Nigel Clark Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 Has anyone got experience of using a compressed air spark plug cleaning tool that blast cleans plugs with abrasive? My recently acquired Triumph bike has sooty plugs and I've never found a good way to clean plugs with solvent. Classic bikes can foul their plugs quite easily, especially if not ridden far enough and hard enough to get really hot. Here's an example of the type of tool I'm considering, this one from Gunsons: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gunson-77111-Spark-Plug-Cleaner-/251672808009?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292 Any views please? Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 have used a small electric grit blaster from the past it worked ok not sure how it affects the problems we discussed on the centre ceramic isolator glaze that some plugs have or had but they certainly clean things up well how long for Nigel think youre about to test pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyman Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 I think you might remember the Champion spark plug cleaner/tester from years ago Pete? They worked ok then but have the quality of plugs gone that bad do you think. We used to have a mini grind stone for cleaning Lucas points as well. Tony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 I've got one of the 12v versions from years ago, seems to clean them but what damage it does to the electrodes remains to be determined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 yes we had one of those , good to see when the air pressure built up the spark would jump out all over the place they fetch some silly money on fleabay like £400-750 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 I mean one of THESE: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Spark-Plug-Cleaner-12v-original-box-instructions-etc-classic-vintage/114551891092?hash=item1aabd32494:g:mP0AAOSwLTZfxlUZ Not one of THESE: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1930-s-champion-spark-plug-cleaner-Vintage-Restored/402529083839?hash=item5db89a61bf:g:vuUAAOSwoShfoHu1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 Blowtorch......🙃 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 8, 2020 Report Share Posted December 8, 2020 12 hours ago, Colin Lindsay said: I mean one of THESE: yes they are quite good , just a motor with a tough little wheel/paddle that flings the grit around at least its as cheap as a set of plugs youve got to be nuts to pay ££££££££££s unless youre doing plugs all day to make it pay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted December 8, 2020 Report Share Posted December 8, 2020 12 hours ago, Nick Jones said: Blowtorch......🙃 Wasn't he the baddie in early bond films? 😈 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerH Posted December 8, 2020 Report Share Posted December 8, 2020 14 hours ago, Nigel Clark said: Has anyone got experience of using a compressed air spark plug cleaning tool that blast cleans plugs with abrasive? My recently acquired Triumph bike has sooty plugs and I've never found a good way to clean plugs with solvent. Classic bikes can foul their plugs quite easily, especially if not ridden far enough and hard enough to get really hot. Here's an example of the type of tool I'm considering, this one from Gunsons: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gunson-77111-Spark-Plug-Cleaner-/251672808009?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292 Any views please? Nigel Hi Nigel, would it not be best to use plugs that get hotter under normal use. Most plugs have different temp grades in their range. What plugs do you use at present? Cleaning is secondary. I would have though grit blast the ceramic coating would do it no favours at all. A blow Torch to get it very hot and burn off would be gentler on the ceramic. Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Clark Posted December 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2020 Thank you for the comments. I'm going to try the blow lamp cleaning method first. Don't know why I've never done that before! As for Roger's suggestion of hotter plugs, classic bike engines such my recently acquired Triumph Trident can be sensitive to plug heat range. Hard riding on hotter plugs has been known to burn pistons! That said, the plugs currently fitted (by the PO) are one step colder than specified, so I will try switching to the correct heat range plugs but no hotter. Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 8, 2020 Report Share Posted December 8, 2020 so now you need to keep a blowlamp in the panniers ???? Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyman Posted December 8, 2020 Report Share Posted December 8, 2020 29 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: so now you need to keep a blowlamp in the panniers ???? Pete Could be handy to burn people off from the lights as well Tony. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahebron Posted December 23, 2020 Report Share Posted December 23, 2020 I used to invert then fill the plugs with petrol and light them. Dont know if it cleaned them but it was always fun. These days I put them into the ultrasonic cleaner for 30 minutes but they do corrode quickly if not treated after removal. Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerH Posted December 23, 2020 Report Share Posted December 23, 2020 8 hours ago, ahebron said: I used to invert then fill the plugs with petrol and light them. Dont know if it cleaned them but it was always fun. These days I put them into the ultrasonic cleaner for 30 minutes but they do corrode quickly if not treated after removal. Adrian If you like the odd flame or two try this. I have a nice little battery powered drill. After doing a particularly dirty job (disintegrated Gearbox) the drill body was covered in the blackest, stickiest muck. So I cleaned it by spraying it with Brake/clutch cleaner. It came up a treat. However I would now recommend blowing it dry for about five minutes or so. I happened to turn it on immediately after cleaning. It burst into the most splendid orange flames. Lesson learnt Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted December 23, 2020 Report Share Posted December 23, 2020 9 hours ago, ahebron said: These days I put them into the ultrasonic cleaner for 30 minutes but they do corrode quickly if not treated after removal. Adrian Put them back in the engine, the oil will soon stop them rusting... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted December 23, 2020 Report Share Posted December 23, 2020 There was one of those "roadside" garages, the type with "swingout arms" over the pavement to refuel cars near us, bit of an "Aladins cave". He had a littte device on the counter in the shop which conected to the Airline for inflating tyres, about the size of a "Sweetie" jar it was, (he even sold sweets!!!.) Push the plug in the top hole press button and Hey presto nice clean plug(s). He`d "do" the bike plug for 2 or 3D (old money). My first 350 BSA, was a real oil burner. I`d likely have him do a couple of spares twice a week or so. Until I eventually did the right thing and "Re-Ringed" the Bike!. You could buy a ring set with a special "oil control ring" and a stepped ring for the top back then. When you needed the bike for work Monday, that was the "answer". Wouldn`t mind betting the Old petrol storage tanks are still there under the old "Forecourt". With people walking over them daily unaware of the existance?. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyman Posted December 23, 2020 Report Share Posted December 23, 2020 They would be "cords" rings Pete, diy rebore in a pack. Tony. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 23, 2020 Report Share Posted December 23, 2020 cords still about http://www.cordsduaflex.com/ Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted December 23, 2020 Report Share Posted December 23, 2020 Eh! Lad!. Nothing new under`t sun!. I expect someone still does "stepped" rings too?. Even "honeing" consisted of very fine wet and dry and Oil!. Followed by a wash with raw petrol. Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyman Posted December 23, 2020 Report Share Posted December 23, 2020 2 hours ago, PeteH said: Eh! Lad!. Nothing new under`t sun!. I expect someone still does "stepped" rings too?. Even "honeing" consisted of very fine wet and dry and Oil!. Followed by a wash with raw petrol. Pete Now't wrong in that lad. Then walk walk home 33mile in us bare feet.. Tony. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted December 24, 2020 Report Share Posted December 24, 2020 Cue, Hovis Theme. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2AcJSkUw6M Pete 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Twitchen Posted December 24, 2020 Report Share Posted December 24, 2020 8 hours ago, poppyman said: walk home 33mile in us bare feet. You were lucky, you had a home ......! Cannot remember the rest of the skit but something about cardboard boxes if I recall correctly. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted December 24, 2020 Report Share Posted December 24, 2020 Cardboard box? Can't even find one of those these days and I need one to post a gearbox in, too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyman Posted December 24, 2020 Report Share Posted December 24, 2020 3 hours ago, Dick Twitchen said: You were lucky, you had a home ......! Cannot remember the rest of the skit but something about cardboard boxes if I recall correctly. It was the Yorkshire men Monty python sketch 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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