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srh · 06-09-2018, 05:20 AM

Hello, All,
I was trying to take out my generator spark arrest cleanout plug. It is so tight and somewhat hard to access. The plug is made of real soft material and I stripped it. I even took the side cover off to have a better access and tried to use a pipe wrench but to no avail.
Any ideas how to take it out?
Here is a pic:

1doodadd · 06-09-2018, 07:09 AM

I have had the same thing happen and I used my Map gas cylinder I use to sweat copper fittings together. Once it gets hot use a pair of vice grips and take it off with them.

bruceisla · 06-09-2018, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1doodadd

I have had the same thing happen and I used my Map gas cylinder I use to sweat copper fittings together. Once it gets hot use a pair of vice grips and take it off with them.

Ditto. BTW, Mapp gas is a hotter flame than propane.

Traps90 · 06-09-2018, 07:28 AM

I had the same problem but used a penetrating oil. That I soaked it with. I soaked it every couple of days for a week or so.
Then used a socket that tightened down on the bolt as you torqued on it.

I now use a good shot anti-seize on it. Comes out fairly easy.

C&SL · 06-09-2018, 07:41 AM

Just curious, how much do you get out of it when you remove the plug?

srh · 06-09-2018, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceisla

Ditto. BTW, Mapp gas is a hotter flame than propane.

Thank you, and 1doodadd very much - great idea!

srh · 06-09-2018, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C&SL

Just curious, how much do you get out of it when you remove the plug?

Don't know yet for sure, but the Onan Gen. Manual says to do it every 250 hours. From the looks of it, it doesn't look like it has been done - not for a while anyway!

Spk64 · 06-09-2018, 09:07 AM

When I clean out our 7.5k. There is about 1/4 teaspoon of black carbon.
Doing it annually keeps the bolt from locking up. First time mine was really tight. Ever since it is easy to remove.

srh · 06-09-2018, 09:19 AM

While we are on the subject, does anyone know what size plug does the 12.5KW Spark Arrest uses?
Thanks

distaff · 06-09-2018, 09:21 AM

I'm pretty sure mine is a 10K, but it comes with the same manuals so probably very similar. I didn't have any trouble getting mine off, but I had the top off the unit at the time to replace the belts at the rear.

While I had the lid off I thought it was pretty dumb to provide no access to a part that requires periodic maintenance, so I cut a hole in the lid and made an access panel out of a piece of 3/8ths flat aluminium. Very easy to get at now.

BTW I got almost NO soot out of mine when I cleaned it.

srh · 06-09-2018, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by distaff

I'm pretty sure mine is a 10K, but it comes with the same manuals so probably very similar. I didn't have any trouble getting mine off, but I had the top off the unit at the time to replace the belts at the rear.

While I had the lid off I thought it was pretty dumb to provide no access to a part that requires periodic maintenance, so I cut a hole in the lid and made an access panel out of a piece of 3/8ths flat aluminium. Very easy to get at now.

BTW I got almost NO soot out of mine when I cleaned it.

Great idea! A hole on the side in line with where the plug is would be a much better way to take it off. How big a hole did you cut and what did you use to cut it with?

distaff · 06-09-2018, 01:14 PM

On mine I cut the hole in the top, not the side. I used a drill and a jig saw with a hacksaw blade to cut the hole, just the jig saw for the aluminium cover, plus a little filing to smooth out the edges. . Took about 10 minutes.

The hole is about 6 by 8 inches. I screwed the part I cut out to the bottom of the aluminium plate I made, and screwed it to the lid so I have the original insulation and steel under the aluminium. Just used self tapping metal screws.

The hole is right over the spark arrestor.

srh · 06-09-2018, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by distaff

On mine I cut the hole in the top, not the side. I used a drill and a jig saw with a hacksaw blade to cut the hole, just the jig saw for the aluminium cover, plus a little filing to smooth out the edges. . Took about 10 minutes.

The hole is about 6 by 8 inches. I screwed the part I cut out to the bottom of the aluminium plate I made, and screwed it to the lid so I have the original insulation and steel under the aluminium. Just used self tapping metal screws.

The hole is right over the spark arrestor.

My spark arrest plug is 12-14 inches down from the top and it is very hard to get to it. That was partly the reason for stripping it. An access to it from the side will only be 2 to 3 of inches from the side. I might use your idea and make a hole on the side. Thank you very much for the explanation.

srh · 07-08-2018, 07:21 AM

I didn't have much luck with taking the plug out even after I heated it several times, and actually drilled through the plug with 1/4" drill bit. I took it to a shop, they took the plug out and also discovered that the muffler had a crack and they welded that too. So, all is well and, once again, thank you all for your helpful suggestions!