Help 4 cylinder spark boot stuck in the tube

[Sturdavj]

What's the trick for getting the lower rubber doughnut/ spark plug boot out of the tube.

I was changing my plugs and all but one came up, it's in the bottom of the tube I can't get the old spark plug out

[Doctor J]

Stiff wire hook worked for me

[Sturdavj]

It’s the #3 cylinder of course…. And I was running short on time, can you think of a better set up for frustration ?

I attempted to make a hook out of a windshield wiper strong back, I think my bend was a little long. I’ll shorten it up and try again.

I was also considering welding a sheet metal screw on the end of rod and see if I could screw it into the top of the boot.

I’ll let you know how it works out

Thanks for the help

[Mike Gerber]

A long needle nose pliers also works well. You can usually grab the boot from the top of the boot and pull it up.

Mike

[89Camry89]

The same thing happened to me once with 2 of the plugs. I was about as frustrated as possible.

Neither of my sets of needle nosed pliers were long enough. I tried a lot of things that didn't work.

I think for one of them I forced a spark plug socket down the hole and hammered it until the great force of it distorted the rubber thing enough that it got a grip on the hex part of the plug enough to remove it. The piece was torn or something, there was a reason that this was possible.

As for the other one, I think I used a hemostat (a medical surgical tool) but the tool alone wasn't enough - it kept slipping off. I slathered the tips in super glue, put it into the hole, clamped down and waited 30 minutes. I worked it out of there when the glue was dry, then cleaned off the tool.

I was sure to rip off any remaining rubber pieces from the other plug wires. Never again will any object like that enter my spark plug tubes.

[Sturdavj]

I got Er' done. What a PITA

I tried two sets of long reach needle nose pliers, a medium size pair and a smaller electrical size, there was not enough room in the tube or enough shoulder on the grommet to grab hold of.

I ended up welding a # ten screw on the end of a 3/16" rod, then welded a T-handle on it. I was able to grab enough meat on the second attempt to remove it. It was split up the side.

Thanks for the help