Vixen Model 12 Spark Plug Cleaner

[59apachegail]

I found a Vixen model 12 at a yard sale, it is in pretty decent shape. I can't find a whole lot about them. Does anyone know anything about them? The only markings on the underside are:
12 88

Thanks in advance

 

[59apachegail]

Anyone?

 

[gungatim]

maybe posting a pic would help...guessing the 12 88 marking is a mfg. date...

 

[Steinmetz]

I found a Vixen model 12 at a yard sale, it is in pretty decent shape. I can't find a whole lot about them. Does anyone know anything about them? The only markings on the underside are:
12 88

Thanks in advance

I used one the other day, to clean a badly-fouled plug on my pressure washer. I didn't happen to have a replacement plug.

For aircraft engines, they are routinely used. The plugs cost about $30 each; on my six-banger, that's 12 plugs ($360).

 

[Mechanical Noise]

Does it look like this?

That's what Harbor Freight is selling.

 

[59apachegail]

Thanks Guys,

This is a picture I borrowed I will get a better one of the underside soon

 

[txvwnut]

I've got one that I haven't used in a quite a while. They use garnet for the cleaning media, you stick the plug in and flip the leaver on way and blast the plug then flip it back to clean it with just air. I used it mostly when trying to start a engine that had been parked for multiple years and sometimes when doing carb jetting.

Oh and when in use the unit is vertical with the plug hole at the top. Mines mounted in a piece of wood and clamped in the vise when needed.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

Thanks Guys,

This is a picture I borrowed I will get a better one of the underside soon

More tips:

B = Blast A = Air Rock and rotate the plug as it's getting blasted. It's easy to get a feel for it by frequently inspecting the plug for progress. The A position is for cleaning off most of the residual abrasive.

Clean any oil off the plug before blasting. This should be obvious but, for some reason, it took me a few tries to stumble across this time saver.

The A position doesn't always do a perfect job of removing the abrasive. Be prepared to blow it off with an air gun outside the spark plug cleaner. Make sure you aren't putting any abrasive in a cylinder!

Harbor Freight sells the abrasive.

The manual for the HF plug cleaner is online, accessible from the HF cleaner page.

Cleaning spark plugs smells weird.

 

[59apachegail]

Thanks for the info guys!

I was finally able to get some real pics

 

[59apachegail]

Here is another