Champion Spark Plug Cleaner - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

pwdcougar · 08-29-2018, 07:23 PM

Just picked up this little Champion spark plug cleaner. I know plugs are cheap for the most part but I do a lot of small engine jobs and figured I'd give it a try. Any ideas as to what media to use in it? It had a mix of sand and black beauty like stuff in it. Would glass beads be too fine?

Thanks

Paul

**VictoriaHardware** · 09-04-2018, 08:49 PM

Glass beads will be perfect. Sand or Black Beauty are too coarse.

pwdcougar · 09-05-2018, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VictoriaHardware

Glass beads will be perfect. Sand or Black Beauty are too coarse.

Thanks!

Paul

sick472 · 02-06-2019, 03:31 PM

I have alsways wondered about bead blasting sparkplugs...wouldn't you run the risk of gettting beads stuck "up in there" that would eventually end up in the cylinder?

I have heard of blasting plugs often enough just never had the nerve to do it myself. Wire brushes, bench grinder wire wheel, and some brake parts cleaner work fine when needed.

**truckster** · 02-09-2019, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sick472

I have alsways wondered about bead blasting sparkplugs...wouldn't you run the risk of gettting beads stuck "up in there" that would eventually end up in the cylinder?

I have heard of blasting plugs often enough just never had the nerve to do it myself. Wire brushes, bench grinder wire wheel, and some brake parts cleaner work fine when needed.

It's been decades since I used one, but I think the one we had in our shop used blast media first and then clean air.

pwdcougar · 02-09-2019, 12:38 AM

The little unit I picked up has two buttons. One blasts the glass bead and the other just high pressure air. Before reinstalling the plug I always inspect it and take a close look at the inner insulator. It only gets used on small engine plugs though.

Paul

RUN GMC · 02-09-2019, 12:53 AM

They are still used in the shops of airplane mechanics.............

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...xoCADcQAvD_BwE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98iztkS3OfI

77c10bowtie · 02-13-2019, 08:56 AM

When I was in highschool in shop class, back when schools still had shop classes, we had one of those and it was just glass beads followed by compressed air. Two button style like mentioned above. I would think anything more than glass beads would be too abrasive on the small gas engine plugs with such soft metal used.

08-29-2018, 07:23 PM	#1
pwdcougar Registered User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,307	Champion Spark Plug Cleaner Just picked up this little Champion spark plug cleaner. I know plugs are cheap for the most part but I do a lot of small engine jobs and figured I'd give it a try. Any ideas as to what media to use in it? It had a mix of sand and black beauty like stuff in it. Would glass beads be too fine? Thanks Paul Attached Images __________________ "You know that little thing in your head that keeps you from saying things you shouldn't? Yeah well, I don't have one of those" 1969 Mercury Cougar Standard 4 speed 1969 Mercury Cougar XR7 convertible 1970 4WD Chevrolet Suburban 1997 4WD Chevrolet Silverado Extended Cab Short Bed (purchased new January 1997)

09-04-2018, 08:49 PM	#2
VictoriaHardware Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Southeast Michigan Posts: 792	Re: Champion Spark Plug Cleaner Glass beads will be perfect. Sand or Black Beauty are too coarse.

02-06-2019, 03:31 PM	#4
sick472 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Sedalia Mo. Posts: 1,131	Re: Champion Spark Plug Cleaner I have alsways wondered about bead blasting sparkplugs...wouldn't you run the risk of gettting beads stuck "up in there" that would eventually end up in the cylinder? I have heard of blasting plugs often enough just never had the nerve to do it myself. Wire brushes, bench grinder wire wheel, and some brake parts cleaner work fine when needed. __________________ He who is without oil shall throw the first rod. Compressions 8.7:1 1972 C10 1976 C10 (parts truck) 1985 K20

02-09-2019, 12:38 AM	#6
pwdcougar Registered User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,307	Re: Champion Spark Plug Cleaner The little unit I picked up has two buttons. One blasts the glass bead and the other just high pressure air. Before reinstalling the plug I always inspect it and take a close look at the inner insulator. It only gets used on small engine plugs though. Paul __________________ "You know that little thing in your head that keeps you from saying things you shouldn't? Yeah well, I don't have one of those" 1969 Mercury Cougar Standard 4 speed 1969 Mercury Cougar XR7 convertible 1970 4WD Chevrolet Suburban 1997 4WD Chevrolet Silverado Extended Cab Short Bed (purchased new January 1997)

02-09-2019, 12:53 AM	#7
RUN GMC Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: North AL Posts: 363	Re: Champion Spark Plug Cleaner They are still used in the shops of airplane mechanics............. https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...xoCADcQAvD_BwE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98iztkS3OfI __________________ http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...baae5d9a7e.jpg

02-13-2019, 08:56 AM	#8
77c10bowtie Registered User Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Goodyear, AZ Posts: 59	Re: Champion Spark Plug Cleaner When I was in highschool in shop class, back when schools still had shop classes, we had one of those and it was just glass beads followed by compressed air. Two button style like mentioned above. I would think anything more than glass beads would be too abrasive on the small gas engine plugs with such soft metal used.



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