So I was putting a new spark plug in the ATC 70...

[Nemesis-Z250]

And I was gonna be good and do everything by the book, so I bust out the torque wrench. 8.0-10.8 lb/ft it says in the ATC maintenance manual. I set the wrench on just under 10 and start to tighten the plug after getting it finger tight....tighten, tighten, tighten, SNAP! The torque wrench never clicked.

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/1924/sparkplug004resizedb4.th.jpg (http://img213.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sparkplug004resizedb4.jpg)

Frustrated, I drove to Auto Zone and bought a 5-piece screw remover set. I cut a gun cleaning patch in half and stuffed one half down the hole with a drill bit to keep any metal shavings that might come loose from making their way into the cylinder. It worked out great, and with a No.3 OEM tools screw remover and a T-handle, the threaded portion of the plug came right out very easily.

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/8487/sparkplug003resizenh7.th.jpg (http://img75.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sparkplug003resizenh7.jpg)

My old plug still works; I was just going to treat the 70 to a new one. I decided to forgo the torque wrench this time and do it the old tried and true method; get it finger tight, and then tighten it 'a little bit' and call it good. She fired right up.

The torque wrench is a Pittsburgh Tools wrench from Harbor Freight. I should have known better.

[TravEX]

Crap, I've never seen that happen! Defective plug? I've tighten the dog snot out of em before! Glad you got it out.

[HEAD09]

i have the same torque wrench and she doesnt do well at lower torque setting...besides that i just think you had a bad plug

[Nemesis-Z250]

I think it may be a combination of bad plug and bad torque wrench both. I picked up the plug (NGK) from the local Honda dealer just a few hours ago. I'm going to drive back over there on Monday and show them the result. I'm leaving the broken threaded end on the t-handle. Hopefully I'll get a free plug out of the deal.

[KASEY]

man your dam lucky you didn't pull the threads out of the head!!!! the crush washer on a plug is there for a reason,,, with a new plug you can feel it crush ,, and thats tight enough,,, i would never use a torque wrench on a plug,,,

[Taiser]

What brand is the plug = AVOID!!!!

[Dirtcrasher]

I always use the same procedure.....

New plug - 1/2 turn after you feel the crush washer contact.

Used plug - 1/4 turn after you feel the crush washer contact.

Thats great that you got it out though

[Nemesis-Z250]

What brand is the plug = AVOID!!!!

It was an NGK.

[TravEX]

That wasn't the reason. NGK makes excellent plugs.

[rdlsz24]

I've never used a torque wrench on a spark plug. I go by feel with them rather than torque specs.

Rob