Halfords Spark Plug Wrench

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

Um.....don't buy one!!! I managed to get a whopping ONE spark plug out before it broke Rolling Eyes

I mean......wow. It's got a rubber ring up inside the 10mm socket to grip the spark plug neck so it comes out with the wrench. Only problem is.....that little rubber ring is now firmly lodged on my first spark plug Rolling Eyes

doh. So to change a set of spark plugs, you need 8 of these wrenches, so the first 4 will break when taking your old spark plugs out, and then the next 4 will break while putting your new ones in. And all of the spark plugs that you've just put in will have a rubber ring round the top of 'em so you can't put your HT leads back onto them. Legend really Rolling Eyes

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

are you to stupid to pull the rubber off the plug?

I have used th esame socket you have for about 5/6 years, must have done at least 100 plugs in that time.

Site Subscriber Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 342

Agreed, i have a Halfords t-bar socket and it's lasted years

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

Well mine's obviously fucked then. Of course I ain't stupid enough to pull the rubber thing off the plug.......but then what do ya want me to do? Then I got a spark plug wrench without the grip bit inside, which is about as much use as a wank. And as soon as I put the rubber grip back inside the socket, it comes off on the next spark plug. I must have obese spark plugs or something

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

mine pops out occasionally, I put it back in.

invent a new spark plug wrench then if its such a big deal!

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

it shouldnt be able to pop out unless u r pulling the tool out before the plugs is free.

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

Yeah my rubber thing slips out too if its oily Evil or Very Mad

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

mine is like a blue handled one...draper i think...seems fine.

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

leave the rubber thing out, then, use the ht leads to get the plugs out if your that pissed off with it.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

i use the socket not the t handle thing

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

danlp6 wrote:

leave the rubber thing out, then, use the ht leads to get the plugs out if your that pissed off with it.

Thats exactly what I do...

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

It's puttin 'em back in is the main problem, not takin 'em out. Dunno how strong the electrodes are on spark plugs. They're probably very strong and won't break, but I didn't fancy just dropping them into my plug wells and hoping they survived. And HT leads won't help me put 'em back in will they.

JB wrote:

it shouldnt be able to pop out unless u r pulling the tool out before the plugs is free.

JB, isn't this the same as putting a plug back in? Cuz you then have to take the tool off when the plug is obviously not free.....cuz you've just screwed it back in. Which is when I had the problem. I'm probably doing it wrong knowing me anyway!

Ah well, I was only saying like. Didn't expect you all to jump to it's defence! Seems like a cheap bit of shit to me. Rubber ring wasn't even fixed to the socket bit, seemed to be just sat in there. So how the hell is it meant to stay. Ah sod it, who cares anyway!

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

i drop them in, they're fine.

but yes it does sound a bit crap the fact the rubber falls out, put sone glue on the outer edge of it then glue it back in.

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

Yeah I was gonna try that. This is me here though Dan, I'll end up with the spark plug wrench glued to the car, and my hand will be glued to the wrench lol. I am 'talented' to say the least Rolling Eyes

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

dropping plugs damages them. if needs be use a bit of rubber hose.

pluigs are ceramic which cracks easily

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

Ah I seee. Cheers Chris. I lowered 'em back in with a pen & some bluetack on the end lol. Legend

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

ur right simmonds, i didnt think about it, as ive never suffered the problem...buy a draper one.

Level 10 User Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 570

There crap, I got a 10mm one for mine and I couldnt get enough leveridge on it to even slightly turn it so I took it back and got a 10mm socket and that worked fine Very Happy

Level 8 User Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 263

Hmm,

Im trying to get the spark plugs out of my E7J powered R19,
but cant seem to find out what socket i need.
Looks like 17mm or something but that one doesnt work.
I dont have any more long sockets so trying isnt a question Laughing

Any ideas on the size?