The spark plug is an electrode fitted in a ceramic; this ceramic isn't flexible. Crack it, knacker it and it doesn't do its insulating job any more. You are better off bending the curved over bit (name???) to get the gap right...

...but at least you checked the gap and didn't just keep on trucking!

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!