Broken glow plug

[cal89]

Hi there,

After replacing 3 glow plugs, the last one had snapped and left behind the thread/body and the glowing end inside. 

I've had a garage say they'd have to drop the engine out to access it with drilling tools for around £500 and another quoting around £100 if all goes well.

I tried hammering a tapered file inside to try and wedge something inside and turn it out, but the cheap thing snapped off too!

Has anyone had any success removing these?

I'd rather do it myself!

thanks,

Cal

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f184/.../glow.jpeg
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f184/...glow2.jpeg

[THE BADGE]

Hi CAL 89,

What a B***H !
I thought these problems only happened to me, what i suggest is carefully drill a hole in the centre of the glowplug, take youre time, make sure you use a good sharp drill & don't drill all the way through !
Buy yourself a set of 'easy outs', these are like drill bits, they screw anti-clockwise iinto the part you want to remove so as it gets tighter it undoes the glowplug - , drill & use correct size drillbit & easy out, spray the threaded part of glowplug with some WD, remember, take your time & hopefully you will have some joy.

Best of luck mate.

[brodfather11]

best done when the engine is hot, wd40 type of stuff will mostly evaporate so best to use a drop or two of engine oil that will thin in the heat and creep into the threads and not evaporate.

Your biggest problem now is to get the broken file out!

[saskak]

Hi Cal89,

I completely agree with The Badge. Get good quality left-hand drill bits, don't get cheap ones. You may as well get the engine hot (running) and try that way, perhaps the differential temperature of the metals might help.

Cheers,
Saskak

[cal89]

best done when the engine is hot, wd40 type of stuff will mostly evaporate so best to use a drop or two of engine oil that will thin in the heat and creep into the threads and not evaporate.

Your biggest problem now is to get the broken file out!

Yeh, I feel that wasn't one of my best ideas ramming in a cheap file! but I've ordered a pair of good quality 11-inch long-reach nose pliers for my collection. 

I had a friend suggest that redex might be good to squirt in and clean out the crap built up inside?

Are you referring to these? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Damaged-Remover...way&sr=8-5

There's not a lot of space behind the engine to reach these plugs and use a mirror to see what I'm doing! so I'd need a nifty little drill.

I'll have a go this weekend without the need to fork out over £100 to a garage!

[saskak]

best done when the engine is hot, wd40 type of stuff will mostly evaporate so best to use a drop or two of engine oil that will thin in the heat and creep into the threads and not evaporate.

Your biggest problem now is to get the broken file out!

Yeh, I feel that wasn't one of my best ideas ramming in a cheap file! but I've ordered a pair of good quality 11-inch long-reach nose pliers for my collection. 

I had a friend suggest that redex might be good to squirt in and clean out the crap built up inside?

Are you referring to these? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Damaged-Remover...way&sr=8-5

There's not a lot of space behind the engine to reach these plugs and use a mirror to see what I'm doing! so I'd need a nifty little drill.

I'll have a go this weekend without the need to fork out over £100 to a garage!

Yep these would probably work, although I would buy something with slightly longer thread. It would have perhaps a better chance to grip down in the shaft. Not too sure how good these are: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0756ZKK5R

Good luck!

[jj9]

Yes, best trying removal when the engine is hot.

Do you know anyone that can weld, you can weld to the top of the broken glow plug, you build up a snot of weld then you can weld a nut to the top of that.

There's videos on you tube showing broken bots being removed with the welding method if you've never seen it done before.

Access is going to be you biggest hurdle given the glow plugs are tucked away at the back.



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