Glow Plug Reamer broke off in hole!!

[Rooster300SD]

While reaming out a crusty glow plug hole, I forced the tool
too much and 1/4 inch broke off the end and is stuck in the hole.

Do I need to pull the prechamber?

I don't have the removal tools so I was thinking of this:
I have a strong magnet I can put inside the prechamber
I was thinking of trying to force the end of the bit on through
and catching it with the magnet.

Your advice would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks,
Jeff

[babyjames]

If you remove the injector and heat shield, you can probably get in there with a 90* pick and push the broken piece out the way it came in.

If not, crank the engine around until both valves are closed on that cylinder and use compressed air to blast it out. Wrap a rag around your blowgun tip and jam it into the top of the prebucket. Pull the trigger!

Jay.

[Rooster300SD]

Thanks Baby James,

I used a long allen wrench to get into the hole,
braced up behind that with a long file with a narrow end
on it and banged away with a mallet til it gave way.

Then with some air pressure from above and a strong
magnet at the glow plug hole--poof! the chunk came out
onto the magnet. There were a lot of little shavings in there,
as well. Hopefully, nothing is left.

Thanks again, James--- I'll sleep better tonight!

Jeff

[layback40]

Rooster,
You were #*~#**# lucky !!! Normally a magnet doesnt have the strength unless the object is loose. With luck like that, you should go buy a lottery ticket !!

[Diesel911]

How about some pics of the Reamer?

[Rooster300SD]

Here's the photos of the broken reamer and the tip
that was embedded in the carbon.
Look at all the little shavings that came out--pretty scary!

[Diesel911]

That looks like a Glow Plug Reamer from Merced*s Sourc*.

But, reamers are hardend and can be brittle so I guess it can happen with any makers Glow Plug Reamer.

Are you running only Diesel Fuel?

[Rooster300SD]

[QUOTE=Diesel911;2378901]That looks like a Glow Plug Reamer from Merced*s Sourc*.

Yes that was who made the reamer.

It broke on the last glow plug hole behind the oil filter.
I don't think it had ever been reamed out in 25 years.
I tried to force it in too hard when it broke--I never even
got the threads started in the hole.

I run WVO in a coolant heated system and I recently added
a second tank in the trunk for regular fuel to start and stop
the car with.

Jeff

[pawoSD]

That is why when I have a glow plug fail, I just install a new glow plug.....and I've never had any issues, still starts down to 0F and the glow plugs last a really long time. (3.5 years on the current set so far, even with afterglow)

[Stevo]

Originally Posted by pawoSD

That is why when I have a glow plug fail, I just install a new glow plug.....

Just to clarify, You mean, you never 'ream"? I never have but I dont put that many miles on my cars and not many are at a low RPM.

Originally Posted by Stevo

Just to clarify, You mean, you never 'ream"? I never have but I dont put that many miles on my cars and not many are at a low RPM.

I have never reamed a GP in about 350K miles of driving 616/617 engines. I simply replace GPs when the burn out. My driving is almost all highway.

[Stevo]

Originally Posted by Craig

I have never reamed a GP in about 350K miles of driving 616/617 engines. I simply replace GPs when the burn out. My driving is almost all highway.

Interesting, so I'm not the only one, Thanks

[Shawn T. W.]

I did ream mine. . . but not much came out . . .

[scottmcphee]

Is there more than one size reamer? It looks like a lot of metal filings on that magnet, which are not carbon. I wonder if you were enlarging the glow hole? Certainly reamed it.

I haven't reamed when I replaced, and some new ones (different brand) where stiff to push in. That should have been a signal to me.. learned of reaming only after the fact. And now the manifold is back on, I'm hesitant to re-do the glow job with reaming... But will probably do that soon because I don't want the broken plug syndrome when I *really* need to change one out.

I was wondering if a properly sized drill bit would be a good way to go to ream the carbon, instead of buying the ream tool. Was going to get the source tool like yours but now this scares me.

Drill bit viable? Was thinking maybe a right-angle drill chuck could get at the hole.. not sure. But even turning it by hand might do the trick.

[Shawn T. W.]

Scott, I made my own, like others have . . . Starts at post #20 My weird to me glow plug situation . . .

Fingers are fine . . .