10x Spark Plug Scope

[priobe]

Hell All,

I am thinking of purchasing a 10x mag spark plug scope. Is this something you guys think is a nice to have and useful or should I save my money.

If this is a should have item which one do you recommend or are they all the same.

I am really getting my Webers dialed in and looking to see how much more I can get out of it, so I would need to see deep inside the plug for top end power.

Any suggestions

[ERA Chas]

If you use anything less than race gas-forget it. Pump gas today never gives true plug reads. You also need to make full throttle passes and click it off at the top whenever you're 'testing' or observing.

[madmaxx]

Do not big an idiot like me and accidentally crack the ceramic when removing it. If so you will be chasing a ghost. Use the right spark plug wrench and a good Matco or snapon socket that fits in the recessed areas.

[scottj]

If you are going to read plugs then it is a must have item. The only way that is better, that I know of, is to spin the threads off on a lathe to expose the porcelain and read them under magnification.

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by madmaxx

Do not big an idiot like me and accidentally crack the ceramic when removing it. If so you will be chasing a ghost. Use the right spark plug wrench and a good Matco or snapon socket that fits in the recessed areas.

I thought this was a quality socket that's priced reasonably and the perfect size in my engine bay to give me just enough extension to put a ratchet directly on it and reduce play from using a separate extension, but short enough to give me clearance.

http://www.amazon.com/SPX-6898-Spark...7411721&sr=8-1

[Tom Kirkham]

You will be much happier with one of these sockets:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00943322000P

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by Tom Kirkham

You will be much happier with one of these sockets:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00943322000P

I have one similar to that too. I still like the other one better. A bit more built in extension and I don't need the flex head like I thought I would.

[patrickt]

I love my Lockit Socket. http://www.lockitsocket.com/

[madmaxx]

Buy the snapon!!!! It was a POS craftsman that broke it, I was stupid enough to hear it pop the spark plug then forget it about for 3 weeks of hell and finally realize the spark plug was the root of my nightmare. The od of the craftsman is too large and did not fit square into the recess of the AFR 205 head. The OD of the Matco I have is .050" smaller than the craftsman. Might not sound like alot but it is huge in a tight area.



Craftsman are fine if you are removing lug nuts.

Originally Posted by Tom Kirkham

You will be much happier with one of these sockets:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00943322000P

[Rick Parker]

My headers and very unique and consequently the plugs on several cylinders are difficult to access. Alll of the above tool are wonderful. I use a Craftsman socket to just loosen the 5/8 tapered seat plug (I loosen them all at the same time) and then slip a piece of 3/8" fuel line onto the plug insulator and spin the fuel line in my fingers and out they come, no problems whatsoever, nothing to drop, nothing heavy or metalic to hit anything either. Installation is the reverse. Works great.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by priobe

Hell All,
I am thinking of purchasing a 10x mag spark plug scope. Is this something you guys think is a nice to have and useful or should I save my money.
Any suggestions

Two guys out of 10 posts have attempted to answer your question-do you even care anymore?

[COBRANIP]

PATRICKT....
"I love my Lockit Socket. http://www.lockitsocket.com/"

Is that legal in your state?

[Jerry Clayton]

I have a couple of those spark plug magnifiers but usually use one of those flip down magnifirers and look at the plug with the sun shining over my shoulder down into the plug---you can't get any more powerful lite and you can get those gizmoes in about any power you want---I also use it for carb jets and other nees that need magmifying

[priobe]

ERA Chas,

Yes still interested in the mag scope. No offense to anyone but either I am looking too much into jetting my webers or many people dont really care about the tuning of the carbs.

I have seen several post on the weber section about tuning and as the thread continue you end up finding out that the plug has no color except for black. Most feel that you can never get a proper tune with IDA's. I have have managed to get color with a smooth transition but would like to see in upper rpm how it is performing.

I really dont under why race gas is need to analyze a plug. I understand there are detergents and ethenol in gas now-a-days but you can still read plugs with this fuel

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by priobe

ERA Chas,
I really dont under why race gas is need to analyze a plug. I understand there are detergents and ethenol in gas now-a-days but you can still read plugs with this fuel

Other than pig rich or oil soaked you cannot get the fine color grades because of the gas additives used at the pump. They impart their own plug deposits which mask the actual combustion characteristics.

A quote from Barry Rabotnick's book on page 143:
"Unleaded fuel won't give good visual data."

More expensive but far better for Weber analysis would be wide band oxygen sensor equipment.