[jgrMeister]

After reading some posts in the old form, I am pretty sure that the 1979 CX500 takes a 18mm spark plug socket. I'd prefer to pick up an actual spark plug socket vs. a simple deep socket. Have others had luck with say, a Craftsman 18mm spark plug socket, fitting down the well?

 

[Randall-in-Mpls]

I use a 19mm with a short piece of rubber hose wedged in the top to hold the plug.



R

 

[rickbert]

It is a deep of course 18mm socket. I just get it all un threaded with the socket then reach down in there with some needle nose pliers very carefully to pull the plug out and set it back in.

 

[lucky]

i second what rick says thats how i do it but i havnt changed my plugs for a long time

 

[Toehead]

i second what rick says thats how i do it but i havnt changed my plugs for a long time

I got my plug socket at autozone, and it fits fine.

 

[Shep]

The plugs themselves are 12mm but the plug sockets can vary.I have a 19mm plug socket that fits a 12mm spark plug.If in doubt take the plug to an Autozone shop or buy a specific 12mm Spark plug socket/spanner.



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HOND...2565850QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

 

[SailorJohn]

So...



I'm still unsure of what size socket I need for my plugs. I've tried:



a 13/16” 1/2” drive plug socket

a 5/8” (16mm) plug wrench

a 14mm 3/8” drive plug socket,

and a 18mm deep well socket 3/8” drive (I think it was 12 pt)



Non of these worked; what do I need to get?

 

[Shep]

In the UK we have these,



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PLUG-SPANNER-...88?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item20b86014c4





And I suspect this is the one over there



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Moti...966913QQptZMotorsQ5fATVQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories







but some one else should chip in,

 

[bearman1]

23 buks for a spark plug socket? My wallet is sure glad that there was one of those in the toolkit that came with my bike.......

 

[Shep]

23 buks for a spark plug socket? My wallet is sure glad that there was one of those in the toolkit that came with my bike.......

Yeh that sucks.I got the full Spanner like the one on UK Ebay even though I have a socket in my kit as well.

 

[bearman1]

Seems the old addage: What do the letters in the word "Boat" stand for? Bring Out Another Thousand, are starting to rub off on EVERYTHING these days.......

 

[gusbratz]

some plugs are 18mm socket some are 17mm socket. depends of if theare ngk or autolite or whatever.

 

[Blindstitch]

Always get NGK.



I bought a set of 3 spark plug sockets from walmart. Covers all bases even though they aren't metric. I probably use a 3/4th socket. not much difference but it is .03 larger.

 

[kingston73]

So...



I'm still unsure of what size socket I need for my plugs. I've tried:



a 13/16” 1/2” drive plug socket

a 5/8” (16mm) plug wrench

a 14mm 3/8” drive plug socket,

and a 18mm deep well socket 3/8” drive (I think it was 12 pt)



Non of these worked; what do I need to get?

When you say none of them worked, do you mean they don't fit into the cylinder hole or they just don't fit well around the plug itself?

 

[SailorJohn]

They all fit in the plug hole but none of them gripped onto the wrench flats of the plug.

 

[kingston73]

I'm almost 100% sure (need to go check since it was last year when I last took the plugs out) that I need a 19mm to remove my plugs. I just use a standard socket with a piece of rubber tubing inside it to grip the plug.

 

[Shep]

Buy one of these,



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Hond...0434609QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories



Or even cheaper,



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CX50...8080592QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories



TAS are great

Check out other bits you might need whilst you are there.Small carb kits and Air-cut-offs(Check before purchase)



http://stores.ebay.com/TAS-Classic-MotorSports/_i.html?_nkw=cx500&submit=Search&_sid=35947503









HTH

 

[Blue Fox]

John, I just went to the garage and checked. On a NKG plug, a 18mm deep socket is correct. A 19mm will grab the lands, but is loose. You need to use a thin wall socket tho. I have a cheap 18mm socket somewhere that will not fit all the way down in the plug hole and therefore can't go over the lands of the plug. My Craftsman socket works just fine.



Another tip. Use the end of the plug boot to pull the plug out of the hole. After loosening the plug, just push the boot back on the plug a bit and lift the plug out. Much easier if you are in the boonies and don't have a needle nosed pliers, where the other option is to turn the bike upside down and shake it.

 

[nolavox]

I always just use the tube wrench supplied in the bike's tool kit. It is a hex on both ends. I use another socket on a t bar to drive the whole schlemozzle. (think tube wrench with socket drive handle

) I think it's 19mm on the big end and 17 on the small. ( i cannot remember for sure) My 82 uses a smaller plug socket.





Edit... the top link in shep's post above is the tube wrench





I usually just grab the plug with a pair of needlenose if it falls out of the wrench.





Big OT Caveat:.... clean the spark plug recess hole by spritzing cleaner, air etc...into the weep hole on the side of the cyl. Lot's of crud usually around the plugs to fall into your motor...





[email protected] bluefox...

I think you need an "expanded" tool kit...

 

[bearman1]

That's PRECISELY the kind I have in my toolkit. Now, if THAT one don't work. There's something wrong. Can you shine a light down in that hoie and see the hex head, and the top of the cylinder head? I'm thinking that perhaps, though unsure as to how, that hole got all filled up with crap and you are unable to get the socket on the hexhead FAR enough to apply the torque necessary to break it loose. Could be, sockets you are using are not long enough to do this. Beacuse it IS a pretty deep hole, and tight quarters as well. Perhaps a "thin-walled" socket (like the last one Shep linked to) is in order.