The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

I expect many have seen these 10 inch long sockets with a magnet, not a rubber bung in the end. But for those who haven't or wonder if they fit down the plug tubes, I just got one and it fits perfectly.

My problem has always been that I don't worry about the plug tubes leaking a little oil. So it does tend to collect round the plugs, and get the rubber bung in the plug socket very oily when changing plugs or setting the mixture. That, as I'm sure other's have found, is a problem, because the bung then tends to stick to the plug better than the socket, when you're putting the plugs in, and you can't get the plug caps on. The other problem is the plug socket tends to come off the extension and stays down hole with the plug.

What I've been using for 20+ years is one of those 3/8ths extensions with a locking mechanism on the socket end, a socket with a rubber bung in it to take the plugs out, and another without a bung to put them back. However, the bungs only last so long before they perish, and I have to buy another plug socket. And that can be a problem in it's own right. I also end up with a shed load (about 4 currently) of sockets for putting plugs in.

Yes, I could clean the bung properly after every use. But, I think, just taking the bung out to clean it increases the chances of it not staying in the socket, and I ain't that godly anyway.

This is, I think, a much better solution, and really well worth the £10 I paid on an eBay auction.

Graham

Graham that looks like a good idea, hard to see on the picture, is the part no. Laser 3681 ?

dursley92 wrote:Graham that looks like a good idea, hard to see on the picture, is the part no. Laser 3681 ?

No. I've used the wrong picture of a 14 mm not a 10 (doh!). The correct one is 3682. There a few for £15 ish on ebay, but looks like eBay seller
great.choices has run out at the price I paid.

Graham

Would this be the chap?

http://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/ ... GwodqbwF6A

I just use a loose fitting socket and pull the plug out on its own with a length of rubber pipe....

Jonners

Ictoan wrote:Would this be the chap?

http://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/ ... GwodqbwF6A

Yes. 4 quid more than I paid, but probably still worth it.

The rubber tube idea is good though. Is the bit of pipe you have to cut of a grimmer heater feed (which I just binned) long enough for that, Jon?
Still, now I've this, I don't need it.

Graham

Looked again and you can get a Sealey AK654, 3/8 drive normal sized but magnetic socket for less than £10 delivered. Might have to try one of those.

dursley92 wrote:Looked again and you can get a Sealey AK654, 3/8 drive normal sized but magnetic socket for less than £10 delivered. Might have to try one of those.

The problem with any normal sized socket (that will fit down the hole) is the socket sticking to the plug better than the extension, and staying down hole when you're putting plugs back.

I know that depends on the strength of the spring behind the BB in the extension, relative to the strength of the magnet. But if it happens with your extension, you're back to a separate loose fit socket or a locking extension to put the plugs in. I may just have tried crap 3/8ths extensions that don't hold well enough, however.

Graham

Good point, thanks Graham. I will look out for the long version I think.

I hope you get sorted.

I think I may have been lucky getting one for a tenner. But having tried it, I'd still be happy if I'd paid a bit more.

Graham

Any old bit of pipe does the job. Use a long quarter drive extension to push the plug back out.

It may well have been a heater hose once....I think now its the other end of my carb listener.

Jonners

I just pull the plug out with one of the HT leads..

Howard81 wrote:I just pull the plug out with one of the HT leads..

How do you get it back in again?

Mad Mart wrote:

Howard81 wrote:I just pull the plug out with one of the HT leads..

How do you get it back in again?

Drop the plug down the hole and any loose plug socket, i.e. with no rubber, that fits will tighten it and stick to the extension better than it sticks to the plug.

Does the plug cap always work as a removal tool, i.e. if the plug cockles over in the tube? If it does always work, it's brilliant - you have to have four of those, exactly when and where needed, or you're walking anyway.

Graham

This is getting complicated.

My method is to use the original Sprint box spanner, loosen the plug all the way, re-insert the original HT lead to grip the plug and pull out, if the plug goes lopsided, I just use the pound shop four pronged pickup tool
or just use a screwdriver to syraighten the plug, whichever comes to hand first.