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Spark plug boot remover

signcrafter

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Joined
May 9, 2012
Messages
12,359
I was doing plugs on an 04 expedition 4.6L yesterday and did the drivers side first and then moved to passenger side and the first two plugs went good. The 3rd plug the coil pulled out and left the boot on the plug, not a big deal it happened with a couple of the other plugs and I just used a long needle nose to get the boot out. But this boot wasn't coming out. I sprayed some penetrating oil in the boot but it kept just getting little pieces ripped off. It just kept ripping and left the rest of the boot in the hole on the plug. I was able to finally get it off and replaced the plug. I left the number 4 plug alone yesterday. Didn't want to have more issues and it was getting late and cold.

So last night I was googling and came across this boot remover by schley, http://www.tooltopia.com/schley-68450.aspx. Wondering if anyone has this and how good it works? Or if you have any other tips or tricks when a spark plug boot that is recessed in the cylinder head is stuck and keeps ripping? I tried sticking a pick and small screwdriver down inside the boot to free it from the plug but there just wasn't much room to maneuver and I couldn't get it to work.
 
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90zcar

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Nov 8, 2013
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3,254
I have a MATCO boot pliers I got last year in an auction box lot but I honestly haven't even used it yet


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Vantastic

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Joined
Jan 1, 2015
Messages
364
Location
Penns Woods
Get yourself some spark plug boot pliers first.
That schley boot remover looks like a cool tool to have. I want one too.
 
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n8n

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Mar 11, 2014
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3,607
Location
Curtis Bay, MD
I like the lisle spark plug boot pliers if you have room for them, but IIRC an Expy has the rear plugs hidden under the cowl. Maybe a hook type tool like a hose remover would help in that situation.
 
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signcrafter

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May 9, 2012
Messages
12,359
I have boot pliers, probably 3-4 different ones. They don't work good on the fords with recessed plugs, I tried. But especially in this situation where the boot was stuck on the plug really good and when I pulled on it the boot kept ripping. This is why I'm considering ordering the schley tool.
 

shockwave

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Oct 23, 2012
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2,125
Location
Marietta,ga
For fords the best boot pliers are a long blowgun with small rubber tip down the center it breaks them free very easily
 

devoncoolman

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Joined
Mar 17, 2013
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2,096
Location
quakertown pa
You cant use boot pullers on the triton motors. The plugs are resessed deep in the top side of the head. The boot ripping off happens from time to time. I have the snap-on rebranded schley boot tool u linked signcrafter. It works. It actually cuts the boot off the plug. If u do alot of tritons buy it. Nothing more frustrating then trying to dig that thing out with a pick and needle nose.
 

Bobioz1

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Jun 26, 2013
Messages
821
Location
Northern il. (For now)
The Schley tool does exactly what it says it will do. It's over priced but it's a needed tool. Looks like a plain old leather punch. Can't remember the vehicle but a longer one or an extention would have helped.
 
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signcrafter

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May 9, 2012
Messages
12,359
You cant use boot pullers on the triton motors. The plugs are resessed deep in the top side of the head. The boot ripping off happens from time to time. I have the snap-on rebranded schley boot tool u linked signcrafter. It works. It actually cuts the boot off the plug. If u do alot of tritons buy it. Nothing more frustrating then trying to dig that thing out with a pick and needle nose.

The Schley tool does exactly what it says it will do. It's over priced but it's a needed tool. Looks like a plain old leather punch. Can't remember the vehicle but a longer one or an extention would have helped.

Thanks guys. I'm going to order one. It won't get used much at all but it would have been well worth the 30 bucks to have one yesterday.

Just out of curiosity would a certain diameter pipe work for this? Like a piece of conduit or copper pipe if I can get one the right diameter?
 
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hangfirew8

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Jul 14, 2008
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879
Location
Central Maryland
So last night I was googling and came across this boot remover by schley, http://www.tooltopia.com/schley-68450.aspx. Wondering if anyone has this and how good it works

Hmm, look at that list of supported Ford engines.
Ford
4.6L V8 2 valve heads 1997-1999
4.6L V8 2 valve heads2000 and later
4.6L V8 3 valve heads2007 and later
5.4L V8 2 valve heads1997-2004
5.4L V8 3 valve heads2005 and later
6.8L V10 2 valve heads1999-2008
6.8L V10 3 valve heads2008 and later
For fords the best boot pliers are a long blowgun with small rubber tip down the center it breaks them free very easily
Is it just me, or does Ford seem to specialize in screwing people over on spark plugs? Not just 3-thread aluminum heads stripping, long nose plugs breaking off, but V-10's that require the cab being lifted to change the plugs, now this. When will this spark plug ***-hattery end, or will they just keep on coming up with new ways to make our life harder?
 

