Wayne Swenson wrote on Tuesday, November 30, 1999 (PST):I disagree with using a wire brush as it will add a metal track that will encourage the spark to run to ground instead of jumping the gap. Glass bead cleaning is much less harmful to the insulator than sand. Whatever you use, be very certain to clean away any abrasive hiding in the depths of the plug.
john d wrote on Friday, December 03, 1999 (PST):Nothing cleans a sparkpulg faster or better than a sand-blast cleaner. But....what about the sand that gets trapped between the insulator and shell? Clean a plug this way, then tap it hard on a counter surface and most of the time, sand will fall out. I used to clean plugs this way until I decided it was worth the cost of a new plug to not be putting sand in the combustion chambers of my engines.
Brian wrote on Saturday, December 04, 1999 (PST):Heavy fuel? Unless you're differing between gasoline and kerosene or distillate, the fuel in question will not dictate which plug to use. Rather how is the engine used? Just going after the cows or pulling a plow. If the engine is only seeing light duty, a hotter plug will help prevent fouling. If the insulator is blistering then its time to go a little cooler. One thing a person can do to help prevent fouling is be sure to get up to temperture. A cold engine will likely have trouble before a warm one will. When it comes to plug cleaning, a wire brush is a bad idea. Metal tracks left on the insulator will speed up the misfire process. Cleaning with sand or glass beads is fine as long as the insulator and electrodes aren't eroded and ALL abrasives are removed. Brian
Dave wrote on Tuesday, December 28, 1999 (PST):Many engine manufactures will void the warrenty on their engines if you use a sand blaster on the spark plug. Briggs and Stratton even had a service bulletin on this topic.
carl Kitchen wrote on Friday, September 28, 2001 (PDT):Cleaning a dsparkplug is a good way to add to a major bursitis problem unless you are modern with an electric start; get your trinket maker to drill your old spark plug, tap it for a modern plug tap, then buy them by the 8's and change frequently, my teacher was a stubborn Rumley and my possitive attitude that lost out.
Malcolm Snook wrote on Tuesday, April 23, 2002 (PDT):Can anyone tell me where to get a sandblast cleaner for spark plugs?
Dick Kline wrote on Tuesday, October 22, 2002 (PDT):I really don't understand why you would clean a spark plug. I seems like false economy. A sand blaster may leave residual sand in the plug and a wire brush doesn't really do much of anything. Just replace those plugs, it cheap insurance.
bluejay8 wrote on Friday, May 16, 2003 (PDT):I have read that silica sand is not to be used. Use glass beads or aluminum oxide.
Dave McIntyre wrote on Monday, August 11, 2003 (PDT):I have to agree with Mr. Kline. I just purchased 6 number 3116 plugs for my JD 720. Should last for the next five years. Cost $12.50. Not worth the effort as long as they continue to be available.
Randy Webber wrote on Sunday, September 28, 2003 (PDT):clean oil fouled plugs with brake clean works fast no residue
DOK wrote on Saturday, August 21, 2004 (PDT):Exercise caution if using the sand cleaning method. Sand can end up in the cylinder. NOT GOOD!
Dave wrote on Monday, November 14, 2005 (PST):Use only a wire brush not a sand blaster the sand can ruin a cylinder. you can not get all of the sand out of the plug but it will come loose when the engine is operating
mike porter wrote on Saturday, August 22, 2009 (PDT):as cheap as new plugs are, why screw with old plugs? the way the gas is today, they're only good for a short time! good plugs and 93 octane gas, along with good points or a hot coil with electronic ignition cures most ailements!
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