What are these little round barrels with threads used for? On the spark plugs I pulled out of my 560SEL, these were not attached nor are they in the spark plug cables. I have a sneaking suspision that they are threaded to the top of the spark plug and are what the cable snaps onto, but these are the first spark plugs I've ever dealt with ever, and I'm 26 years old. Was the prior wrench turner on my car further showing their incompetance by not having any of these on my old spark plugs???

Thanks for the info!


Scott

I have never seen a mercedes gas engine that uses the little nipples. Some american cars use them and some pickups use them...Pull a plug wire and try putting it on a new plug with the nipple on it. It will not go onto the nipple...goodluck Jim

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James A. Harris

Thanks for the heads-up! Anymore I wouldn't be surprised at something being messed up by the Mercedes Dealership in New York that previously maintained this vehicle. They did such a poor job it should be criminal. They even left a parts number sticker (the ones that are about 5 inches wide and 1/4 inch thick on the passenger's head gasket covering part of the bead, so it wouldn't have surprised me to see that they pooched the spark plugs as well! (that coupled with my newness to spark plugs in general!

Thanks again, hopefully this beast will come alive again soon!


Scott

Some engines have a spark plug cap that uses the threaded rod, usually with a spring-clip cap.

Some 70's Mopars had a molded spark cap, but a fitting inside that slipped over the barrel adapter, and would fall off if you didn't screw it on. (Ask me how I know. )

Still other engines, like our Briggs & Stratton 5hp side valve, and a Tecumseh 2-stroke 1hp tiller, have an uninsulated "O" shaped spark end that slips over the barrel. Crude, but cheap and effective.

Older cars also had this type of spark wire end. Really, really old cars.

Spark plug manufacturers have no way of knowing which application you have, so each plug is shipped with the adapter barrel.

They've been doing this for 30+ years that I know of.

Best Regards,
Jim