Broke a glow plug off right where it meets the base of the glow plug that threads in the block. That leaves the complete 1" end still in the block. I guess what are some thoughts on getting it out? I revved the engine up to the limiter to see if it would blow it and and that didnt do. Seems like it is stuck in there to some degree and wont budge...not even down into teh block with a slight nudge.

The bigger question I have is it possible for that whole tip to fall into the block and get on top of the piston and cause damage? I figured it being that long it could bottom out in the prechamber and never fall completely out of the hole into the piston. If it got loose enough to fall into the engine it shoudl hopefully blow it out the top?

 

I am trying to change my plugs and am not able to get them to budge. I didn't want to force them being afraid of this happening to me.

I too would like some suggestions.

 

It is very possible for the tip to fall into the engine and cause damage.

The above image shows a piston that survived, others are not so lucky.

Penatrating oil is a good idea. Trying to run the engine with a loaded slug might not be....you have a loaded gun if you do that. might be a good idea to have a steel plate over the hole to keep the plug from doing damage if it gets free.

Some recommend PB blaster, others use a cocktale of auto tranny fluid and acetone. What might also help is to try and break the torque while the engine is still hot.

 

First bring that piston to TDC...... if you drop the tip the head MUST come off.

The timing mark is found on a little plate that is on the front of the engine on the passenger side. The plate is mounted so it is very close to the main pulley on the lower front of the engine which is mounted on the vibration damper. On the side of the vibration damper, is a line, which when lined up with the line marked (O) on the plate, tells you that the #1 piston is at TDC(top dead center) You can see the line on the damper, and it points to the line on the plate with the (barely visible)O mark on it.You'll have to find a way to turn your engine over by hand (Crank/harmonic balancer bolt). Make sure you remove the power wire to the injection pump(so the engine won't start)and then rotate the engine until you can line up the marks.

The engine rotates in a clockwise direction as seen from the front of the truck, and for every 1/4 turn of the engine(crank) each next piston will arrive at TDC. So, When the line on the vibration damper is at the 2 oclock position, cylinders 2 and 5 will be at TDC. When the mark is at the 5 oclock position, cylinders 7 and 6 will be at TDC, 8 oclock has cylinders 3 and 8 at TDC, and back to 11oclock, 1 and 4 will be at TDC.

Cylinder numbers are assigned 1,3,5,7 on the left (passenger USA) bank from front of truck to back, and 2,4,6,8 on the driver's side (USA), front to back. Firing order is 1,2,7,3,4,5,6,8.

OK all the above is true...... to ensure the #1 piston is at "TDC compression" remove the inspection cover on the oil filler/gear cover. You will see a dowel pin from the IP if it is at 4 oclock that is TDC compression stroke, if it is at 11 oclock that is TDC exhaust stroke.......

 

Once he gets the cylinder on tdc how do you remove one that is broke off and stuck.

 

Did you come up with a way to get it out.

 

I drilled down in as far as I could into the broken portion...maybe a little less than 1/4 of an inch and attached a section of welding rod with epoxy. I am going to try and keep soaking it with blaster for a few days and cant see if it wont at least turn left and right...not sure how much force that little bit of epoxy will hold...i pulled on it with a little bit of force tonight and it held. I at least have a hold of it.

My luck I will get it lose and the head will be balooned out. I have to other glow plugs I can unscrew but cant get them out so I have just left them in there.

 

On the other ones that are swollen some guys on here have had luck soaking them and hooking a drill to them turning them to the left and pulling up gently kind of cuts threads in the probe.

 

tabascom- If you clamp a vicegrip on the glow plug and turn it back and forth and pty up on it with a pry bar it MAY come out.
I had to pull my heads off due to a stuck and seperated injector, its a PITA party..
Try PB blaster-WD-40-brake cleaner-carb cleaner--
good luck.

 

Words of caution.

If you spray a lot of the above around a glow plug, crank the engine over for at least two full revolutions before you install the new glow plugs.

It don't take much liquid in a cylinder to hydrolock the engine.

 

Tabascom, were you sucessful in removing the glow plugs? If so how did yo do it?

 

I thought I answered this one. Might have answered it on another thread. I was successful.I took the exhaust manifold off and dropped the exhaust valve down to where I could still get ahold of the groove where the keeper goes with a gator clip from a battery charger.I then dropped the piston another inch or so past the valve.After pushing what was left of the glow plug in the prechamber I put some flexible tubing on my air to my air compressor and started blowing down the glow plug hole and also tried it down past the exhaust valve.It worked blowing down the glow plug hole cause I found it on the floor after I quit hearing it rattle. Spent maybe a whole 2 or 3 minutes blowing around. It worked quite very well and would recommend this process to anyone.

 

Thanks for the update, points to you.

 

before you try reefing on it you may warm the motor up and try to pull it.any little bit will help

 

I hope I never have to do it but thanks for that idea. It would shure be worth giving that a really good sporting try !!!

Mike

That should almost be a stickied idea ... do we have that here?