shockwave

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Joined
Oct 23, 2012
Messages
2,125
Location
Marietta,ga
I can tell you this ford has very bad casting of heads I have installed more inserts on fords than any

And if you change plugs go with updated champion 0ne piece plugs if you have ever changed plugs on these you will understand
 

MrJason

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Joined
May 26, 2013
Messages
438
Location
Bakersfield, CA.
I was doing plugs on an 04 expedition 4.6L yesterday and did the drivers side first and then moved to passenger side and the first two plugs went good. The 3rd plug the coil pulled out and left the boot on the plug, not a big deal it happened with a couple of the other plugs and I just used a long needle nose to get the boot out. But this boot wasn't coming out. I sprayed some penetrating oil in the boot but it kept just getting little pieces ripped off. It just kept ripping and left the rest of the boot in the hole on the plug. I was able to finally get it off and replaced the plug. I left the number 4 plug alone yesterday. Didn't want to have more issues and it was getting late and cold.

So last night I was googling and came across this boot remover by schley, http://www.tooltopia.com/schley-68450.aspx. Wondering if anyone has this and how good it works? Or if you have any other tips or tricks when a spark plug boot that is recessed in the cylinder head is stuck and keeps ripping? I tried sticking a pick and small screwdriver down inside the boot to free it from the plug but there just wasn't much room to maneuver and I couldn't get it to work.
I bought this plier, and love it.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005MVB5O2/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I work on my buddies F150 every so often and I recently did a plug wire upgrade.

These pliers worked very well and I think you might like them.

Jason
 

Bookworm

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Joined
Dec 13, 2010
Messages
149
Location
Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain
I have a set of Matco-branded boot pliers, called "Grabbers". I purchased these somewhere over 25 years ago, and I don't see them on the Matco site now. They must be dis-continued.
I see that there was a set on e-bay, the sale concluded early last month, sold for less than $5.
Somewhat strange to see tools I own, purchased brand new, being sold from a "vintage" tool site.....
 

arz71

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Joined
Sep 6, 2014
Messages
475
Location
Arkansas
It is easier to grab the boot and twist it side-to-side then remove it if you have vise-grip type fingers.

I have some metal ones maybe made by Matco can't remember which tool truck I bought them off of. But they are to clunky to use and/or can't fit in tight places.

On motorcycles/wheelers and such the boot is easier to pull off, on most newer trucks/cars I think the cost of the plug on wire is less expensive now and most of the time they need replacing. So if that is the case use some needle nose like Snap-On storks to pull them off.
 

Tanro

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Joined
Feb 14, 2015
Messages
98
Sparkplug boot pliers for when you can save em.

Sharkplug Sockets (google it) for when they tear apart anyways.
 

owenst7

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Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Messages
632
Location
Anchorage/Reno
This works better than the pliers I own 95% of the time:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002STS4E/?tag=atomicindus08-20
51bK1yd19fL._SL1164_.jpg
 

dmayne7878

New member
Joined
Nov 2, 2020
Messages
2
Location
OH
Help please i happen dealing with this for over 6 months and have tried almost everything but apparently the one thing that WORKS.I have a 2001 ford f-150. I have a rubber boot stuck around my spark plug. yes i have tried a scribe set to pull it out i have tried lube to lube it up enough to wiggle it out. i have searched the internet for hours nothing seems to work. SOMEBODY HELP MEW PLZ. Its killing me in gas and has a really bad miss fire it runs like complete and total ****!!!
 

BlakeTheCarGuy

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Oct 10, 2018
Messages
9,363
Location
Roanoke Virginia
Help please i happen dealing with this for over 6 months and have tried almost everything but apparently the one thing that WORKS.I have a 2001 ford f-150. I have a rubber boot stuck around my spark plug. yes i have tried a scribe set to pull it out i have tried lube to lube it up enough to wiggle it out. i have searched the internet for hours nothing seems to work. SOMEBODY HELP MEW PLZ. Its killing me in gas and has a really bad miss fire it runs like complete and total ****!!!



Maybe a spark plug boot puller. I have a Blue Point one it’s the pliers version which works the best


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Fedwrench

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Joined
Dec 9, 2007
Messages
14,954
Location
Valley of the sun
As recommended above this lisle tool works well on recessed plug boots:

https://www.lislecorp.com/specialty-tools/spark-plug-wire-puller/

All of you guys recommending spark plug boot pliers need to realize that the boot isn't a boot attached to a spark plug wire exposed on the side of a cylinder head :wtf:

The SP tool is a great option and was quite popular when it first came out.

Shockwave posted above the best technique using a skinny extended tip blow gun to free the baked on boot from the plug. However, i've found a slightly flattened metal tube attached to the blow gun that you can insert between the boot and plug to work well. A long, thin straight pick also works.

Just remember when replacing the coil boot, to dab a little dielectric silicone on it to prevent this from happening again. :beer:
 
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