alternative to spark plug spanners

[jimv50]

Just bought a genuine Honda spark plug spanner from DSS and then promptly found cheaper alternative on eBay sold as tubular plumbers sockets. No real difference in price overall, but get a selection rather than just the one.

[Rozabikes Tim]

Got an eBay link?

[Chris400F]

Got an eBay link?

Just search for "tubular plumbers sockets" and you will get a load of 'matching' and 'related' listings with varying numbers of parts.

[ka-ja]

Could also search for "box spanners", thats what we used to call them!

[Rozabikes Tim]

That was my thought....

[jimv50]

Very good point, 'new' genuine Honda spanner only just fits under the tacho housing and is not knurled. Plugs bloody awkward to get out, unfortunately could not get No2 plug back in all the way. I suspect a lump of carbon stuck in the threads so have ordered 12x1.25 tap to try and clean it out gently.

[florence]

I've made my own box spanners before.  Simply take a steel tube that is slightly smaller than the bolt size you want, heat to red and tap over.

The spanner I use for the Honda is a car one I think and I have taken off the arm from the middle bit and simply use a regular spanner on the top.  There is a part of me which resents paying extra for 'genuine' things. 

[K2-K6]

I recently bought from Clas Ohlson a Cocraft pass though socket set primarily for working on cars but playing around with it I thought it may fit the plugs on bikes so tried it on a 750\K6 and it works for all the plugs including number three. It's the only ratchet drive I've seen get in there. It's got no plug spanner but a short hollow extension bar which used with 18mm socket fits straight over the plug and to get the ratchet onto number 3 plug you use also the 19mm socket on top of the extension to clear the cam cover.

The sockets are multi node drive as well and will bite on all sort of mangled bolt heads to get some badly deteriorated stuff undone and also fit multi star bolts used on some car brakes. So far it's been one of the most useful things I've bought.

I'd agree with oddjob though and have always used the genuine Honda item and spin the plugs in by hand to avoid getting them crossed as you can feel if anything is wrong then just nip it tight at the end with a Tommy bar. Real pain if they've not been copperslipped to get them out though.

[matthewmosse]

I have always found a fairly standard (draper I think ) sockett, even on no 3, I agree on using fingers to screw plugs in rather than a socketts and just use a extension bar to grip with my fingers. On engines I have worked on before I often use box spanners as they are cheap and I know the plugs are not going to be gorrilla tight, plus a roll of box spanners lives on the bike so is convienient, and only £10 for a full set they are cheap enough to live on the bike as a pernament tool set without worrying about loss or rust.