Cleaning Spark Plugs
Supporter
Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 91
Likes: 49
From: Thames Valley - England
In the 60s and 70s, cleaning the plug was SOP. I also had a compressed air spark plug cleaner. I dont remember when I stopped using it, certainly in the late 90s. Plugs became more standardized in my vehicles and far more affordable. I have a wooden block with holes sized for plugs, good looking plugs got placed in these holes, marked F and R. I used to have a laminated photo sheet of exact plug issues. Had like 12 or 15 photos of plugs. I still have that sheet, just havent looked at it in 20 years. It was handy when restoring vintage bikes to trouble shoot issues. I even used to carry spare plugs. Wow, thats been a while ago.
What really changed was fuel injection. Now my plugs look the same and look good even after high mileage. I put new ones in about every 15-20,000. I dont really even think about it on newer (post 2000) vehicles.
Nice you bring your dads old tool up. Brings back fond memories for us old farts. I no longer have the tool. Downsized 7 years ago. I know where it is, but dont know if he is still restoring vintage bikes.
What really changed was fuel injection. Now my plugs look the same and look good even after high mileage. I put new ones in about every 15-20,000. I dont really even think about it on newer (post 2000) vehicles.
Nice you bring your dads old tool up. Brings back fond memories for us old farts. I no longer have the tool. Downsized 7 years ago. I know where it is, but dont know if he is still restoring vintage bikes.
I can remember when spark plugs used to come apart by unscrewing the top from the bottom and taking them apart for cleaning. Engines were decoked every maybe 5 to 8,000 miles. Plugs came out often black sooty and oil burnt on them, different times back then. Large poster on the wall with all photos of plugs with a description what was wrong.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 256
Likes: 152
From: Iowa
When I was a kid we used a propane torch to clean fouled plugs. Burn all the fowling off and blown them clean. Never had any issues. This was in the 80's when we would mow a lawn and the homeowner would give us the old motorcycle that had been sitting for ten years on the side of the garage. We were able to get a dozen or so bikes like this and then have fun trying to get them to run. No service manuals back then...LOL. I got to ride a lot of different makes and sizes of motorcycles and learned how to get and keep a motorcycle running without having any money!
Last edited by Pachuco; Aug 11, 2025 at 08:46 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 567
Likes: 556
From: Northern plains
Nice trip down memory lane! I quit doing it on my cars or cycles - iridium plugs last longer. As far as older type spark plugs:
I too, have cleaned plugs on my lawn mowers or snowblowers, but not in the last couple of years.
Too simple and cheap to just go buy new...guess I'm just a spoiled old man!
I too, have cleaned plugs on my lawn mowers or snowblowers, but not in the last couple of years.
Too simple and cheap to just go buy new...guess I'm just a spoiled old man!
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