plug broke off in head of Merc cruiser

[ba_50]

We just got this boat as a project and the plugs were so thin in the middle that a slight twist broke one plug off with the bottom still in the block. There is another one that might do the same thing.

It is a 4 cylinder Merc cruiser I/O.

How are they taken out? Thanks.

 

[Bondo]

Re: plug broke off in head of Merc cruiser

How are they taken out?

Ayuh,.....

As long as No Debris falls into the cylinder,....
An Easy-Out works....
If that Doesn't work, or you drop debris into the cylinder,....
The Head has to come off.....

 

[ba_50]

Re: plug broke off in head of Merc cruiser

Ayuh,.....

As long as No Debris falls into the cylinder,....
An Easy-Out works....
If that Doesn't work, or you drop debris into the cylinder,....
The Head has to come off.....

Part of the insulator is still in the center. What would you do?

 

[JustJason]

Re: plug broke off in head of Merc cruiser

can you get vise grips on it?

 

[bomar76]

Re: plug broke off in head of Merc cruiser

Soak the beegeesus out of it (and any others) with Kroil or PB Blaster.
Shoot it many times over several days.
WD-40 is absolutley worthless as a penetrating oil. Use PB Blaster or Kroil.
While it soaks, go to Sears and buy a set of these:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00952165000P?keyword=remover
Soak it some more.
It should come out.

 

[earnies2]

Re: plug broke off in head of Merc cruiser

I dont thinh the tool BOOMER susjested will work unless the hex part is still attached if i read your post correctley and from experense that part broke off....all you can see is the insulator and the base of the plug....did you get the other 3 out? It is only a 4 cyl it is'nt a big job to pull the head off that way you can replace the head gasget and be sure thier is'nt any debreis in the cylinder.....once off thier are several ways to remove the broken peice..you can spray it with PB Blaster and try it with a vice grip...if you cant get a vice grip on it you might try an air chisel on the side to try to turn it, if it still wont budge heat it up and let it cool than spray it than try the air chisel, if it still wont budge break out the insulator and tip find a easy out try it without heat than with heat one of thease metheds should work
good luck.....

 

[ba_50]

Re: plug broke off in head of Merc cruiser

The plug broke off too far down to get anything on it. If I try to drill it and use an easy out than debris will probably get into the cylinder.

It doesn't bother me to take the head off except the expense for a head gasket.

I am using PB Blaster so far.

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: plug broke off in head of Merc cruiser

You will have the expense of head and exhaust gasket. If you could somehow get the center out, heat the remaining plug with a torch, then tap a easy out in and unscrew it. We get them all the time. Water likes to pool around the #4 plug on the 3.0.

 

[cbavier]

Re: plug broke off in head of Merc cruiser

We just got this boat as a project and the plugs were so thin in the middle that a slight twist broke one plug off with the bottom still in the block. There is another one that might do the same thing.

It is a 4 cylinder Merc cruiser I/O.

How are they taken out? Thanks.

Wow Bummer. Next time change the plugs every two years regardless. A lot cheaper and easier than pulling a head.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: plug broke off in head of Merc cruiser

I always put Anti-Seize on my plugs..

 

[mrmushroomman]

Re: plug broke off in head of Merc cruiser

I agree with using anti -seize on the threads of the plugs. It's only about $1.00 and can save you from having problems with plugs breaking off or seizing up.

 

[JustJason]

Re: plug broke off in head of Merc cruiser

hmmm.... in salt anti-seize ='s always-seize....

 

[bruceb58]

Re: plug broke off in head of Merc cruiser

hmmm.... in salt anit-seize ='s always-seize....

I highly disagree.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: plug broke off in head of Merc cruiser

Captain Jason, I also disagree with you. I put permatex #2 on on my bronze garboard drain plug, and it corroded up, and I could not get it out. I put antiseize on the plug and it never corroded.

I keep my boat in salt water....

 

[Bondo]

Re: plug broke off in head of Merc cruiser

Ayuh,.....

Luckily,... I live on the Sweetwater Seas,....

I use the nickle based Never-Sieze on most Everything.......

'Course,... I've always used it on Truck drivelines,+ lug nuts,...
Even with the Salty roads, they still come free.....

 

[Coors]

Re: plug broke off in head of Merc cruiser

Ayuh,.....

Luckily,... I live on the Sweetwater Seas,....

I use the nickle based Never-Sieze on most Everything.......

'Course,... I've always used it on Truck drivelines,+ lug nuts,...
Even with the Salty roads, they still come free.....

Any Grease is Better,..... Than No Grease at All.......

That doesn't work?

 

[Lakester]

Re: plug broke off in head of Merc cruiser

Soak the beegeesus out of it (and any others) with Kroil or PB Blaster.
Shoot it many times over several days.
WD-40 is absolutley worthless as a penetrating oil. Use PB Blaster or Kroil.
While it soaks, go to Sears and buy a set of these:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00952165000P?keyword=remover
Soak it some more.
It should come out.

--------

hello,

ck ur local store before running out. in a large metroplex area, lots of large sears stores, i could only get that kit online. they had smaller kits, but this one has better tool selection, in kit.

regards
lakester

 

[bomar76]

Re: plug broke off in head of Merc cruiser

--------

hello,

ck ur local store before running out. in a large metroplex area, lots of large sears stores, i could only get that kit online. they had smaller kits, but this one has better tool selection, in kit.

regards
lakester

A lot of times the drones at Sears have no idea where to find these...
not w/ the other bolt outs (smaller sizes)...... look in the pneumatic tool section and they will either have the kit or a smaller set of bolt outs that will work.

 

[JustJason]

Re: plug broke off in head of Merc cruiser

Well... a few people have disagreed... and to each there own.
But... why does the manufactorer not recomend it? They recomend 20 other greases and oils and sealers for all over the engine and drive... but not anti-seize.
When you take 2 disimilar metals, and you add an electrolyte... you essentially make a battery... and electricity expidites corrosion.
If you take the metal of the engine, the metal of the plug, and the metal of the antiseize.... well that's a whole lot of metal.... add water to it... especially salt water... and yer scaaareewd.
Truth be told you can get away with it on a cast iron head. As long as you just use a dab... and you FOLLOW service intervals and don't overtorque.
You don't want to use copper or graphite based antiseize with anything... as copper and graphite are highly reactive. Nickel base is less reactive. Cast iron isn't terriblely reactive. But if you have an aluminum head, such as on certain sterndrives and almost all outboards... aluminum is highly reactive, and i'd never use anti-seize.
The deal is... is that as long as you do not overtorque your plugs, and you change them every season, you shouldn't have a problem.... and if you do you probably have way to much spray hitting your motor... which is a different story all together.

 

[Coors]

Re: plug broke off in head of Merc cruiser

I dunno, but I just use my old dieltric grease