Plug Change on Genset???

[boater4life]

I have a 1999 340 with a Westerbeke 4.5kw gas gen and can't for the life of me get a socket in deep enough to change the plugs. Is there a trick to this feat? It's so tight I can't even look to see what I'm doing. Anyone done this before?

 

[Rocklobster]

I have the same genny in a 97 330 DA. I have a lot of experience with this....unfortunatly!

I had the same problem. I finally got them out with a swivel socket type of wrench.

BUT......

Be very careful when putting it back in. Try to avoid using the swivel socket to put it in. Use your fingers with an extension and make sure it's not cross threaded.

I had luck using different length socket extensions on the spark plug socket depending on what cylinder.

Long story short was that I cross threaded the center one and had to run a tap down the threads to clean them out. You think taking a spark plug out is bad! Imagine trying to align a tap to go in there straight! I did it after about 3 hours of trying. The alternate was to pull the genny which looks like it would be very difficult.

Good luck!.......Joe

 

[boater4life]

I've tried using a swivel joint but can't get the socket on the plug. I have tried every configuration with no LUCK.

 

[lorenbennett]

Common problem. Get a throw away socket and grind it thinner. For reinstalling with cross threading, old shade tree trick. Get some gas hose and attached it to the end of spark plug. It holds the plug allowing you to use finger strength so you can feel it and makes it so you don't have to in that perfect position. :thumbsup:

 

[boater4life]

Hey good idea! Do you have to grind the whole spark plug socket, just half , or what?

 

[lorenbennett]

I try to keep the grinding to a minimum. Just enough to allow the clearance needed. I looked at the one I did and its a bout half way. :thumbsup:

 

[Rocklobster]

I must have had a thin walled socket because I didn't have that problem.

A word about using a hose. I tried this as well and thought it would be handy to put the spark plug back in. The problem was that the hose was not straight and I couldn't get a feel for if the plug was going in straight into the hole. As I rotated the hose, the plug would not stay aligned to the hole because of the curve in the hose.

It's amazing how the design engineers design these machines without any though of easy maintenance.

Good luck.

 

[osd9]

When you use the Hose-spark plug trick, you only want to use a very small length of hose. Just enough for you to have a good grip on the plugs end but not too much where you won't feel the plug start in the threads. Did this on my '98 330DA....it's purely a fly-by-feel project. I remember toying with the idea of cuttin in an access hatch but that would have been drastic....

 

[Divedaddy]

I watched my mechanic do mine ('97 330DA, same genny). He used the gas hose trick, about a 4" length, along with a mirror. Made it look easy.