Time sert Spark plug insert
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Time sert Spark plug insert
Hello everyone! I purchased my 2002 F-250 (5.4l) over a month ago and have been giving it a nice tune up over the last few weeks. Anyways my question is, as I was changing my spark plugs, since I know the 2V engine likes to spit them out, I found two of my plugs (luckily two in the front haha) had Time serts on them the rest I could replace right away. I am curious if there is a standard Time sert thread pitch or where exactly I would go about getting just two of these?
I didn't want to attempt to un thread them from the current plug and mess them up, because this is my daily driver and need it.
Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!
P.s. I may not post a lot as I can usually find my answer using the search function.
I didn't want to attempt to un thread them from the current plug and mess them up, because this is my daily driver and need it.
Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!
P.s. I may not post a lot as I can usually find my answer using the search function.
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Fort Smith, Arkansas
Can you post a picture of the plug with an insert on it?
The reason I ask is that a Time Sert brand insert will usually not spin out while doing a routine plug change, it should stay in for the life of the engine. So either someone installed it incorrectly or you have a different brand of insert.
The insert is available by itself
The reason I ask is that a Time Sert brand insert will usually not spin out while doing a routine plug change, it should stay in for the life of the engine. So either someone installed it incorrectly or you have a different brand of insert.
The insert is available by itself
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Fort Smith, Arkansas
Definitely not a Time Sert.
If it was mine, I would bite the bullet and invest in a Time Sert repair kit and fix it correctly.
http://www.timesert.com/html/triton_repair.html
If it was mine, I would bite the bullet and invest in a Time Sert repair kit and fix it correctly.
http://www.timesert.com/html/triton_repair.html
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Does anyone know what kind of insert it is?
Whats going to be the real difference between this insert and a Real Time Sert kit/insert? Besides the insert staying in place? Just curious?
When I changed out the plugs all but two were torqued correctly, and the two that weren't didn't have any inserts on them, just a normal plug.
Whats going to be the real difference between this insert and a Real Time Sert kit/insert? Besides the insert staying in place? Just curious?
When I changed out the plugs all but two were torqued correctly, and the two that weren't didn't have any inserts on them, just a normal plug.
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From: Fort Smith, Arkansas
The insert in your picture has knurls at the seat area that are supposed to be hammered to spread out and "bite" into the head. As you found out, this often does not work and the insert is not fastened securely into the head. I believe that is a HeliCoil brand insert in your picture.
Look at the links I provided.
On a Time Sert brand insert, the insert itself is slightly conical prior to installation. When it is installed the installation tool spreads out the insert to fit and securely hold the insert into the head.
Look at the links I provided.
On a Time Sert brand insert, the insert itself is slightly conical prior to installation. When it is installed the installation tool spreads out the insert to fit and securely hold the insert into the head.
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Is there a place to rent the tool to get that insert to "bite" like it should?
Money is a little tight for me to just go and buy the kit for hundreds of dollars.
Money is a little tight for me to just go and buy the kit for hundreds of dollars.
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From: Fort Smith, Arkansas
The cost of the Time Sert kit is cheap compared to the cost of replacing a head.
That insert is done. It has already failed. Don't try to reuse it. And without even seeing the other one you pulled out the same applies to it. It is a bad design and your picture shows why. To get it to spread out and dig into the head it must be literally pounded in. This runs the risk of damage to the head by hitting it too hard or mutilating the insert and splitting it like yours is.
That insert is done. It has already failed. Don't try to reuse it. And without even seeing the other one you pulled out the same applies to it. It is a bad design and your picture shows why. To get it to spread out and dig into the head it must be literally pounded in. This runs the risk of damage to the head by hitting it too hard or mutilating the insert and splitting it like yours is.
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From: St Louis
I've got one (Timesert 5553 kit) on the shelf that needs to continue to earn its keep. You're welcome to PM me for details.
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Another question I have is even if I got a hold of a Time Sert kit, because the holes were already taped and re threaded would it even work or would it end up ruining the head? I imagine you can only make the hole so much larger until they don't have inserts to fit anymore.
projectSHO89 I'll pm you after i hit my 5 posts haha
projectSHO89 I'll pm you after i hit my 5 posts haha
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From: Fort Smith, Arkansas
Another question I have is even if I got a hold of a Time Sert kit, because the holes were already taped and re threaded would it even work or would it end up ruining the head? I imagine you can only make the hole so much larger until they don't have inserts to fit anymore.
And hopefully you have read the directions on the Time Sert site in the link I provided by now. It explains what you need for an oversize insert.
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From: West Virginia
The insert in your picture has knurls at the seat area that are supposed to be hammered to spread out and "bite" into the head. As you found out, this often does not work and the insert is not fastened securely into the head. I believe that is a HeliCoil brand insert in your picture.
Look at the links I provided.
On a Time Sert brand insert, the insert itself is slightly conical prior to installation. When it is installed the installation tool spreads out the insert to fit and securely hold the insert into the head.
Look at the links I provided.
On a Time Sert brand insert, the insert itself is slightly conical prior to installation. When it is installed the installation tool spreads out the insert to fit and securely hold the insert into the head.
Of course, that was a long time ago, things change, so I could be wrong...
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That is a valid concern and is something you will want to check before you spend the money. Check the external thread size of the old insert to see how it compares to the Time Sert insert. Also it will be beneficial to scope the threads in the head to examine the damage on them.
And hopefully you have read the directions on the Time Sert site in the link I provided by now. It explains what you need for an oversize insert.
And hopefully you have read the directions on the Time Sert site in the link I provided by now. It explains what you need for an oversize insert.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say I don't think it's a Helicoil. I used them a lot in the Navy. They had a tang at the bottom that was used to spin them down into the hole until bottomed, then the tang was snapped off. Not a good design for engine heads.
Of course, that was a long time ago, things change, so I could be wrong...
Of course, that was a long time ago, things change, so I could be wrong...
This was my initial thought as a helicoil has a very distinct look and this is not it. I am thinking it is just another type of "time-sert" style insert. I did notice when I took it out that there was no faint marking of loc-tite being used as is shown in every procedure of the time-sert.
The insert itself is obviously shot, that is why I am looking for the brand so I can maybe see what exactly was done to my trucks head. The other one i took out looked to be in good condition but stuck to the spark plug. I would still like to replace both inserts to have peace of mind (and good plugs on those two cylinders).