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Posted by D Sherman on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 13:30:47 :
In Reply to: Engine head plug removal? posted by Galen on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 12:58:07 :
Those pipe plugs are tough because, opposite of a bolt, the threads are larger diameter than the part you can grab onto. If it was me, I'd clean any paint or grease off from around the threads, and then soak it with kroil, adding more every day for several days, then grab the square head with a pipe wrench and pound the handle with a single-jack. A pipe wrench will hold better than a crescent or open-end wrench on a square-headed pipe plug, since the "square" is usually fairly round even when new. If I had an impact wrench that would fit it, I'd try that, but wouldn't go buy one just for this one job. If that didn't work, I'd weld a heavy bar onto the top of the plug. The heat of welding is likely to loosen the rust. I don't think it will crack the head if you're fairly quick about it. Maybe touch a candle stub to the threads when it just cools down enough not to smoke the wax. Then grab the bar with a crescent wrench and pound with the single-jack. Alternatively, weld a big nut onto it, and use an impact wrench. Right from the beginning, forget about trying to save the plug. Pipe plugs are cheap. Getting the old one out is the trick. I'm still thinking a few days soak with kroil, and pounding on a pipe wrench will probably do the job. It's only a 1/2" pipe plug. You'll have to take some spark plugs out, and maybe the carb and/or oil filter off to get enough room for the pipe wrench and swinging the hammer.