Mailing List flyrotary@lancaironline.net Message #37760
From: Ed Anderson <eanderson@carolina.rr.com>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: Spark Plug Cleaning
Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2007 21:03:29 -0400
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Message
Hi Jeff,
 
Thanks for the suggestion,  I actually did some research into the products used by shooters to clean fouling in their barrels.  It appears that the lead left in a gun barrel is metallic lead (naturally) whereas the lead on the ceramic appears to be a lead nitrate crystal.  I actually started down that path, but when the wife came back with the lead cleaning product from one of her shopping trips, it turned out to be the wrong stuff.  So, I shouldn't write it off as I have not actually tried it.
 
Perhaps that will be experiment #2 - I'll throw the ultrasound in just for luck.  I mean what the heck, this is all about experimentation, right?
 
 
Ed
----- Original Message -----
From: Jeff Owen
Sent: Friday, June 08, 2007 8:47 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Spark Plug Cleaning

Ed,
 
There is an electro-chemical process shooters use to remove lead from a gun barrel which might work if this is an elemental lead deposit.  Take a look at: http://www.outers-guncare.com/products/chemicals/foul_out_system.aspx 
 
Jeff Owen
-----Original Message-----
From: Rotary motors in aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Ed Anderson
Sent: Friday, June 08, 2007 1:11 PM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Spark Plug Cleaning

Getting around to see what can be done about the lead fouling sparkplugs  causing the infamous "SAG".  1st experiment was to place the used spark plugs in a 30% solution of Hydrogen Peroxide.  I did that and place the plugs and solution in an ultrasonic cleaner, turned it on and left it on for 1 hour.
 
It appeared to clean everything off the plug - but, the lead.  So far the only chemical my research has indicated would dissolved metallic lead is Nitric Acid.  Nope, not going to try that, I'll stick with buying new plugs.
 
But, thought I would let folks know of the results.  I was really hoping the ultrasonic vibration would shake the lead crystals off the ceramic cone of the plug - but either the idea is flawed or the small jewelry cleaning size ultrasonic generator is simply not powerful enough.
 
Ed
 
 
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