Spark plug woes

[chaulis]

Hello all! I've lurked here for a while, and have decided to come into the light and share some woes with you all in the desperate hopes that someone can help.

The situation is I just took my 1995 600cc kat out of storage to get going on some nice spring crusing. Tried to start it up and no go. So I changed the gas, and still wouldn't start. The thing cranks, and gets power flowing through, but won't start. So I called up my buddy naskie18 from this forum and he and I started taking the thing apart to get a the spark plugs, went down with a 18mm sparkplug socket and it wouldnt grip on the bolt. So I went and ordered the motion pro 18mm deep/thin socket thinking it was a width issue with the socket. I just got it today, dropped it into the hole and tried as I might, still couldn't get the thing to grip on there. At this point I'm thinking that either I can't operate a damn socket wrench, or there is something seriously wrong with the sparkplugs. I'm lookin for input on what to do next with my kat, I am most definitely trying to avoid dropping it off at a shop, so any advice would be most appreciated. Thanks!

[woobie]

no tool kit? The 98+ come with a sparkplug socket in the kit I would assume the pre 98s have the same?

[arsenic]

I'm going with the "you don't know how to operate a socket wrench" option.

[naskie18]

I'm going with the "you don't know how to operate a socket wrench" option.

Nah, he's aware of it.

We've been trying to get this for the last couple weeks, originally we got a deep well 18mm socket, which fit the new plugs, but it wouldn't fit into the cylinder, so we couldn't get it on the plugs.

Now he bought a used tool kit, if I recall correctly, and says the socket in that doesn't fit them, either.

So, aside from re-learning how to operate a socket wrench, are there any useful suggestions?

[chaulis]

no tool kit? The 98+ come with a sparkplug socket in the kit I would assume the pre 98s have the same?

I bought this one used, didnt come with the kit unfortunately. Ran just fine all last year. I put like 8k on it.

So arsenic, you have any advice? The socket is http://www.toolsource.com/spark-plug...-p-103191.html
and by all rights, it should work. But it feels like it just won't go deep enough or wont get on, sitting right above the nut.

[arsenic]

the motion pro socket IS a thin wall 18mm. The problem you had with the 18mm deep well, yeah the motion pro socket has thought of that. That socket in your link is the EXACT one I have. It works no doubt about it. The thing is it has a rubber grip inside it to go around the plug. Push that thing on there.

[chaulis]

the motion pro socket IS a thin wall 18mm. The problem you had with the 18mm deep well, yeah the motion pro socket has thought of that. That socket in your link is the EXACT one I have. It works no doubt about it. The thing is it has a rubber grip inside it to go around the plug. Push that thing on there.

I took the rubber thing out because I couldn't tell if it was getting a grip (i stuck it back in there). When inserted all the way down, it rolls. Thats seriously the best way of putting it. Imagine trying to put something just a little too small on, how it moves around the edges, and thats what this feels like. I'll take some pictures later, hopefully this can turn into a good spark plug sticky for people who run into issues.

[ctandc]

Sounds really simple I know...


But did you try a 17MM on those plugs you can't get out?

I bet someone put the newer model (98+) plugs in your bike.

The only reason I say this....the NGK plugs on my 91 Kat 600 engine, of course used a 18mm deep well. When I went to change the plugs from the 750, the 18mm worked taking those out as well. But when I put the new plugs in, it's actually a 17MM on the correct NGK plugs.

Try it.

[shadowhunter04]

i agree with ctandc... I got my bike just a month ago from some guy and the first thing I noticed is that I have two different socket types of plugs in it... ... anyways, thought I'd let you know I came across the same problem initially

[arsenic]

ok, I tried that 18mm Motion Pro socket on an NGK CR9EIX (thats a 98+ 600 iridium) the Motion Pro 18mm is too big, a Snap-ON 18mm spark plug socket too big, a Craftsman 5/8 spark plug socket, just right, don't ask me 5/8 socket is .625" so thats 15.875mm, 16mm.

[thomasman]

ok, I tried that 18mm Motion Pro socket on an NGK CR9EIX (thats a 98+ 600 iridium) the Motion Pro 18mm is too big, a Snap-ON 18mm spark plug socket too big, a Craftsman 5/8 spark plug socket, just right, don't ask me 5/8 socket is .625" so thats 15.875mm, 16mm.

that's what i used to take out my sparkplug last weekend. craftsman 5/8 socket =)

[arsenic]

on a 95 600?? I KNOW the Motion Pro 18mm works for those.

[catfish]

if you don't have a plug-socket to fit it- just find an 18mm that fits, loosen the plug, and grab the metal tip of the plug with a pair of needle nose pliers to pull it out

a thin stripe of anti-seize on the new plugs will make them easier to get out next time

[thomasman]

on a 95 600?? I KNOW the Motion Pro 18mm works for those.

yeah on my 600

if you don't have a plug-socket to fit it- just find an 18mm that fits, loosen the plug, and grab the metal tip of the plug with a pair of needle nose pliers to pull it out

a thin stripe of anti-seize on the new plugs will make them easier to get out next time

that's what i did also. i took out the rubber thing in my 5/8 a while ago and it got lost. so i just loosened the plug and got a needle nose and out she came -=)

[elkat]

Did you try other sized sockets? Did you ever get the plugs out? We are all waiting in suspense. Seriously sounds like someone used different plugs.