Making a head puller.

J

jaguar6165

Senior Member
I know stuck heads have been covered a bit, but my question is about making a puller. I have my plate drilled and now need to hollow out the spark plugs. After a few broken drill bits and a large hammer not get the job do how do you knock the porcelain out of the center?
 
That worked? I started flattening the punch after a while so I stopped. I guess I'll try to get back to it and hope it gives eventually.
 
you must smash it out.
the metal body of the plug is crimped onto the porcelain in such a way that the porcelain is trapped inside the metal. You must take a air-powered cutoff wheel, or second choice a die grinder, and grind away at the 1/16" crimp you see on the outside of the plug right where the porcelain meets the metal. It is this crimp that locks the porcelain in. Once the crimp is ground off the porcelain will punch out easily. I just did this this week to make a piston stop tool to dial in my dizzy timing
 
Re: Instead of making a head puller.

I saw mentioned in these forums of this ----

Back off the head bolts slightly (I think the amount was .o6 or thereabouts) , & prepare to start the motor w/ your hand on the key & begin to crank w/o ignition , then quickly turn the key on, then off , allowing minimal combustion.
Supposedly this will pop the head loose .
It sounded very simple, safe, & worth trying to me , but of course as w/ many other DIY's , not idiot proof .
 
There is no reason to turn the key off with the above scenario. As soon as the head pops free the engine will automatically die due to lack of compression. There is nothing to go wrong here. Done it many times.

As far as the rope 'trick' be sure to have a fresh set of rods on hand to replace the ones you bent using this procedure
 
tbirdtbird said:
I just did this this week to make a piston stop tool to dial in my dizzy timing.
Click to expand...

Tbird, I'm interested in your piston stop. A piston stop is a handy tool to have. Can you explain how yours works? The plug hole isn't over the piston is it? Or does it only work on an aftermarket head where the plug is in a different position?
Thanks
 
I use a bottle jack from the generator boss to the underside of the front of the head to loosen it. Then a screw driver and a few hardwood sticks to lift it up to get my fingers under it and lift it off.
 
Looks like I have a head that is going to put up a small fight. Got the puller on and started to lift, after about a quarter inch the driver side didn't want to move much more. Looks like the front driver side corner is stuck. I tried the small plastic wedge I have but it was more of a shim and just broke. Hopefully I didn't raise it up too unevenly to bend any studs. I have new one, but just don't want to make getting the head off any more difficult. Going to try to knock it back down and pull it up again. Hopefully wiggling it back and forth will break it free.
 
jaguar6165 said:
I know stuck heads have been covered a bit, but my question is about making a puller. I have my plate drilled and now need to hollow out the spark plugs. After a few broken drill bits and a large hammer not get the job do how do you knock the porcelain out of the center?
Click to expand...

I would just start with these from the vendors,

T17022.jpg
You don't need the eye for your use but the body inside is threaded for the eye bolt.
 
jaguar6165 said:
I know stuck heads have been covered a bit, but my question is about making a puller. I have my plate drilled and now need to hollow out the spark plugs. After a few broken drill bits and a large hammer not get the job do how do you knock the porcelain out of the center?
Click to expand...

Gord Baverstock at gbaverstock@bmts.com has a head puller that he sells for $135.00 delivered his phone number is 1-519-376-5987. I am buying one and for the price is well worth to me anyway. If anyone else is thinking about building one call him or email before you get to involved.
 
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If you have it broken loose, you are THERE!!! Make some small sticks you can slip under it as you raise it, or get a lot of band aids for your fingers. It will bite you. 42 screw drivers placed around it will ease it up evenly. Take your time, you have the hard part behind you.
 
no one has mentioned not to pry on the side with the valves ie passenger side if you are not from Oz, else you can bend a valve. several threads on here already of ppl doing just that
 
Luckily my problem isn't the valve side so I will be staying clear of them. Going to swing by the hardware store and pick up some better plastic wedges. I read in another thread that someone used the plastic type for felling trees. I'm just nervouse to use metal screw drivers or pry bars. This is my first attempt so I don't know how much abuse the head and block can actually take.
 
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