plug tip, but could then use a wrench on the screwdriver to force it. Maybe...
Click to expand...

A slightly better idea may be to pick a Torx bit thats a tight fit and to hammer that in, gives you a better grip on the glowplug body ( six points of contact instead of two ) and better leverage to turn it with a ratchet handle or similar.
 
Oldyam said:
A slightly better idea may be to pick a Torx bit thats a tight fit and to hammer that in, gives you a better grip on the glowplug body ( six points of contact instead of two ) and better leverage to turn it with a ratchet handle or similar.
Click to expand...

I like the idea, just worried if the torx bit breaks, making it nearly difficult to remove. Have broken a handful changing the wooden facade on my old house :mad:
 
ThomasDK said:
I like the idea, just worried if the torx bit breaks, making it nearly difficult to remove. Have broken a handful changing the wooden facade on my old house :mad:
Click to expand...

Its a common enough trick, garages use it a lot, and if you use the heavier duty ones 8 / 10 mm hex with the longer shank theyre plenty strong enough, certainly stronger than a single screwdriver blade.

Good Luck either way.
 
If your going to drill it out I would advise "left handed drill bits". I use them before I would use an "easy out" as they turn in the same direction as you are trying to undo and most of time an easy out isn't needed for me
 
Oldyam said:
Its a common enough trick, garages use it a lot, and if you use the heavier duty ones 8 / 10 mm hex with the longer shank theyre plenty strong enough, certainly stronger than a single screwdriver blade.

Good Luck either way.
Click to expand...

Thank you, and thanks for the good advice. I think you're right, the heavy duty ones seems to be up for it. Now I just need time to get it done!
 
Kizzeh said:
If your going to drill it out I would advise "left handed drill bits". I use them before I would use an "easy out" as they turn in the same direction as you are trying to undo and most of time an easy out isn't needed for me
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Thanks Kizzeh. That was my plan, only thing is, I can't drill to deep, and by that risking to push the tip out (or more correct, in). Only about a centimer to work with :(
 
When the dealership used that internal reverse thread 'socket' on the wheel nuts it hardly cut into them at all before they came off. It only went down the nut by about 2mm max and the grip was enough to turn it and they came off.

Not sure how stubborn the glow plugs will be by comparison.
 
GrumpyGel said:
When the dealership used that internal reverse thread 'socket' on the wheel nuts it hardly cut into them at all before they came off. It only went down the nut by about 2mm max and the grip was enough to turn it and they came off.

Not sure how stubborn the glow plugs will be by comparison.
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Thanks Grumpy! I will look into this, but can't really figure it out. I dont have any "free" thread :confused:
 
teddywood1 said:
before you start any of trying to get it out give it a good spray with something like wd40 and leave it overnight if possible.
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Thank's for the advice, I have soaked the glow plug well the past weeks on a regular basis, had also done this before it broke. Will also start the engine, so it get's heated up. Maybe this will help also (now I have concluded that the tip is in place) :)
 
ThomasDK said:
Thanks Grumpy! I will look into this, but can't really figure it out. I dont have any "free" thread :confused:
Click to expand...

It doesn't use thread on what you're trying to remove. It cuts a reverse thread into the 'solid' metal. If you look at a Freelander locking wheel nut they are round with a couple of groves going down them - the unit basically 'tries' to cut a thread on the outside of it - it bites in so far, but quite quickly the force needed to cut into the metal becomes greater than the grip the nut has on the stud and the nut turns and comes off.

I'd imagine it would be the same with the glow plug - it would cut into the outside of where it snapped - this assumes any of that part is clear of the head.

It only needed to cut into a mm or 2 for the locking nuts to come off. Makes the locking nuts seam rather useless really!
 
ThomasDK said:
Had a talk with the shop - they suggested they could drill out the old plug, expensive stuff! :mad:

Think I will try to get the inner-part out, hope nothing has fallen into the head, then soak the outer-part in WD-40, and see if I can get it out with a plier...
Click to expand...


WD-40 is ****e, get some 'PusGas'
 
GrumpyGel said:
It doesn't use thread on what you're trying to remove. It cuts a reverse thread into the 'solid' metal. If you look at a Freelander locking wheel nut they are round with a couple of groves going down them - the unit basically 'tries' to cut a thread on the outside of it - it bites in so far, but quite quickly the force needed to cut into the metal becomes greater than the grip the nut has on the stud and the nut turns and comes off.

I'd imagine it would be the same with the glow plug - it would cut into the outside of where it snapped - this assumes any of that part is clear of the head.

It only needed to cut into a mm or 2 for the locking nuts to come off. Makes the locking nuts seam rather useless really!
Click to expand...

Aha, get it now! :D Thanks for the explanation, Grumpy. This will be worth a try... Yes, so much for locking nuts, rather disturbing :lol:
 
Had planned the "operation" for today, but it's so cold the car won't start, so impossible to warm the engine and help loosen the glow plug this way :( Maybe I'll have to go the "Russian path" and make a small fire under the engine :lol:
 
Hello all. It's been a while (half a year), but now Rovie is alive and back on the road! I tried different approaches to get the broken glow plug out, made a tool out of a screw extractor welded to an socket spanner extension. Well, it snapped... As some of you warned, the welding made the extractor weak. Was able to get it out (the broken tool, that is).

Ended up getting professional help in drilling the glow plug out. Big operation!

Maybe I was just unlucky, not skilled for the job, and my glow plug very stubborn, but just a little warning to other DIY's: This is a very tricky job to do yourself (the drilling part)...

In this time of standing still, my battery died. Changed that. It (the car) also snapped the belt for the generator, and broke the bolt for the belt tensioner flat in the engine. Engine had to be lowered, so the bolt could be drilled out...

Now I REALLY need to get some value for money (getting it off road)! :D

Next thing on the list (later this year): new brake pipes...
 
glad it's fixed.

if the engine started fine on the other glows, i would have just left it until the head had to come off for a new head gasket :)

in the future try changing them when the engine is warm
 
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