Spark Plug Came Out

[sheltonchris1]

So we were out on my boat yesterday and out of no where on of the spark plugs came out of the engine. Immediately I turned it off and we had a friend tow us back to the trailer. I have two questions. Would it have done any damage to the engine having lost a spark plug for a few seconds? Also, I went to put a new one in and I have tried everything and I can't get it to screw in. It seems like the threads on the block might be stripped out a little. So I went and picked up a tap to see if I could fix it with that and I have no idea how to use it and I definitely don't want to screw something up that can't be fixed. Does anyone know what my next best move might be? Thanks for the help.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Spark Plug Came Out

PLEASE, please say you didn't use the tap! Tapping that hole will cause metal filings to setting into the piston chamber and cause a fast trip to the machine shop for a rebuild, maybe worse.

Running with a missing plug will not cause any damage unless some foreign matter was sucked into the chamber (rust around the plug hole comes to mind). I'm a bit surprised your engine ran okay without it, or even with it loose. As for the stripped plug hole, check the plug which fell out, does it have metal between the threads? If not, try and screw it back in, as it will likely line up better than a new plug. Screw and unscrew the old plug a few times (until it gets easier), then try and insert the new plug. If a tap is necessary you are looking at removing the head in order to clean shavings from it prior to reassembly.

Someone here may know of a nice trick to avoid the head removal in the case of a stripped plug hole, as I do not.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Spark Plug Came Out

Ok you say is unscrewed or popped out ?

If it popped out and before you do anything take a clean cloth and clean around the hole very very good.

Now with a light or in sunlight use a magnifying glass and look at the hole real real good, see a CRACK ? Could start at the hole, and run any way, down sideways any way. Look real real good. I had one where the crack started at the hole and went down.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Spark Plug Came Out

and I have no idea how to use it and I definitely don't want to screw something up that can't be fixed. Does anyone know what my next best move might be?

Ayuh,... Your problem May, or may not be that Bad already,...

Find yourself somebody who Does know what they're doing,+ Have it diagnosed....

 

[sheltonchris1]

Re: Spark Plug Came Out

Well, here is the good news and some more good news, there is no crack and I didn't tap the hole either. It looks like maybe it wasn't screwed in tight enough so it unscrewed out. The engine did make a very funny noise when it came out and we immediately shut it down. I cleaned it and tried again and again to get the spark plug to go in. I think I have settled on just taking it somewhere and letting someone else who knows what they are doing fix it. Thanks for the quick input and saving me alot of trouble in the future.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Spark Plug Came Out

Taking it somewhere sounds like the right thing to do. Having said that... I have read of people having success with using heavy grease instead of oil to catch any metal bits.