DieselDaze

Finally found a good use for a spark plug.

The shut-off valve to our guest water closet broke which began to flood the bathroom - quickly.
I was able to use a pair of pliers to start turning what was left of the valve. However in that process, the little plastic shaft of the valve ended up breaking off in the pliers - more water - very quickly.

My son's finger was employed to reduce the remaining flow to what would be best described as a steady stream.

I hit the garage in a rushed effort to find something - anything - that would stop the onset of water.

A-HA! Old heater hose, spark plug and hose clamps to the rescue. Guess I still have a use for spark plugs after all.

sherod

Good thinking!!

Lary Ellis (Top)

I also used one to plug a busted hose....they are handy little stoppers in an emergency....

I am just wondering why you didn't leave the boy with his finger in the dyke while you and the wife went out to dinner and a movie and brought home a new part later than night?

DieselDaze

Well, the finger dam only served to reduce and focus the flow (think of a thumb over a garden hose).

I think I need to show the family where:
a) The main shut-off is to the house
or
b) I keep the extra hose, clamps and various automotive parts.

roughstock

My grandpa used to use them as fishing weights when we went river fishing because lead weights weren't cheap. Used spark plugs were basically free, and we hit snags all the time. Tap the ground electrode down on to the center electrode to make an "eyelet". Tie one on the end of your line, put a hook on a leader about 16" up and BAM: catfishing machine.

2006BLKMegacab

Show them where the water shut off is, it might be faster than looking for parts and tools if they attempt to improvise a fix and don't put things away after

SIXSLUG

If you use spark plugs and heater hose to fix water leaks.....

You may be a REDNECK!

Amiright, or what!!??

DieselDaze

Well, According to those with which I work, I already am the resident redneck.

nkennedy

Could just shut off the well pump too. If you have one, but the water shut off valve would be quicker.

railroaderone

A real redneck would have left the heater hose and spark plug in there long term.

Jim Lane

Spark Plugs are also excellent for shattering auto windshields and side windows in an emergency.

At least that is what the carjackers here in Los Angeles tell me.

I have plugged several leaking heater cores in my lifetime using spark plugs.

Jim

SIXSLUG

me too!

DaveB.inVa

Done that before!!

I had a 94 S-10 2.2 I-4 that had a hard line attached to the thermostat housing that fed the heater core. Going to school one day the casting where the hard line attached broke.

We crammed a spark plug that had a couple wraps of electrical tape around it in the hole and safety wired it in place using some 12 gauge copper wire from the school shop. Bending the electrode over provides a perfect place for safety wire.


When I was probably about 13-14 years old I met an old man who used spark plugs as his muzzleloader projectile! He ran a junk yard and had a pile of them.

NJTman

It's works...