Sprint cylinder head sticker

[PaulB]

Does anyone know whether it is possible to buy the small yellow sticker which goes on the Sprint cam cover. The one which says not to over tighten the spark plugs.

I got one years ago when I restored EFR, but can't find them now.

[Len Hughes]

Hi Paul,

Is this for VA6? I'm not sure very early cars had them, I'm sure someone more knowledgeable like MikeB will be along to give you the definitive answer.

I've had a look at the original sales brochure and at the B&W photos that came with the Press Pack and none of the cam cover shots show the sticker.

There isn't one on mine (VA369) but anything could have happened to it over the last 40 odd years. (Bit like the owner really!)

Rimmers do a set which includes the yellow one under Part No.: RT1207 £18.74 and looks to be in stock.

Len

[SprintMWU773V]

Rimmers definitely do one and I think also you can get them on Ebay from time to time. Maybe ANG do them too?

[trackerjack]

The Ford Cosworth V8 that powered Lotus F1 cars in the hands of Graham Hill and Jim Clark were one of the first engines to use the small taper thread plugs such as Sprints use.
Mechanics were often overtightening them and causing massive failures of the blow up kind that the mechanics were all given torque wrenches set correctly and told that if they were seen not using them they would be sacked.
The failures ceased

I am still puzzled why some folk do plugs up so tight

[red&black]

Pm me your address and I'll post you one.

James

[shaunroche]

Off at a slight tangent I know, but is this spark plug socket suitable for the sprint, does it fit down the plug tubes?

Anyone have any experience of them or be able to suggest an alternative?

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GAT140

[GrahamFountain]

Don't know if that one fits, but I had one very like it some years ago, and it didn't.

Now, I use a standard 3/8th drive 14 mm plug socket on a long locking extention, so the socket always comes off the plug on insertion.

However, once the rubbers have been oiled up a bit, they come out of the socket and stay on the plugs. So - as probably many others do - I have two sockets: one with a rubber insert for pulling them, and one without for putting the plugs back.

'Spect I could glue the rubbers in. But for the cost of a second socket, why bother?

Graham.

[tony g]

Ive been using the same snap on socket for plugs for 20 years and it still holds on to the plug no problem.

Tony

[GrahamFountain]

Ive been using the same snap on socket for plugs for 20 years and it still holds on to the plug no problem.

It's only a problem if it holds on to the plug when putting the plugs in, because the plug cap don't go over the socket too well. But the perishing rubbers (perishing rubbers!) is probably down to using the plug sockets out of them cheap socket sets - it's normaly only the drives that are crap really.

Graham

[shaunroche]

Out of interest, what is the internal diameter of the club supplied plug tubes....bigger than 16mm dia?

[Dolly-Nut]

About 17mm. The socket will fit fine.