removing glow plugs - Diesel Forum

paul1016 · 01-26-2007, 05:32 PM

how do you find tdc with a diesel? I was told to do this so if the glow plug is broke you can get the pieces out. 1988 ford f350 7.3 stock

luckys420 · 01-26-2007, 05:36 PM

I dont think you have to worry about it unless one actually breaks. If one does break you can bring that piston up to TDC ( sight? feeler stick?) so its easier to fetch.

Powerstrokedogg · 01-26-2007, 08:35 PM

i would just try removing them first, you will know if you have a problem

when your unscrewing them if they don't slide right out they might be a little carboned up, usually soaking them down with some carb clean does the trick

DevoK12RS · 01-26-2007, 09:42 PM

[ QUOTE ]
how do you find tdc with a diesel? I was told to do this so if the glow plug is broke you can get the pieces out. 1988 ford f350 7.3 stock

[/ QUOTE ]
Try this thread.
Best of luck,
Devo

Airmotive · 01-27-2007, 11:00 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I dont think you have to worry about it unless one actually breaks. If one does break you can bring that piston up to TDC ( sight? feeler stick?) so its easier to fetch.

[/ QUOTE ]

+1
Just try to remove them first. If you find one or more are stuck, then I'd worry about getting the pistons up there to protect against broken tips.
After reading all the horror stories, I was more than a little hesitant as well. Fortunately, the old plugs came right out without a hitch.

cdnsarguy · 01-27-2007, 11:11 AM

YOU MUST have the piston at TDC before the tip breaks off (if it is going too). Unless the tip is stuck in the hole it will most certainly drop into the cylinder and the heads must come off. No it won't pass out the exhaust..........

Visit......... http://www.members.shaw.ca/k2pilot/ read his article before starting on any unknown GP brand/condition installed.

luckys420 · 01-27-2007, 01:01 PM

so i must admit i did not do much ( if any) research before removing my glow plugs. if a tip broke off, my plan was to remove the injector, bring the piston to TDC and suck with a vacuum. Not a good plan i suppose? I assumed the tip would fall in the injector no matter what.

i guess its a good plan to listen to the pros!

DevoK12RS · 01-27-2007, 11:13 PM

As long as the broken tip stays in the prechamber, you're plan works perfectly. If it falls out of the prechamber into the cylinder, you're most likely out of luck. The hole in the prechamber is actually surprisingly small (That's the prechamber removed from the head in the upper left corner of the pic). I doubt the tip would ever come back out that hole. Not to mention, I think I read the gap between piston and prechamber is only 30 thousandths. The tip would likely be pinched if you raised the piston to TDC after the tip fell into the cylinder.

Is going thru all that overkill? Maybe, but I'd rather take 2 minutes (literally) to disconnect the FSS and put a ratchet on the front and turn the cylinder to TDC.

Best of luck,
Devo

arthurgoboom · 01-27-2007, 11:52 PM

I've seen that mention of disconnecting the FSS before turning the engine over by hand/with ratchet several times since joining this site. Has an engine actually started running like that?

DevoK12RS · 01-27-2007, 11:59 PM

I can't even conceive a way that the engine would start while turning over by hand. We're constantly preached to about good batteries and starters because these engines need speed to start. However, I've read that reference numerous times and wouldn't want to be responsible for someone getting a hand laid open or pounded by a suddenly flying fan blade.

I still don't see how it could start though.... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

Devo

Powerstrokedogg · 01-28-2007, 08:36 AM

to start these you have to have atleast 9 volts going to the shutdown solenoid to operate it