one spark plug "too deep" socket cant remove

[gabill]

first time poster. 1991 accord ex engine skipped. pulled plug wires, found oil in tubes. one plug would not remove, looked into tube and it looks like the plug has "dropped" below the point for the spark plug socket to grip. I read the thread on the spark plug tube seals, but could not find a reference to the issue of one plug appearing that it has gone below the point for the socket to remove it. this cant be good. any help on what ive got going on or questions to determine my issue if i haven't described it clearly would be appreciated.

[deevergote]

If the plug is too deep, then the head is most likely severely damaged. Honestly, that head needs to come off so it can either be replaced or repaired.

[gabill]

Thanks

I appreciate your quick response. I do routine maintenance on the ex but this is probably above my expertise. I am in the north ga area, any idea on a ball park of what a head itself would cost, I may know someone to do it.

[oyajicool]

Never heard of plug hex sinking in deeper that a socket wont catch,,,,,

Could it be a rubber grommet that stuck on that plug preventing the engagement?
Could it that that particular plug has different size hex than others?

Before start pricing a replacement head, could it be possible to take a photo and post it here?

[gabill]

metal around plug "cracked"

just looked closely around the plug, and the metal around the plug is "cracked" and looks like the plug slid down...

[oyajicool]

If its a crack, that plug can be removed.
But, if it's a crack, the head is done for. So, yeah, replacement time.

[deevergote]

Yeah, a crack means the head must come off. A head replacement isn't really that difficult, as long as you have quality tools, and know how to follow instructions. If you've got the time and space to work on it yourself, you could save a bundle. Shops generally charge a good amount for such work. The head itself is fairly cheap (and you'll want to pay a machine shop to clean up the mating surface)

[TypeG]

plenty of junkyards in the north georgia area to get another head, if it comes to that. i assume you are using a socket made for spark plug removal.

let me know if you need some help. i'm in the nga area also. later.

[gabill]

Need Better Glasses - false alarm

Kept looking at the plug, re-looked at the boot, saw a tear / opening on boot, got a better light and determined the "shiny cracked" metal that I thought I saw is part of the rubber boot jammed against the wall. The oil coated rubber reflecting the light is what I saw. Was able to extract the piece out and "poof" the plug socket would seat properly. So, what can I say but novice error, and duh. Thanks for the replies and I will try to look better next time before crying wolf.

[oyajicool]

Now, that's more believable than sinking plug into a cylinder.
Plugs get blown out rather than sucked in when there's a failure in combustion chamber.

[deevergote]

It could sink a bit if the threads have been damaged badly enough, though. I have damaged threads on my H22, and I have to be careful not to force a plug down too far. I also have to tighten it from time to time, as it backs out. Damaged spark plug threads suck!

I'm glad it was just a stray boot, and not a damaged head!

[Accord problems]

wouldn't this be caused be over heating and the head warped ?

[xkjnboix]

check and make sure the rubber from the socket or some thing else isnt over the sparkplug shaft. i had this happen before and had to use a bbq skewer to prod it to remove it.

[deevergote]

check and make sure the rubber from the socket or some thing else isnt over the sparkplug shaft. i had this happen before and had to use a bbq skewer to prod it to remove it.

You didn't read the rest of the thread, did you?

[oyajicool]

It could sink a bit if the threads have been damaged badly enough, though. I have damaged threads on my H22, and I have to be careful not to force a plug down too far. I also have to tighten it from time to time, as it backs out. Damaged spark plug threads suck!

I'm glad it was just a stray boot, and not a damaged head!

I don't know if a damaged thread make a plug sink in more in the hole. If the thread is damaged, there's not much to draw plug down more. The thread will strip before it could get sink in.

It will not sink in far enough to have a socket-not-engage-issue, anyways. IMHO.

It sounds to me that your female plug thread had been cross threaded more than once that there's no meat on threads to be torqued properly. MY KZ1000 had a hole like that when I bought it.

Helicoil or insert time for you.