Glowplug removal joy.

[Melvyn Best]

As the probe can only be held there by soot/carbon/corrosion, I thought I would give it a gentle tap to hopefully loosen it, then try the magnet again. As I withdrew the punch, the probe disappeared and dropped into the cylinder.

At this point, I had to walk away. I am determined I am NOT going to take the head off.

You might have had a better result if you had started the engine, the pressure built up when running may well have blown the remains out

 

[premmington]

You might have had a better result if you had started the engine, the pressure built up when running may well have blown the remains out

NO... it won't clear the exhaust valve... it just won't

 

[ukracer]

This got a chain in it - injector out and blutac - would be my first "attempt"...

What you are suggesting is intake manifold off - I doubt you would get access thru port - not 100% sure - but at rocker off - chain off - you only a little bit away from "head off".

-------------

I once dropped a stainless fitting down an injector port - spent the rest of a Saturday afternoon at workshop trying to remove it - gave up in frustration/temper.

Went on Sunday morning with Grandson to cut hedges - he asked what I was doin to the car in workshop - I explained it to him - he had go - got it out in seconds.

I gave him "a red £50 note" - on the spot - out of my wallet... Aged 13/14 at the the time - he never seen a £50 note.

"You earnt that kid"

How did he do it?

 

[Beanwood]

How did he do it?

Probably going to cost you £50 to find out....

 

[Beanwood]

So using the thoughts from above - how about an endoscope with the pickup attached - with blutack taped on to the pickup, with double sided tape.

 

[Smallfry]

You might have had a better result if you had started the engine, the pressure built up when running may well have blown the remains out

Have been doing other things today, and the engine is actually remote from here.

Yes, probably right, but I haven't mentioned the important fact that the engine is on a building stand, and NOT in a vehicle.

I was that fed up, I just left it. Thing is that I can actually turn it upside down. However, because it is four valves per cylinder, the valves are small. The probe is about 30mm long, so I dont think it will tip enough to come out that way........... but it might, with the aid of a vacuum cleaner and airline.

I have ordered a cheapie boroscope to look down the injector hole to see what's what. Although I am favouring something sticky on a stick, or a small hose connected to the vacuum cleaner down the injector hole.

 

[Smallfry]

NO... it won't clear the exhaust valve... it just won't

It might have shot out if I had turned the engine over or started it BEFORE I knocked it through.

However, this was not an option, as the engine is on a stand.

I really don't envy you garage guys having to do carp like this every day.

 

[reb78]

This is why I'm leaving my non working glow plugs on my M47.

 

[Smallfry]

It'll be interesting see how you solve the problem with the head still in situ

Not out of aces yet, so apart from having the ar5e with it ATM, I am still fairly confident.

 

[Smallfry]

This is why I'm leaving my non working glow plugs on my M47.

Could be the controller ? I only did it because I have the plugs already, and am very stupid.

I have a feeling I read somewhere that your M47 only has 3 glowplugs. I cant look at my M47 (E87 version) because Robins are nesting in it

 

[Morris]

This is why I'm leaving my non working glow plugs on my M47.

Likewise the dubious ones in my Sorento.

 

[Smallfry]

I got stuff out of tiny ports with - tig rod and blue tac- it your only hope.

Warm "kneaded" blutac....

I have a small tin of butyl adhesive that I fished out of a skip a couple of years ago. No idea what it was for, but it is very, very sticky.

If you get it on your fingers, it is a nightmare to remove, so if I can find it, its another option.

Will not be going back until Monday though.

 

[JOEPRO]

With my ongoing BMW six cylinder M57 diesel clean and minor refresh, I decide to renew the glowplugs. Always a worry when they have been installed for some years, in this case 20 years, original set. Have applied Plusgas over a couple of weeks to help'

Gingerly apply torque gradually, and hope they come undone without snapping off, or stripping threads in the ally head. Four came out, but two snapped off flush with the head. No surprise really, and wish I had left them ..... as you do.

As easyouts only tend to expand the body and make them tighter, they are not a good idea, and being hard, if it snaps, you really are stuffed, I will not use them. So drilled down the core with a carbide drill bit, then tapped an M7 LH thread in them. Then, using a 12.9 grade LH bolt, tried again. One came out Ok with a lot of force, but the other unscrewed the top end OK, but left the heater probe in place. Tried a magnet on a stick. No joy. Could not get a grip on it with forceps, but not enough remaining to do it.

As the probe can only be held there by soot/carbon/corrosion, I thought I would give it a gentle tap to hopefully loosen it, then try the magnet again. As I withdrew the punch, the probe disappeared and dropped into the cylinder.

At this point, I had to walk away. I am determined I am NOT going to take the head off.

Always undo glow plugs on a hot engine. Use a small battery impact gun, turned low and keep hammering until they work loose. Works 90% of the time, all the time for me no more broken glow plugs.

Where you are now id pull an injector and get an edescope with articulating head and small enough to go into the cyinder through the injector hole. Then attach a wire and small magnet and go fishing.

You are probably going to have to remove the head though to be fair..... but worth a try. The trouble even if you can collect the item is if it fits through the injector hole and holding it by one end to pull it through. It wont be easy.

 

[premmington]

It might have shot out if I had turned the engine over or started it BEFORE I knocked it through.

However, this was not an option, as the engine is on a stand.

I really don't envy you garage guys having to do carp like this every day.

This is why I am old/tired/grumpy...

Add the fact - your average car owner would be telling you it was your fault the glowplugs snapped.

I now only attempt glowplug extraction for failed glowplugs - not sets of four or six - just the failed ones. Plus the punter got to sign a written disclaimer before I attempt it.

I do thou - go for the method @JOEPRO suggests - vibe them out with small impact gun turned down. Once they moving - I do them up - undo them - work them out - few turns in and out at time - while drowning them with WD40.

 

[roofman]

Engine on a stand is the game changer, wish you would of told us ..thats it, head off and do it right...mornings work and do the swirl flap delete while your in there

 

[premmington]

Engine on a stand is the game changer, wish you would of told us ..thats it, head off and do it right...mornings work and do the swirl flap delete while your in there

On a stand - invert engine - with injector out - 150psi air line in small glowplug hole - tip may come out of bigger injector port

 

[RichardM]

Would a narrow diameter pipe connected to a vacuum pump be a goer?

4mm air pipe?
Plastic tube from an aerosol can?

 

[jimbo84]

Engine on a stand is the game changer, wish you would of told us ..thats it, head off and do it right...mornings work and do the swirl flap delete while your in there

Exactly this, pull the head, it’ll probably be a lot quicker

Once you’ve spent a few hours/days fishing it out it’ll be sods law you’ll refit the engine and have the gasket fail anyway a month later, that’s the way my luck usually rolls.

 

[reb78]

Could be the controller ? I only did it because I have the plugs already, and am very stupid.

I have a feeling I read somewhere that your M47 only has 3 glowplugs. I cant look at my M47 (E87 version) because Robins are nesting in it

Controller is new but unfortunately still getting glow plug codes up. It has four (at least sure i counted four when I was draining it of water after its flooding in December!)

 

[jmp49]

Don't they still sell those magnet on a telescopic rod tools any more?

I still have a "pearl catcher" flexy rod thingy with a plunger at the handle end, that when you push it, out reaches 4 little metal finger wires popping out the other,then they clasp around whatever they are near. Relevant because it doesnt care if the part is magnetic or not like the magnet versions do.