I blew a plug coming back from Indy a couples weeks ago. Is there an easy fix to re-thread it? I have a 2000 zx9r.

 

Welcome Jud. Not sure I understand how you "blew a plug?" Did the entire plug rip out of the threads, or was it initially cross-threaded (or partially threaded) and blew? How are the remaining threads? Can you simply chase them with a restorer, or is it more severe?
Welcome again.

 

Thanks Jeff on that point. I too am a little uncertain on the "blew plug" definition as well. Or did the center section blow, leaving the base in the head to be removed?

Welcome to KF, let us know

 

...no,....wait....did someone put a Ford Triton V-8 motor in the bike???? Happens all the time with those. (Seriously, do a Google.)

 

Great, I have one of those...

 

Hey ID, keep your plugs changed REGULARLY; like at least every other 3k oil change. The plugs will corrode in the block and can crack-off. Not fun....or cheap.
I think the engine is fine, just a poor design on the plugs.

Maybe this article will help:

http://www.autocarepronews.com/issue...ntentid=102523

(Didn't mean to hijack the thread.)

 

Well, I don't know about the PO, but I appreciate the hijack. I haven't looked this up yet, but will soon cause that would be a bugger. Mine is an 01 F150 supercrew.

 

Hey ID, there's also a plastic intake manifold that has weak/leaky inlet. Wife and I just bought an '04 Aviator with the 4.6. Deal was too good to pass up. Well, now there's a coolant leak, probably at the inlet. Noticed it last night under the car. AUGH!! (The GOOD side, I guess, is that the car has 19,000 miles and is immaculate.)
What engine do you have?

 

Nice find on the Aviator. Bad deal on the leak.
It has a 5.4 Triton.

 

Been doing some research. The Aviator has an aluminum intake; not plastic. (Whew!) You might be interested in this article:

The 4.6L Ford engine has been installed in millions of vehicles over the years. It is the engine of the very popular Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car. These engines use plastic intake manifolds and from 1996 through 2001 there was a problem that can leave drivers stranded. The problem is a sudden cracking of the intake manifold.
The plastic manifold used on these 4.6L engines (and I maybe the 5.4--Jeff) tends to split across the front, without warning
There may often be no symptoms at all. Other times there may be a slow coolant loss. When the intake fails the engine coolant pours out and the engine quickly overheats.
　
The front temperature sensor and rear heater hose connection are also prone to pulling out of the intake. Intake manifold replacement is an expensive and very inconvenient problem but Ford has never recalled the vehicles. Rather, a class action suit against the automaker was quietly settled a few years ago. Ford agreed to reimburse some customers for a short while (Yeah; 90 days from the settlement date!! --Jeff) and extended the warranty to seven years from the date of purchase. 　
A new intake manifold was installed on the 2002 models and greatly reduces the chances of this problem. The new intake has a cast aluminum piece across the front and a redesigned alternator mount.

On the original all plastic version, Ford braced the rear of the alternator to the intake. The belt pulls heavily on the front of the alternator. Years of hot and cold cycles combined with the vibration and pull from the alternator can result in the plastic intake splitting. This allows the pressurized engine coolant to flood out, into the rear of the alternator. Repair involves replacing the old style intake with the new, replacing the coolant and sometimes the alternator. Since the intake is buried under several layers of engine components, this is no small task.

In some instances the metal threads of the engine temperature sensor and the heater hose nipple will also unexpectedly pull out of the intake. The result is the same as the coolant is loss and the vehicle is disabled.
The most common vehicles with this problem are the 1996 through 2001 models with the 4.6L engine. We have also seen leakage to a much lesser degree on the later models.