Engine Mechanical Topics Discussion for motor builds, cams, head work, stripped bolts and other engine related issues. The good and the bad. If it goes round and around or up and down, post it here.

Stuck Plug

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 18, 2022 | 07:17 PM
  #1  
cj24's Avatar
cj24
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 860
Likes: 262
From: CA
Default Stuck Plug

Bought a used sportster about 6 month ago. Pulled the first spark plug ... it's color and gap all good. Went to pull the second ... crap ... it's binding up in the head. I'm sure some galling ... bike only has 5k miles. So either the factory or previous owner screwed up.

Do you think a dealer, indie, or machine shop is best for repair? Looking to get time set done .... or keen?

Or maybe I just tighten to spec and let her ride until it actually needs replacing or blows out of the head lol
 
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2022 | 08:34 PM
  #2  
F150HD's Avatar
F150HD
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 1,320
From: Good roads, cold beer
Default

Originally Posted by cj24
...it's binding up in the head....Or maybe I just tighten to spec and let her ride...
crossthreaded? so it must be moving if you are looking to tighten it back up (?)
 
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2022 | 09:22 PM
  #3  
cj24's Avatar
cj24
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 860
Likes: 262
From: CA
Default

I can untighten about almost 1/4 turn ... and then hit resistance. I worked it back and forth gently ... after soak with PB Blaster ... same. The bike is clean and first plug no corrosion... I doubt the second has corrosion. My guess is it was installed without antiseize and some metals fused. So if I ham fist it I'm sure it will strip out.
 
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2022 | 09:48 PM
  #4  
TwiZted Biker's Avatar
TwiZted Biker
Club Member
15 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,104
Likes: 51,369
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Default

Find some of this stuff and soak it a day or two then try.




If you do end up stripping the threads if can be repaired without a tear down if you have a few tools and a steady hand. Done many a shovelhead this way. Any auto parts store or Amazon has the kits.


 

Last edited by TwiZted Biker; Sep 18, 2022 at 09:49 PM.
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2022 | 10:02 PM
  #5  
cj24's Avatar
cj24
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 860
Likes: 262
From: CA
Default

Originally Posted by TwiZted Biker
Find some of this stuff and soak it a day or two then try.




If you do end up stripping the threads if can be repaired without a tear down if you have a few tools and a steady hand. Done many a shovelhead this way. Any auto parts store or Amazon has the kits.

I'll look for that oil... give it a try. Thanks!
 
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2022 | 10:05 PM
  #6  
cj24's Avatar
cj24
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 860
Likes: 262
From: CA
Default

My guess the damage is done. The part fused let go ... and is just stripping out remaining threads. No oil will cure that... but hey I will give it a try!
 
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2022 | 10:13 PM
  #7  
TwiZted Biker's Avatar
TwiZted Biker
Club Member
15 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,104
Likes: 51,369
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Default

After soaking rock it back & forth, loose then tight a bit and repeat till you feel it either moving or you get tired and hard hand it. I've unstuck some serious fubar with the Kroil.
 
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2022 | 10:36 PM
  #8  
cj24's Avatar
cj24
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 860
Likes: 262
From: CA
Default

Originally Posted by TwiZted Biker
After soaking rock it back & forth, loose then tight a bit and repeat till you feel it either moving or you get tired and hard hand it. I've unstuck some serious fubar with the Kroil.
ok thanks it's worth a shot
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 18, 2022 | 11:13 PM
  #9  
cj24's Avatar
cj24
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 860
Likes: 262
From: CA
Default

Well after more soak..plug is out. Yup threads in head messed up. Took some q tips with Vaseline to remove remove some of the thread slivers. I figure it's best to have the shop pick the bike up and deal with it. Concern is any slivers down in cylinder
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Lowoilpressure
Shovelhead
19
Jun 27, 2021 07:21 PM
Rusty Axle
Shovelhead
2
Apr 28, 2019 09:49 PM
jokenroll
EVO
21
Jul 10, 2013 09:35 AM
maddghost
Exhaust System Topics
4
Jul 7, 2013 09:29 PM
silverbullet2006
Sportster Models
1
Feb 6, 2006 07:17 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:09 PM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE