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02-02-2024, 03:59 PM | #1 |
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Champion 3X Spark Plug
Where can I find info about taking one apart for cleaning
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02-02-2024, 04:10 PM | #2 |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
Mark Maron wrote a really great article about these in the MARC magazine...two months ago now? There's also an article in the Technically Speaking journals that talks about it too (I can't remember the volume, unfortunately). I also recall a tutorial on the MARC facebook group (also from Mark) about restoring them also. I'm sure someone can post some scans. If not, I'd be happy to type it up when I'm not on travel.
Dave
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02-02-2024, 04:25 PM | #3 | |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
Quote:
Also Page 71 with a "Tech Tip" 3 pages by Enrique Klein with more specific details on "3X variations." If you have a box of "parts" this latter would be most useful. Joe K
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02-02-2024, 05:35 PM | #4 |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
Thanks Joe!
I love flipping through my books, but have the darnest time remembering where I come across neat articles!
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02-02-2024, 05:54 PM | #5 |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
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02-02-2024, 05:57 PM | #6 |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
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02-02-2024, 06:39 PM | #7 |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
http://modelabasics.com/home.htm Thanks to supplier watch out for the small brass seal. I glass bead the porcelain and interior. but not the metal exterior. or the top of porcelain tape off.
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02-02-2024, 06:51 PM | #8 |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
Gary TKS
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02-02-2024, 06:53 PM | #9 | |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
Quote:
Tom Sieffert has compiled a "cumulative index pdf" which includes the Restorer, Model A News, Skinned Knuckles, Model A Times and appears at https://model-a-ford.org/wp-content/...ex01012023.pdf There are 4 hits with "find Champion 3x." I'll leave those to you to discern which one is best for you. "Technically Speaking" Vol. 6 was published in 2008, and covers Model A News articles from 1984 through 1988 - which narrows it down somewhat. Joe K
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02-02-2024, 07:12 PM | #10 |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
Thanks JoeK....I've only got hard copy of each mag from about 2018 to date.
Will need to buy the electronic versions of the older mags! |
02-02-2024, 10:51 PM | #11 |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
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02-05-2024, 01:02 PM | #12 |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
Here is a reprint of Mark Maron's excellent article. I taped pieces of a paint stir stick to the inside of the vise jaws to avoid damaging the fresh surface:
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02-05-2024, 06:40 PM | #13 |
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Replacement Parts
I'm having trouble with some of my trusted Vendors parts. Had to file down the chock control to get the sleeve to slide in place. Now that's not to big of a problem. So now if I were to order the head-light wiring kit -- whom should I purchase from? I'm not an electrician, far from one
TKS Guys Darn it! I though I was posting a new question Last edited by rfitzpatrick; 02-05-2024 at 07:02 PM. |
02-05-2024, 08:35 PM | #14 |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
It won't matter where you get the headlight wiring kit (includes the bakelite disk with the "contacts." Everyone is selling the same thing.
The defects you'll find are that the "buttons" on the disk are not "dimpled" enough to really hold onto the switch spider. There may be a tendency to turn on your lights as you turn the steering wheel. Another defect commonly noted is the "button ends" on the wires are a sort of el-cheapo pressed sheet metal affair - and don't hold especially well into the light bulb housings in the headlights. Most sellers sell the "turned wire ends" to replace these which are more like the original but require some wire soldering to cut off the pressed buttons and solder on the replacement turned buttons. So you'll be doing some radio/tv level soldering with rosin core solder (try to get 60-40 which is still available, but expensive.) It is possible to get an "original" headlight wiring from Berts - but there is an element of "don't know exactly what you'll get" in that. Likely you'll have to replace the wires/ends anyway (cotton covered wire) and the wear situation of the bakelite plate might be indeterminate. You've got my answer - but there may be others. Your best plan might be to open a new thread on the wiring harness and get other opinions. Joe K
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02-13-2024, 09:58 AM | #15 |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
Has anyone tried the sparkplug cleaning machines that hook up to an air compressor? I see one for $40 via Northern Tool, I have original 3x plugs I would rather clean and save vs buying new ones, anyone had luck with the machine???
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02-13-2024, 10:30 AM | #16 |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
I have one, doesn't work worth a darn, not worth buying.
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02-13-2024, 12:33 PM | #17 |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
Part of the benefit of the 3X plugs it that you can take them apart and clean the individual pieces separately, then reassemble. Using a common scouring pad, they can be cleaned up quite nicely.
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02-13-2024, 01:04 PM | #18 |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
As far as using 3X plugs for a driver - I took mine apart, cleaned them in carb cleaner, wire wheeled them then sprayed them again with carb cleaner (the factory bluing was pretty far gone, so didn't harm any nice plugs doing this). After they were clean and dry I sprayed them with high temp barbecue black paint. They looked like new plugs when I was done.
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02-13-2024, 02:01 PM | #19 |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
I found the plug blaster to work quite well. I guess it would depend on how fouled your plugs are.
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02-13-2024, 09:27 PM | #20 | |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
Quote:
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02-14-2024, 10:54 AM | #21 |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
If you disassemble them you will find that a scotch Brite pad and brake cleaner are excellent to clean them with.
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02-14-2024, 01:24 PM | #22 |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
Anyone use Berryman B-12 fuel injection cleaner to soak plug tips in to clean them?
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02-14-2024, 04:11 PM | #23 |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
I just turn down the GAV , burn them white with lean mixture, got 2 sets of 3x in the trash because fouling with carbon, 20 miles and they were white and clean, C4 take a hard run to clean.
If fouling to the point of no spark jumping gap give a additional spark gap at the cap to force the spark to jump. First and last pictures are C4,, middle picture are the way my 3x burn with ethonal laced gas. I think many play with heat range to cover mixture problems. the C4 cleaned that much in a 5 mile run. |
02-16-2024, 03:30 PM | #24 |
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Re: Champion 3X Spark Plug
I well remember when avgas was high in tetraethyl lead and sparkplugs which would build between the electrode insulation and plug casing. We cleaned them at each 100 hourly service using a plug cleaner which blasted sand. This method was not suitable for plugs with platinum electrodes as it eroded them rather rapidly.
For these plugs we took a hacksaw blade, a worn one, and ground down one edge about 2 inches which then fitted well between the 2 electrodes and we physically levered out the lead build-up. No erosion on the electrodes nor insulator. And no change in the gap. Maybe that may help?
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