Spark Plug Socket: Outside Diameter

[huntly2]

Can someone please give me the outside diameter for a Spark Plug socket that will work for removing a Spark Plug with the Valve Cover in place?

Thanks, and a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to all my forum friends.

[AdamWebber]

Well, first you take your least favorite socket and then grind the outside of it until it fits smoothly in the head. If you have access to a lathe, I'd recommend using that. I'm sure that there is a more costly approach but I had a whole bunch of 16mm sockets lying around that I never use on Anything. You can also turn down a 5/8". I hear that works pretty well.

Most people don't buy the specialty tool. Click the link for ADVrider to see more about it.

R1200 24K service with lots of pics. - ADVrider

[michelsmith]

Some folks buy a cheap sears or harbor freight socket then dress the outside with a grinding wheel until it fits. Sometimes you get lucky and find that the cheap socket fits without grinding.

[huntly2]

Thanks very much for the replies, but I don't have shop tools and grinding here grinding there doesn't appeal to me. This is why I am hoping that someone who may have had one turned on a lathe could give me an accurate measurement with a micrometer. I could then give this measurement to a machine shop and have one turned precisely to fit. Hopefully, someone has had this done.

[marty hill]

I bought the correct one at sears in late '04 and it has worked on my 12GS's with no problems. Perhaps they have 2 different diameters in the correct size?

[schuppi]

Originally Posted by huntly2

Thanks very much for the replies, I am hoping that someone could give me an accurate measurement with a micrometer. .

Hi, please have a look on this site:
Artikel - HAZET-Werk

The outside diameter is discribed with 21,8 mm.

Hope it's that what you need.

[huntly2]

Thanks Everyone,

What I did:
Having a socket measurement at hand (thanks Schuppi), I lucked out in a tool bin at the local Pawn Shop. Sorting through a few dozen Spark Plug sockets and measuring with my handy micrometer, I found one where the outside diameter was 21.4 mm, the thinnest around. It was an older craftsman deep 5/8 ", 6-point, and only $1.00. I have the option of placing an insert into the socket or not and I'm now comfortable I have the tool I need.

[TedC]

Originally Posted by huntly2

Can someone please give me the outside diameter for a Spark Plug socket that will work for removing a Spark Plug with the Valve Cover in place?

Thanks, and a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to all my forum friends.

[Adding to an old thread because it is a good place..]

I just had the same problem with my 2008 R1200GS. My newish 5/8 plug socket was just too big on the OD, and none of my other 5/8 deep sockets would fit either (I have no 16 mm sockets.) The problem is not with the valve cover or the gasket, the interference is with the head. So I went to my spare tools and found a Champion (Spark Plug) brand socket that _just_ fit. I miked it, and the OD is .8593", which is exactly 55/64 in (likely the design diameter of a 40-year-old USA tool) or 21.8 mm. That's consistent with the Hazet tool that Schuppi calls out. The Snap On S9706KA is shown in their catalog as 1/64" smaller at 27/32" (21.43 mm).