Seized my socket... wtf?

[Gsx_hooptie]

Edit-> 1996 GSx auto, no mods...




What just happened is unreal...

I ordered a set of ngk spark plugs from RRE and went to Sears with one, finding a deep well socket that fit (13/16th). I drove the car home and while it was warm, tried to take the first plug out. The socket only had a little wiggle room in the spark plug cylinder, and I couldn't get the plug out, like it was seized in. After a couple minutes monkeying with the plug, I tried to pull the socket assembly back out, but it was seized tight.

I've tried using a breaker bar, dipping a couple drops of oil along the edge of the socket, and pulling it out with a flathead wedged down the center.

The block is getting colder as we speak, and the socket more stuck,

A) wtf? If it cools all the way down, will this crack my head?
B) Do I go buy a blowtorch, torch the cylinder, and freon the socket?
C) How the hell are you actually supposed to do this... if the plug really is a 13/16th, and the cylinder is 7/8th? Is there a skinny enough socket to do that?
D) Where did I go wrong?

Any help would be great, thanks guys

[Black97GST]

did u try twisting the socket back the opposite direction? to get it off?

[thecackster]

Wholly shit, did you get the socket out....thats crazy.

[97_3clipse]

sound like the hole was bigger when the car was warm and then when the motor had time to cool it got smaller and just seized up i guess...next time allways wait till the car is cooled off before wrenching on it....

[1stGenRocks]

the hole is smaller when the cars hot. the spark plug is bigger. always wait till the car is cold to do the plugs. once your car cools off completly gently wiggle the spark plug socket around until you feel it come loose. if its straight down the hole there shouldnt be any problem getting it out.

[97_3clipse]

^^dosent make sense, things expand when they are hot, of the hole was smaller when it was hot and expanded when it cold then he would have to start this thread....

[Gsx_hooptie]

I was going with 97_3clipse's logic since it originally slid in and now won't slide out. Tried it a minute ago, it's been four hours, still no give.

If it doesn't come out, should I really try freon and a blowtorch?

[97_3clipse]

i would hate to see you use a blowtorch...but its the only and the best solution i can think of right now ,olther than useing force on it(and doing that always makes the situation worse)....use a blow torch but dont over do it, and be careful!..

[Thourun]

This is kind of funny, having to use a blow torcch to change your plugs. You shure its cold? If you get frustraited and decide to go the hot cold route try cold first since that should work, butaine or any other compressed gass will do the trick but freon isn't too good for the environment so don't use that.

[joemathews]

Don't worry man, you didn't get a spark plug socket. You just got a normal deep socket--they have thicker walls. Same thing happened to me a few months ago, and I bet I got that sucker wedged worse than yours (tried to turn it really hard to wedge it out--bad idea!).

I would soak the socket in WD-40 or some other lubricant substance (liquid wrench, etc.). I think WD-40 did the trick on mine. Just soak all around the crack where the socket meets the cylinder wall, then use your 3/8 extension and ratchet. Wiggle it around, twist it, get that lubricant a little space to work its way down. It will eventually come out.

*You might have to pry the extension at an angle (not parallel to the cylinder walls) in order to wiggle without having it slip out, while still pulling vertically.

Good luck!