Who still uses Spark Plug Cleaner/Testers?

[uniballer]

View media item 26216Heres mine, I actually have 3. This one, a 1923 champion, and a 1954 champion. If you do show me some pics!

 

[uniballer]

Anyone?

 

[vssjim]

I don't have one but I rhink they are fairly collectable and last time I looked the nice ones on Ebay went for just too much money and parts are real hard to come by as paople used them up after the parts were discontinued not just left setting on selves like old car parts.

 

[Toolhorder]

Honda's official policy is NOT to ever clean spark plugs for reuse. They say cleaning media could be introduced into the engine and damage it. For the price of a spark plug I can't see the justification of using a spark plug cleaner.
I have used the HF one on lawn mower spark plugs however.

 

[uniballer]

I collect them, used to have 7. Needed room, sold them on fleabay for good penny! If used correctly, theres no grit left to fall in the engine. And if you are airplane mechanic, you have to have one. I was wanting to see if anyone else had one?

 

[uniballer]

anyone else have one?

 

[wafrederick]

Today's spark plugs,it is much cheaper to replace them instead of cleaning them.The highest price spark plug I have seen is the Champion #7989 spark plug for the 3 valve Ford triton engines,$25.00 a piece.

 

[A_Pmech]

I used to use one quite a bit. My favorite machine was a mid 50's Champion. It had a rounded edge case with dark gray paint.

 

[uniballer]

I used to use one quite a bit. My favorite machine was a mid 50's Champion. It had a rounded edge case with dark gray paint.

I got one of those, need to restore it. The ac in the pic is the best, have all original papers and manual with it. Got it for 50 bucks.

 

[JASTECH]

I have 3 of them. By cleaning and then testing the plugs it not only saves you money, the landfill is greatful. Don't know who recycles them if any company? I still have Split Fire plugs in one of my Scout II's, now have E3 plugs to try in the Deer, C'man self-propelled, Husqvarna ect. Never tried them before, have any of you?

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

every car I see has had long life platinum plugs installed ...100k miles easy

 

[3dkustoms]

I dont have one but have been searching for some time for a deal on one... maybe someday

 

[uniballer]

I dont have one but have been searching for some time for a deal on one... maybe someday

You can restore the 54' model champion I have. If you want.

 

[JKady]

every car I see has had long life platinum plugs installed ...100k miles easy

And even these, are more than affordable anymore. Hell I'm running a set of plugs that had 20 some thousand on them when they were pulled from a junkyard engine a co-worker replaced. Good high end NGK plugs and my truck needed a tune up.

 

[Dieselbutterfly]

strictly speaking,the op's title says cleaner/tester.the tester portion should not bother anybody,i would think that is useful

 

[Gary S]

I never owned one. Every engine I own today was made after the 1950s, and by the 1970s, the engines ran clean enough that cleaning and testing plugs was no longer needed. I install new plugs, run them for their rated life, and replace them. Then I start over.

 

[goodspeed]

I think the tester would be useful for testing motorcycle plugs, but, having never used one, i'm guessing.

 

[JASTECH]

The cleaners I have (posted above) were given to me way back, they are the plastic orange colour ones. My Dad used them to clean, never tested the plugs sense he did'nt know how and no tester I recall in his garage. Think they came from hardware store he managed. At one racing shop there was a large tester that ran adjustable high voltage and would burn a plug out. This was iinteresting to watch behind the glass veiwer. They tested many brands of plugs in it, then I made cuts on the strap testing for best performance. Don't recall the brand, think it was dark, it has the glass and a couple switches and knobs on front below the angled glass. That's all I can remember anymore, must be age setting in.

 

[JASTECH]

Ahh, maybe no help but I just recalled that I have a Snap-On tester for Ign.Coils, maybe it does more? It's red (duh) sided and black on top with a clear window. There is a black knob on top and some wires out the back. Anybody remember it?
>
OP, sorry for hijacking thread, brought back memories.

 

[wafrederick]

The E3s are junk.Had a 2003 Chevy Impala in that ran bad and it showed a missfire code.I removed every spark plug,E3s and they were the cause of the missfire.Installed the Factory AC Delcos and ran a whole lot better,previous owner installed the E3s.E3s tend to screw up Ford's computer systems,I was told of one so far which this was the case and it was $600.00 just in spark plugs to fix the problem.It was a Ford Expedition which the 4wd did not work.The owner installed the E3s and the shop talked him into having the motorcraft spark plugs installed.

 

[lutter94]

I think they would be good for snowmobiles. Many times I have burnt off the excess gas with a lighter.....

 

[2mJps]

I have a cleaner only. It was given to me i use it all the time on 3 engines i use that mainly idel. I wish i had a tester.

