Aircraft Spark Plug Services Inc

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Larry Korona

Pre-takeoff checklist
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I've been using Aircraft Spark Plug Services in Van Nuys to clean, test and service my plugs for many years. The last shipment of plugs I sent them recently was returned untouched with a note that "due to health issues, we not able to service your plugs".

Anyone aware of any other folks who offer similar services?
 
My A&P always just cleaned them and checked them out (or let me do it if I was around). Is this not a normal mechanic task?
 
that’s like an hour tops of menial labor. The shipping should cost more than the service. How is that a thing?
 
Hell, I’ll do it for you for $49.99 if you pay shipping. signed off by a legit IA
 
Local A&Ps too busy to bother with a small job. Found the service from this place to be better than begging a local guy to do a sh#?# job on them.
 
I think having a proper testing unit is the issue. Rather than just an ohm reading which may not give a true condition of the plug.
 
So far I have been OK just using the basic hand tools to clean and maintain my plugs. The only thing I use that is big is bead blaster at work, I use it lightly with the right size beads in it. Then pick the lead out by hand.As you know you can use a small portable blaster if you believe in using a blaster.
I have a resistor tester.
I have 2 sets that I rotate in and out so I can take my time.
That is a pile of lead I picked out on the glass top.

IMG_4113.jpeg
 
Here's the catch, I don't have any of this equipment and don't want to spend $$ on getting all this stuff to work on plugs maybe once or twice a year, that's why I've been using this place for years. Guess I'm got to get some local guy.
 
Why is this any different than any other A&P service in your mind? A compression test is just about as easy and requires a few cheap tools. Mag timing, same thing. This is usually done at annual with all those types of things.
 
Larry Korona said:
Here's the catch, I don't have any of this equipment and don't want to spend $$ on getting all this stuff to work on plugs maybe once or twice a year, that's why I've been using this place for years. Guess I'm got to get some local guy.
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Then like said, why not ask your AP do them? Isn't he who you trusts the most?

How much were you paying to have them cleaned?
 
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Larry Korona said:
Here's the catch, I don't have any of this equipment and don't want to spend $$ on getting all this stuff to work on plugs maybe once or twice a year, that's why I've been using this place for years. Guess I'm got to get some local guy.
Click to expand...
So far we've done a lousy job of actually answering your question, which was simply what are other places you can send your plugs to.

But I think the fact that nobody has suggested another place kind of shows that most of us have never had to do that. Meaning it's just a common mechanic thing to do at annual or other inspections.

Do you have a more unusual use case, like you're air racing or running ag planes or something? Or do you run a peculiar airplane/engine? Are you fouling a lot of plugs for some reason? This just isn't something that most GA owners have to really put any thought into, hence the lack of answers.
 
Larry Korona said:
I've been using Aircraft Spark Plug Services in Van Nuys to clean, test and service my plugs for many years. The last shipment of plugs I sent them recently was returned untouched with a note that "due to health issues, we not able to service your plugs".

Anyone aware of any other folks who offer similar services?
Click to expand...
Aviation Spark Plug Services has been a one-woman operation over the years that I used this service. I spoke with the owner, Jenny, after seeing this post. Although the business is closed for health reasons at the present time she hopes to make this service available again in the future. Jenny is related to the folks at Aero Accessories of Van Nuys and her business shares the shop space with them.

Honestly I cannot say enough good things about the spark plug service as well as the alternator overhaul service provided by Aero Accessories. I have used the services of both business.

Why send spark plugs out for reconditioning? The service was just too hard to pass up for the quality and convenience provided. Spark plugs were cleaned, resistance tested and returned with new gaskets. If a bad plug was found Jenny had an inventory of good used plugs for a nominal cost, so what she returned was a full set, carefully protected and boxed up. All this for less than a hundred bucks including shipping for a six cylinder engine. I certainly hope that this service comes back online in the months to come.
Reconditioned Plugs.jpg
 
I hope Jenny has been using adequate PPE and the illness is completely unrelated to lead oxide and lead bromide from routine spark plug cleaning.
 
There must be a reason if even Mike Bush mentions her in his article

www.savvyaviation.com

Spark Plug Wars - SavvyAviation

We’re seeing an epidemic of Champion spark plug problems. Champion insists its plugs are fine and the problems are self-inflicted. The truth may be a bit more complicated. By Mike Busch Premature failures of Champion-brand aviation spark plugs first showed up on my radar screen several years...
www.savvyaviation.com www.savvyaviation.com
 
RussR said:
So far we've done a lousy job of actually answering your question, which was simply what are other places you can send your plugs to.

But I think the fact that nobody has suggested another place kind of shows that most of us have never had to do that. Meaning it's just a common mechanic thing to do at annual or other inspections.

Do you have a more unusual use case, like you're air racing or running ag planes or something? Or do you run a peculiar airplane/engine? Are you fouling a lot of plugs for some reason? This just isn't something that most GA owners have to really put any thought into, hence the lack of answers.
Click to expand...
Thanks for addressing my actual question! I've always preferred using this company to service my plugs, yes I'm well aware that as an owner I can do this myself, but I don't have access to the proper equipment, yes I can rig something up but again I prefer to use this service.
 
Rob58 said:
Aviation Spark Plug Services has been a one-woman operation over the years that I used this service. I spoke with the owner, Jenny, after seeing this post. Although the business is closed for health reasons at the present time she hopes to make this service available again in the future. Jenny is related to the folks at Aero Accessories of Van Nuys and her business shares the shop space with them.

Honestly I cannot say enough good things about the spark plug service as well as the alternator overhaul service provided by Aero Accessories. I have used the services of both business.

Why send spark plugs out for reconditioning? The service was just too hard to pass up for the quality and convenience provided. Spark plugs were cleaned, resistance tested and returned with new gaskets. If a bad plug was found Jenny had an inventory of good used plugs for a nominal cost, so what she returned was a full set, carefully protected and boxed up. All this for less than a hundred bucks including shipping for a six cylinder engine. I certainly hope that this service comes back online in the months to come.
View attachment 132054
Click to expand...
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences with this company, sorry to hear about the owners health issues, wishing them all the best and quick recovery!
 
aggiepack said:
There must be a reason if even Mike Bush mentions her in his article

www.savvyaviation.com

Spark Plug Wars - SavvyAviation

We’re seeing an epidemic of Champion spark plug problems. Champion insists its plugs are fine and the problems are self-inflicted. The truth may be a bit more complicated. By Mike Busch Premature failures of Champion-brand aviation spark plugs first showed up on my radar screen several years...
www.savvyaviation.com www.savvyaviation.com
Click to expand...

aggiepack said:
There must be a reason if even Mike Bush mentions her in his article

www.savvyaviation.com

Spark Plug Wars - SavvyAviation

We’re seeing an epidemic of Champion spark plug problems. Champion insists its plugs are fine and the problems are self-inflicted. The truth may be a bit more complicated. By Mike Busch Premature failures of Champion-brand aviation spark plugs first showed up on my radar screen several years...
www.savvyaviation.com www.savvyaviation.com
Click to expand...
I first heard about Aviation Spark Plug Services reading one of his articles years ago
 
I've been using them for decades. Jeanne is a one-person shop. If she's having health issues, there's nobody else to do the work. Her shop is in the same shop as Aero Accessories at KVNY. You might give them a call if you want to find out more information.
 
OP here with an update. I ended up with getting the set of plugs serviced by a local shop charged me an hour of labor ($90) and the plugs were ok but not as nice as I've seen from the when Aircraft Spark Plug Services. I've since found about another shop that provides this service, Aero Spark Plug Service located outside of Dallas. Prices: $9,99 per plug to clean, inspect, gap, bomb and resistance testing. Then paint and package with a new gasket in a sealed plastic envelope along with a desiccant pouch. I've since had another set serviced by this company. Just received the serviced plugs today, very pleased with how they look. IMG_6250.jpeg
 
I used her service once for a set of Champion fine wires. Came back freshly painted, clean as a whistle and one was dead as a door nail. If she really tests them, don't see how it could have passed QC.
 
Chip Sylverne said:
I used her service once for a set of Champion fine wires. Came back freshly painted, clean as a whistle and one was dead as a door nail. If she really tests them, don't see how it could have passed QC.
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I suggest that you give Aero Spark Plug Services a try, found them to be very reliable and speedy turnaround. 940-240-8550
 
Larry Korona said:
I've been using Aircraft Spark Plug Services in Van Nuys to clean, test and service my plugs for many years. The last shipment of plugs I sent them recently was returned untouched with a note that "due to health issues, we not able to service your plugs".

Anyone aware of any other folks who offer similar services?
Click to expand...
Harbor freight has a cheap plug blaster that only requires you to enlarge the neoprene grommet for aviation plugs. You will need access to compressed air. An ohmmeter will tell you if the plug's internal resistance is OK.. eventually the center electrode wear will end the plug's service life
 
www.aircraftspruce.com

Spark Plug Cleaner - Universal | Aircraft Spruce

Spark Plug Cleaner - Universal Cleans any size plug without changing grommet.
www.aircraftspruce.com www.aircraftspruce.com

Works good no modifications required. Make sure you get all of the abrasive media out of the crevices. Don't forget the gapping tool, feeler gauge, and caddy so you can rotate them.
 
Jim K said:
www.aircraftspruce.com

Spark Plug Cleaner - Universal | Aircraft Spruce

Spark Plug Cleaner - Universal Cleans any size plug without changing grommet.
www.aircraftspruce.com www.aircraftspruce.com

Works good no modifications required. Make sure you get all of the abrasive media out of the crevices. Don't forget the gapping tool, feeler gauge, and caddy so you can rotate them.
Click to expand...
Yeah that's it.. the auto version is cheaper but you must enlarge the neoprene grommet to permit inserting our big plugs
 
It just occurred to me that people used to have to clean automotive spark plugs back when there was leaded fuel.

I couldn't figure out why an automotive plug cleaner even existed. I had certainly never cleaned a spark plug before I got into aviation. Gapped, sure, but if they were fouled you had an engine problem.

I sincerely hope gami gas takes off, and the price is reasonable.
 
Jim K said:
It just occurred to me that people used to have to clean automotive spark plugs back when there was leaded fuel.
Click to expand...
Also, back when there were no emission regulations and cars ran rich of peak (particularly at idle and wide open) and burned oil.
 
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