Anyone have any tips on removing a spark plug that has a missing hex head? One in my EJ22 wouldnt grab in my socket, and on further investigation it had the hex fall/shear off. Not sure what caused it, as it was all there when i installed it, but at this point I just need to get it out.

First step is to get all the broken pieces out, what's under the hex head? If it's metal, you might have luck with one of those extractor sockets you hammer on and it grips the broken whatever to pull it out. You might have to search around a while to find a deep one, though.

I don't know how the access is on the ej22.... one broke like that on one of my ea82s. I welded a bolt to the piece of plug that was in the head, and unscrewed it.

Theres a little bit of metal left bit not a lot. I picked up one of those universal sockets yesterday, but unfortunately it's too wide to fit into the tube.

 

And I can't get an arc down in there to weld anything on, the EJ22 has them recessed in a tube down through the valvetrain. If it was my '88 it would be a much simpler puzzle to solve.

can you grind down the outside of the special socket enough to both fit and still work?

Got home to late to try yesterday, but I'll take a look this evening. Bound to be worth a shot, I think the socket was only ten bucks so even if I can't use it again it's worth it.

Is the access much better with the valve cover off?

 

Access goes from zero to good on some.

Covers are off and no, sadly... I'm taking the heads to a shop for some valve work and I'm assuming it can get drilled out or whatnot there, but I'm trying to get it out beforehand to save on labor costs.

If you're pulling the heads off just wait until they're out. Put the head on the bench and knock the center ceramic and all out of the middle of the plug and try using an easy-out on it.

Also spray PB all over it to help get any rust or corrosion loose first.

Edited July 7, 20169 yr by Fairtax4me

From the underside of the head, you'll need to turn the spark-plug clockwise to get it out.

An easy-out may not work, as it will only grip in the counter-clockwise direction.

No no, don't try to get it out from the under side.

Stick the ez out in the top side and use an extension to turn it.

Just wanted to follow up in case this ever happens to anyone else.... the ez out got it. Still a royal PITA, but $20 in tools is much cheaper than a shop doing it.

Good Job

Good deal! Get those heads surfaced if they have any corrosion between the coolant ports. Set of Felpro head gaskets and she'll be running great again. 

A visual reference for any who need it: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.tigraionline.com/broken_sparkplug.html&ved=0ahUKEwiM4uL7z-_NAhUP-GMKHeMgA5UQFghEMAQ&usg=AFQjCNHZ15ArKRITnodmn84A1l2evPLyjQ&sig2=YHBd_FKep4weTUGoBiZvKQ