Chain Saw Spark Plugs

[deak54]

Are the fouled out spark plugs from my chain saws actually junk or is there a way to clean them for reuse?

[dancerman]

You can try cleaning them in some carbon tetra or similar solvent but unless you are using them quickly just go with new. If your using more than one a season then your saw needs adjustment or repair.

[Saltmine]

Most sparkplugs are almost impossible to clean with chemicals. The main component of the fouling is carbon, which resists almost everything....In the "olden days" we used a small sand blaster to scour the carbon off. You had to be careful not to erode the insulator material and clean all of the sand blast media out of the plugs, once they were clean. Today, sparkplugs are meant to be thrown away when they become unservicable, not cleaned. Like Dancerman said, your saw probably needs servicing or adjustment. A clogged air filter, bad fuel, or an out-of-adjustment carburator can foul plugs rapidly.

[deak54]

Kinda what I figured Saltmine....but I thought one of you might have a suggestion. Thanks Dancerman...I'll at least give that a shot and see what happens.

[justen]

I used a steel brush on my grinder on the bench to clean the plug first, then squirt a little brake cleaner on it and kinda wash it out. Then I dry it off and cut a bunch of wood with it. Not uncommon to clean them. Trick is, if your spark plugs has alot of oil. To limit some of that oil when you mix it with the gas. I guess it takes a while to know. My saw says a 50 mix ratio. Well I got it down to about 40 now. It was getting a little to much oil. I call that saw old smokey ;) She'll cut anything, but smoke like heck doing it lol. It's a old old german husqvarna saw. Doesn't have any safety features you see on these new saws. It's heavy too.

[Saltmine]

Yesterday, at the store, I was thinking about cleaning sparkplugs....When I turned around, there, hanging on the wall behind me was a small, air powered, sparkplug sand blaster....and some bags of sand blasting media....We're probably the only parts store for miles that even stocks these gadgets....

I'm surprised you can even start your chainsaw after cleaning the plug with a wire brush on your grinder....I tried that once and metal from the brush got embedded in the porcelain, and the plug wouldn't fire....at all...I eventually had to replace the plug...after a vigorous right arm workout....

[danny]

correct me if i am wrong but isn't 50:1 50 parts fuel to 1 part oil and 40:1 40 parts fuel to 1 part oil? if this is correct then wouldn't 40:1 be richer in oil?

[dancerman]

correct me if i am wrong but isn't 50:1 50 parts fuel to 1 part oil and 40:1 40 parts fuel to 1 part oil? if this is correct then wouldn't 40:1 be richer in oil?


Sounds right.