Spark Plug Socket

[Turbogus]

So last week I'm down at NAPA to get a new plug socket, (the old NAPA branded one I had lost the rubber inner sleeve) they no longer had NAPA branded plug sockets but they warrantied this with one by the Carlyle line. I noticed that the rubbet inner boot opening was larger and didn't hold the plug by the ceramic sleeve but by the tip of the spark plug instead. :shades:

Tightening down the no. 6 & 8 spark plugs on my 360, you know, the two that you have to access from under the CJ's, and I heard the ceramic crunch and sure enough the ceramic was broken. I thought that I may have pulled at the odd angle one has to address those no. 6 & 8 plugs was the reason. Gingerly I tightened down the others on 2 & 4 and moving to the plugs on the left bank no. 7, (that I had a straight, clear of obstruction shot at) also crushed the ceramic on the plug. :x I'm not new to changing spark plugs on my Jeep but this is getting right infuriating, considering that my trusty old NAPA plug socket never once cracked/broke the ceramic on any plug on the various AMC, Ford and Chevy's I've used it on.
Do y'all reckon this is just a bad casting or a design flaw?

 

[Turbogus]

Here's a better view of this new one

 

[steady.foot]

Looks to be a design flaw to me. That thing that looks to be a metal sleeve welded in there should be something soft.

 

[Turbogus]

Yahoo! After stopping by my local trusty shop, Gary's Automotive, Gary loaned me his Craftsman 43323 swivel Spark Plug socket that had the correct insert. I went to three auto parts shops and one hardware and not until I hit the Sears micro store did I find anyone that had even seen one of these. They got me lined up with a straight socket Craftsman pn 50726 and Made in the USA!

here's the differences (crappy Carlyle on left, Craftsman on right)


note the wall thickness on the Craftsman

 

[Turbogus]

Well, used that brand new 'old school' Craftsman $5.08 plug socket and boom, boom, boom. The plugs snugged down without any further issue. Just like my old NAPA one before it lost it's rubber grommet.

 

[superj]

you can cut a piece of fuel line to replace that rubber sleeve, if it ever drops out or wears out, again.

i have never seen one that grabs by the top but i think it is a bad idea also

 

[Turbogus]

Yeah, these damnable new type are all over this town, buyer beware!

 

[TerryMason]

I must be lucky - I seem to have old style spark plug sockets all over my garage. I haven't bought one in decades.

 

[Turbogus]

The same goes for me, but for some tune ups on buses and other rigs outside on the gravel pad I had to remove the inner sleeve just for clearance's sake, then subsequently lost the innards...

 

[cougarlasch]

I'm a tech and I got the snap on spark plug socket. It doesn't have a rubber innard but a tapered hex which holds the plug inside and no risk of breaking the porcelain.

 

[JPNinPA]

I'm a tech and I got the snap on spark plug socket. It doesn't have a rubber innard but a tapered hex which holds the plug inside and no risk of breaking the porcelain.

Hate when that happens.