Glow plugs stuck

R

Rogerwh0

Member
I have been having a little trouble getting my 1100 to start now that is below 30. I decided to pull the glow plugs and test them. All 3 were hard to get loose and now they just spin! I can see the threaded part of the plug spinning. I can't get them to come out even prying on the bottom while turning. Has anyone heard of this? Looks like I will be tapping and repairing the port in the head.
 
Roger,
The manual looks like a glow plug is similar to a spark plug in design and should thread out.

Hopefully your threads are still good.

Too late now, but often times when something like these are hard to remove it is best to start the engine first and warm it up, then try removing.

Good luck.

,
 

Attachments

  • RTV1100 2009 Glow Plug.jpg
    RTV1100 2009 Glow Plug.jpg
    54.6 KB · Views: 175
The first was a cold try, then when I saw trouble coming I heated the motor and soaked them with lubricant. Maybe I should have let it get much warmer.
I am sure my threads are ruined. Does that awesome manual show what thread them are? I am certain I will be needing a helicoil thread repair kit.
 
No the manual does not show the thread size.

Usually metric 8mm 10mm or 12mm and probably with a fine thread.

You will need a new glow plug to get the dimensions.
 
I have heard of glow plugs swelling on the end preventing them from coming out. i have also heard of carbon build up doing the same thing. if you think it might be carbon you could try soaking the ends with deep creep by sea foam to soften the carbon. be careful not to pull to hard because if the plug separates you will have to pull the head.
 
Rogerwh0 said:
That is good information. Hopefully I have the carbon build up. What causes them to swell?
Click to expand...

the tip can swell or even melt when they burn out. this was common in Ford 7.3 powerstroke engines. the sea foam deep creep will soften the carbon and i would start with this first. next is to try to twist the glow plug while pulling with some vise grips or needle nose type vise grip pliers. just make sure you are pulling on the element side of the plug as not to separate the tip from the body of the plug and allow it to drop into the head. after you get the plug out i would blow the chamber out with compressed air and turn the engine over by hand without the new plugs in to make sure you aren't fluid locked from all of the sea foam.
 
since i am a new owner and this is my first kubota i have been scouring any and all info i can get my hands on. i have found reference in the owners manual to only glow the plugs for a few seconds above 30 degree F and only up to five seconds down to very very cold. my dealer told me to glow for 15 seconds. i think some of us might be overheating these plugs and causing the ends to melt and possibly swell. I know there are different timed glow plugs such as slow glow and quick glow that need different times to do the same job.
 
I have a scag zero turn mower with a Kubota diesel engine in it and it has an automatic timer for the glow plugs. When you turn on the ign switch a light comes on showing the glow plugs are on and when the light goes out the plugs are off and it is ready to crank. In severe cold weather I may have to cycle it twice in order for it to crank. Wonder if someone could rig up a deal like that on these rtvs? Just a rambling thought.IMG_0059.jpg
 
So this is where I ended up. Had to drill them all out which turned into pulling the head off to retrieve the tip of the element. Not as bad as I was expecting but I am only half way done. Does anyone have the torque specs and procedure for the head install?
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2907.jpg
    IMG_2907.jpg
    78.3 KB · Views: 115
  • IMG_2912.jpg
    IMG_2912.jpg
    121 KB · Views: 112
  • IMG_2906.jpg
    IMG_2906.jpg
    89.5 KB · Views: 114
The really unfortunate part is I never was able to test the plugs. I had to completely ruin them to remove. The threads are countersunk into the head so any and all moisture will seep into the threads in the head the corrode them beyond repair. The hollow nature of the glow plug is not a very strong item to remove. I had soaked them for 3 days with Blaster and still had to drill completely through.
 
more info
 

Attachments

  • 1229140924a.jpg
    1229140924a.jpg
    53.6 KB · Views: 107
  • 1229140924b.jpg
    1229140924b.jpg
    51.5 KB · Views: 107
  • 1229140925.jpg
    1229140925.jpg
    52.4 KB · Views: 108
wOw!!!! Thats a lot of work. Thanks for sharing your unfortunate experience with the glow plugs. I know I will be more aware and just use them only minimally from now on.

Thanks for sharing the info and your photos.
keifer
 
May have been the only glitch on his machine.One never knows as this is the first time we have seen this issue.
Up here in the great white north I have to use mine and there is no way around it.Maybe he had a bad set of plugs.I know on mine in the summer there is no need for them but when it gets cold around freezing ill apply them for 5 to 10 seconds and it starts right up.On days below zero I may have to go 15 to 20 seconds.It could be a matter of fuel quality to maybe even water in the fuel that caused it.
I always use additive during summer and winter.Diesel is a very dirty fuel to begin with.I always filter it before adding to my machine.I buy what is needed and pour it into my 55 gallon holding tank.Then pump it in my machine through 2 fuel filters to me sure its dirt free.This has reduced my fuel filter changes from about every 4 months to once a year.I could probably go longer but I make sure things are changed on my yearly fluid services.
 
Rogerwh0 said:
I had soaked them for 3 days with Blaster and still had to drill completely through.
Click to expand...
May I suggest you look for a product called Kroil? It works a lot better than PB. There's also a mix you can use with brake fluid and something else that works very well but I don't recall what the "something else" is.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top