Lost spark plug - help!

[onlybayinthevillage]

Thought i'd dodge the showers today and do an easy job and change my spark plugs and leads. This is not easy, especially when you have large hands! The two spark plugs at the back were ******* to get at and consequently i dropped one inside the access hole/tinware whilst trying to locate it. After 20 minutes of trying to recover it, it got stuck inside the hole. I gave up and put another spark plug one in and left the original still in there. http://forum.earlybay.com/posting.php?mode=post&f=4#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Now you've stopped laughing, two questions:
1. How do i get at the damn thing to get it out?
2. The engine started ok after finishing the job but is there any long term affect of leaving this spark plug loose in there?

 

[Anonymous]

I just did the same thing yesterday too on my new to me 72 hightop, the rear left one dropped off the socket as i was pullling it out. i too just put the new plug in and left the old one inside until i pull the motor.

 

[gman4175]

i did this a couple of weeks ago on my type 4 engine.

managed to squeeze over the engine wearing a head torch & fish the plug out with a really long and really thin set of needle nose pliers.

i suppose you could try one of those extendable magnets if you've got one. that might work too?

 

[slow-lane-Matt]

So, with the benefit of hindsight - can you share how best to avoid this happening...?

 

[onlybayinthevillage]

Small hands and long dry, non greasy fingers to grip the stem. Neither of which i had!

 

[jonboylaw]

Use a piece of hose pipe once you have loosened them off. Push the tube over the plug and unscrew. Same as putting the back in, hose pipe on then tighten to finger tight then use the socket, it avoids cross threads as well





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