 

[Big-Foot]

I have a stand-alone cleaner that clamps into my vice. Cleaners work better for unleaded fuel engines because of less deposits. The blasting of the porcelain does roughen it slightly which will make them retain more deposits, but I haven't found it to be big problem. Blasting plugs is usually what I do for older engines that may be using a bit of oil.

IMHO, the 100k spark plug is pure marketing hype and BS for the most part. If your vehicle is used mostly on the highway, you may get 100k out of them, but when you pull them and look at the erosion of the electrodes, you see that you probably should have replaced them 40k miles ago...

 

[Provincial]

I have a stand-alone cleaner that clamps into my vice. Cleaners work better for unleaded fuel engines because of less deposits. The blasting of the porcelain does roughen it slightly which will make them retain more deposits, but I haven't found it to be big problem. Blasting plugs is usually what I do for older engines that may be using a bit of oil.

IMHO, the 100k spark plug is pure marketing hype and BS for the most part. If your vehicle is used mostly on the highway, you may get 100k out of them, but when you pull them and look at the erosion of the electrodes, you see that you probably should have replaced them 40k miles ago...

The "Long Life" spark plugs are assisted by the hot spark from the newer ignition systems. The hot spark allows more wear on the electrodes while still firing reliably. If old engines had as hot a spark, the plugs would have lasted longer in them, too.

 

[bobemmerich]

I have a small cleaner that has 2 leads that run off a battery. Probably from the 60's or 70's. I have never used it, but now that I think of the environmental concerns.....

 

[Turbo_Prop]

How about some before and after pictures of sparkplugs?

 

[UNLIMITEDCYCLE]

I see you have 3 of these. Can you please tell me where you can get replacement parts for them. My place of employment needs a part? thank you!

 

[uniballer]

I see you have 3 of these. Can you please tell me where you can get replacement parts for them. My place of employment needs a part? thank you!

https://www.skysupplyusa.com/champion-aviation-spark-plug-rem40e_rem40e.htm

 

[Steinmetz]

Anyone?

I never owned one, but used one like that frequently many years ago.

 

[joecon]

I have one that belonged to my dad I think it is a champeon it has
a tester that use compressed air to presserise the plug to simulate
the cylinder.The best way to test a plug is with a scope you see it
working in real conditions and will work on any plug.I had a boss
who had the best way to check plugs He would hold them up to the
light and say this one is bad and throw it away. plugs are cheap and
not worth puting back in.

 

[uniballer]

I have one that belonged to my dad I think it is a champeon it has
a tester that use compressed air to presserise the plug to simulate
the cylinder.The best way to test a plug is with a scope you see it
working in real conditions and will work on any plug.I had a boss
who had the best way to check plugs He would hold them up to the
light and say this one is bad and throw it away. plugs are cheap and
not worth puting back in.

Take a picture of it. I'd love to see it.

 

[03protege]

I guess if you are super **** about maintenance maybe in a higher performance application I can see cleaning the plugs to help prevent fouling and pinging.

My car is like $12 for a set of Platinum.

 

[UNLIMITEDCYCLE]

I went to that site and couldn't find anywhere to get parts for spark plug tester. thanks anyway

 

[JASTECH]

I need to get a real plug cleaner/tester instead of these orange plastic ones. I use to watch the plugs operate on the new analyzer I used, it's a Sun 1011 Analyzer.

 

[fatfillup]

I have sold a few of the small hand held spark plug cleaners. Sold one to a guy who has a Harley that fouled plugs quickly. Also, as mentioned above, airplane guys use them. Apparently the plugs for planes are quite pricey. I would think somebody with a fleet of 2 stroke equipment could use one too.

Like many said, plugs are cheap and if the vehicle is functioning properly, no need, but once you leave the auto industry and get into other machinery, there is a place for them. Plus the tester is a good diagnostic tool. You can either eliminate or condemn a plug with confidence.

 

[JASTECH]

fatfill, True, but if you can't get the new plugs soon enough for yourself or customer you could clean and test in shop.

 

[JASTECH]

fatfill, True, but if you can't get the new plugs soon enough for yourself or customer you could clean and test in shop.

 

[uniballer]

I need to get a real plug cleaner/tester instead of these orange plastic ones. I use to watch the plugs operate on the new analyzer I used, it's a Sun 1011 Analyzer.

I have the spark plug scope by champion, model 2000. Havent used it in a while, looks like a carry on gun case!

 

[uudfourty]

They're still used in general aviation shops. Reciprocating aircraft engine spark plugs are pretty expensive. $75+ apiece. Each cylinder has two plugs.

GA planes run low-lead fuel, so they foul a bit more than unleaded gas engines-- especially if the plugs aren't in the proper heat range.