OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums General Discussion Forum Off Topics Champion Spark Plug Service

how does this thing work?



Spark plug cleaner, the seller wants 280

Hi Sean

Oh, it just does things inside the thing.
I don't know how they work - sand and air blasting?
One for Gadge or the mechanics here.

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Jack

I was just waiting to see what you knew about these, Jack.

Yes, these are indeed a mini abrasive blasting unit, powered by an external compressed air supply.

Bad karma for a small engine shop. To quote my 1981 version B&S Repair Manual [their emphasis]:


They were particularly verboten with Victa, as the sticky 2-stroke fouling could trap abrasive grains. To later cause disaster, when they re-emerged in the bore...

The only places I've seen that actually used this type of machine were aero engine maintenance workshops.

Aero engine plugs, as well as being large and expensive, are very prone to lead fouling when 100/130 [or even 115/145!] octane number leaded aviation gasoline [avgas] is/was used.
Not so much a problem with the current 100LL [Low Lead] avgas, but even that has twice the lead level that the old Super grade leaded motor spirit had.

It's also a tester. Vibrator and coil provide HT. plug is screwed in where shown in the photo and the spark end viewed thro the little viewing glass just in front. Compressed air is applied to the chamber the plug is screwed into. The gauge is supposed to give an indication of pass or fail based on compressed air charge and gap (?)

Yes I have a restored one different model and work as above
I use mine to test magnetos
Ian

I'm old enough to remember using one at work, that was back in the days before "just stick a new set of plugs in it" became the thing to do.

Found an ad for the spark plug cleaner
Dated 1977
Ian

That's brilliant Ian.

Not an un-handsome piece of industrial design.
I'm trying to work out where it went on the Jupiter Two ...