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spark plugs and cooling baffles

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sarg314(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 2:52 pm Post subject: spark plugs and cooling baffles

I just tried to put plugs in my engine (IO-360-B2B) today and found that the cooling baffles make it impossible to get a deep socket on the aft, top plugs (on 3 and 4). Â Actually, I can get the socket on OK, there just isn't room between the socket and the cooling baffle to get the ratchet wrench or even just a simple breaker bar on the socket. Â Now, I don't have a real aircraft spark plug socket, just a 7/8" Home Depot socket, so maybe the real thing is a bit shorter? Â I should mention that since I made a cooling plenum for my engine, my baffles are 1 or 1.5 inches shorter than they would be without the plenum. Â So, there's no problem on cyl. 1 and 2. 



Every one must run into this same problem. Â Will I have to hack an access hole in the baffles to get a socket extension in there? Â Or will ordering a spark plug socket from Aircraft Spruce solve my problem?

 



Gee, I thought putting in the plugs would be easy.

-- 

Tom Sargent, RV-6A final assembly.

 

  [quote][b]

s.hamer(at)verizon.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 4:12 pm Post subject: spark plugs and cooling baffles

I had the same problem with the Autolite plugs  that came with my engine.  The Champion plugs are a bit shorter and will  allow a socket and ratchet to fit in there.  That's what worked for  me.

  

 Steve Hamer

 RV-6 flying

 Apple Valley, Ca

 [quote]   ---

wgill10(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 5:05 pm Post subject: spark plugs and cooling baffles

Tom,

  

 This is very common problem with RV's as well  as certified ships. The top of an aircraft plug socket is a 7/8 inch hex and  well suited for a wrench or socket. Simply use a crow-feet wrench on the socket  hex and you should be fine.

  

 Bill

 RV-7 N151WP

 Lee's Summit, MO

  

 [quote]   ---

HCRV6(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 5:09 pm Post subject: spark plugs and cooling baffles

Or do as I did and buy an offset box wrench, Craftsman makes a good one, and use that on those aft two plugs.  I rotate plugs every fifty hours and never have a problem using this wrench.  Oh yes, I did have to do a little grinding so that that the wrench fits deeper into the cylinder fins because the hex on my Champion plugs is lower than the hex on the Autolites.



Harry Crosby

RV-6 N16CX, 650 hours



---

kboatright1(at)comcast.ne
Guest

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 6:10 pm Post subject: spark plugs and cooling baffles

The newer (OK, newer than my circa 1999 baffles)  come with punched openings in the baffle sides which provide a pass through for  a socket extension.  You could do something similar and  use snap-in plugs to provide access.

  

 Kyle Boatright  

 [quote]   ---

chaskuss(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:11 pm Post subject: spark plugs and cooling baffles

Tom,

 If you have the room, use a universal and an extension. If the universal won't fit, use a "wobble" extension. Wobble extensions act as a sort of mini universal. The extension can be tipped up to 15 degrees to clear obstructions. 

 Snap On [high end], Harbor Freight [low end] and everyone in between offers these extensions. They really are a "must have" for anyone's tool box. See the links below.



http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=67459&group_ID 41&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog



http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=31203



Charlie Kuss



--- On Sat, 1/2/10, thomas sargent <sarg314(at)gmail.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   From: thomas sargent <sarg314(at)gmail.com>

 Subject: spark plugs and cooling baffles

 To: "rv-list" <rv-list(at)matronics.com>

 Date: Saturday, January 2, 2010, 5:51 PM

 I just tried to put plugs in my engine

 (IO-360-B2B) today and found that the cooling baffles make

 it impossible to get a deep socket on the aft, top plugs (on

 3 and 4).  Actually, I can get the socket on OK, there just

 isn't room between the socket and the cooling baffle to

 get the ratchet wrench or even just a simple breaker bar on

 the socket.  Now, I don't have a real aircraft spark

 plug socket, just a 7/8" Home Depot socket, so maybe

 the real thing is a bit shorter?  I should mention that

 since I made a cooling plenum for my engine, my baffles are

 1 or 1.5 inches shorter than they would be without the

 plenum.  So, there's no problem on cyl. 1 and 2.

 

 Every one must run into this same problem.

  Will I have to hack an access hole in the baffles to get a

 socket extension in there?  Or will ordering a spark plug

 socket from Aircraft Spruce solve my problem?

 

 Gee, I thought putting in the plugs would be

 easy.

