Sheared spark plug front cylinder

[lancruza]

Looking at a XB9SX here locally that has the spark plug sheared of in the front cylinder. Would you have to remove the engine to be able to get in there and try an "easy out" to get the plug out or is there a way to get to the plug from up top? If taken to a Harley dealer, what would you estimate the repair bill to be to pull this plug out and replace? Of course I realize there's the possibility of damage to the head. That would be another can of worms. If the threads were damaged, could you use a Helicoil to repair?

 

[Cooter]

"Sheared off"?? Like the ceramic is broken? No biggie, put a socket on it and remove.

Like hex is missing? Never seen that except in a Ford....frame rotate, remove head and drill/tap. Helicoil it if it doesn't come out clean, but a used head is easy too.

If the bike is nice otherwise (and cheap) it's a no brainer. I'd do it in a heartbeat.

 

[TeamHennis]

I once bought a dirt bike with a sheared off plug. All that was remaining of the plug was the threads (no hex or ceramic). I just tapped an easy out into it, backed it out and installed a new one in about 5 minutes. Worse case, you are looking at removing the head which isn't too bad. If the rest of the bike looks nice and its cheap, then go for it!

 

[lancruza]

Yeah the hex head sheared from the plug. The threads are left stuck in the cylinder. Looks like a nice bike. The bike was a running bike. He rides it to work almost every day. He was doing an oil change yesterday and snap or maybe I should say "OH SNAP". Frame rotate, huh? Don't know anything about that. Google search time. Any guesstimate what a stealership would charge to do this?

 

[TeamHennis]

If you have tools and a little mechanical ability, I'd attempt it yourself since you'll save a ton of $$ and get to know your bike better. Plenty of "How-To's on here or Youtube. You could also get a service manual or download one.

How much is the bike?

 

[lancruza]

The reason I'm asking about repair cost is so I can make him an offer on the bike minus the repair cost. He's talking about taking it to the dealer to get it fixed. I was wondering what they would charge so I can deduct that and more for my time and see if he will consider it.

 

[lancruza]

OK, let me approach it like this. 2009 XB9SX all original, never been down, 12k, miles pretty clean. Was asking $4000 when the bike was running. What's it worth now? Is it a +/- $500 repair? Am I high or low? Dealerships won't be open till Tuesday, so I can't call till then.

 

[mrlogix]

Start with an offer of about $2700 and work your way up from there.

 

[TeamHennis]

If he wants $4k for it, or close to that, it needs to be running and good to go. Ask Harley what the cost would be for a new head and labor as a worse case scenario and subtract that from his asking price. A new head is $313 (plus gaskets) from Surdyke if you had to replace it yourself. I stole my '08 XB9SX for $2400 with ~9K on it. It ran, but had been sitting for a while. I would offer this guy $2500 and would argue that at this point, its a non-running bike.

 

[user_deleted]

approx. dealership charge if thread remnants can be removed without major drama.....threads serviceable.....combustion chamber checked for debris.....new plug installed.....ignition system checked.....motor running.....$260-$300

debris in combustion chamber....threads non-serviceable.....R&R cylinder head with new....transfer all parts.......$2000 minimum

 

[Cooter]

Don't forget it not only needs repair, but you can't test ride it.
Taking that risk alone drops the value of a bike considerably.