 

 -- 

 Tom Sargent, RV-6A final assembly.

denis.walsh(at)comcast.ne
Guest

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:14 pm Post subject: spark plugs and cooling baffles

I  have also used a box wrench for the rear top plugs.  After a couple of years I switched to REM 37BY  which are an authorized sub for the O 360.  they are are a little shorter on the outside and will just barely allow the plug wrench on my standard baffles  circa 1996.On Jan 2, 2010, at 7:07 PM, Kyle Boatright wrote:

[quote]The newer (OK, newer than my circa 1999 baffles) come with punched openings in the baffle sides which provide a pass through for a socket extension.  You could do something similar and use snap-in plugs to provide access.

 

Kyle Boatright 

[quote]---

bobbyhester(at)newwavecom
Guest

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:22 pm Post subject: spark plugs and cooling baffles

When I pulled the plugs on buddies RV9A I used an aircraft spark plug socket which was a 3/8" drive and a 6" wobble extension with a ratchet. That combo worked fine!

 

 I have auto plugs up my uppers so things are different on mine, easier.

  	  Quote: 	
		  ----

Surfing the web from Hopkinsville, KY

Visit my web site:

http://home.newwavecomm.net/bobbyhester/RVSite.htm

	
 

 

 thomas sargent wrote: [quote]I just tried to put plugs in my engine (IO-360-B2B) today and found that the cooling baffles make it impossible to get a deep socket on the aft, top plugs (on 3 and 4). Â Actually, I can get the socket on OK, there just isn't room between the socket and the cooling baffle to get the ratchet wrench or even just a simple breaker bar on the socket. Â Now, I don't have a real aircraft spark plug socket, just a 7/8" Home Depot socket, so maybe the real thing is a bit shorter? Â I should mention that since I made a cooling plenum for my engine, my baffles are 1 or 1.5 inches shorter than they would be without the plenum. Â So, there's no problem on cyl. 1 and 2.   

   

   Every one must run into this same problem. Â Will I have to hack an access hole in the baffles to get a socket extension in there? Â Or will ordering a spark plug socket from Aircraft Spruce solve my problem?

   

   

   Gee, I thought putting in the plugs would be easy.   

 -- 

 Tom Sargent, RV-6A final assembly.

   

    	  Quote: 	
		  



 href="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List

 href="http://forums.matronics.com">http://forums.matronics.com

 href="http://www.matronics.com/contribution">http://www.matronics.com/contribution



	
 [b]

recapen(at)earthlink.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 5:24 am Post subject: spark plugs and cooling baffles

I have Vans baffle kit interfacing to a SJ plenum.  I put  the socket on the plug - then put the extension on the socket.  My plenum  sits low enough for this to work.  It wouldn't work with the extension  already on the socket.

  

 Ralph

 [quote]   ---

dan.pat.b(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 12:42 pm Post subject: spark plugs and cooling baffles

Tom:I have an RV-7A but the RV-6 should be the same.  You will have to cut an access hole in the baffle in order to get into the socket with an extension.  The hole then gets covered over with a piece of .032 aluminum, secured with a nutplate and 8-32 screw. 

 Keep at it - it took my wife and me 6 1/2 years, but it's well worth it; these are incredible flying machines. 

Dan Bergeron

RV-7A  -  N307TB

76 hours since first flight on 8/4/09 

     at Northampton Airport (7B2), MA    

On Sat, Jan 2, 2010 at 5:51 PM, thomas sargent <sarg314(at)gmail.com (sarg314(at)gmail.com)> wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		  I just tried to put plugs in my engine (IO-360-B2B) today and found that the cooling baffles make it impossible to get a deep socket on the aft, top plugs (on 3 and 4).  Actually, I can get the socket on OK, there just isn't room between the socket and the cooling baffle to get the ratchet wrench or even just a simple breaker bar on the socket.  Now, I don't have a real aircraft spark plug socket, just a 7/8" Home Depot socket, so maybe the real thing is a bit shorter?  I should mention that since I made a cooling plenum for my engine, my baffles are 1 or 1.5 inches shorter than they would be without the plenum.  So, there's no problem on cyl. 1 and 2.  



Every one must run into this same problem.  Will I have to hack an access hole in the baffles to get a socket extension in there?  Or will ordering a spark plug socket from Aircraft Spruce solve my problem?

  



Gee, I thought putting in the plugs would be easy.

-- 

Tom Sargent, RV-6A final assembly.

 

  ==== t="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List tp://forums.matronics.com _blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution  

[/b] 	
[b]

davist(at)xsinet.co.za
Guest

Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 12:53 am Post subject: spark plugs and cooling baffles

Tom 

 Another way to cover the holes would be to extend the baffle material  downwards to cover the hole.  1/2" larger should work fine - the pressure  will keep it covering the hole in flight

 regards

 Trevor RV-7 

   [quote][b]

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