Alternative to the Rotunda 303-1398 – Auto Specialty Tool
October 4, 2008 9:42 am Auto Specialty Tools, Ford Problems, Lisle Specialty Tools, What's New?
New Specialty tool for handling Ford broken spark plugs!
© DenLorsTools.com If you’re a subscriber to our automotive tool blog, you know we pointed out in a previous post, the need for a less expensive alternative to the Ford Rotunda 303-1398. The SPX Rotunda 303-1203 removes broken spark plugs on some Ford 5.4 engines, 2004 and up. But it only works after the broken porcelain piece is out of the way. That’s where the new Lisle LIS 65600 automotive specialty tool, comes into the picture. The best way to try to prevent Ford spark plugs from breaking to begin with (per a Ford Technical Service Bulletin-TSB) is to loosen the spark plugs slightly and then soak them with penetrating oil. Sometimes the carbon build up around the electrode shield will still separate from the main part of the spark plug. So, in many cases the porcelain part of the spark plug will stay in. This prevents the use of the 303-1203. Rotunda offers the SPX 303-1398 to remove the porcelain or ceramic piece, but the pins included in this six hundred dollar kit can only be used once. The pins are secured into the center of the broken spark plug (where the electrode was) with loc-tite, then the puller is used to hopefully pull the ceramic piece out of the way, so the two hundred dollar 303-1203 can be used to remove the metal electrode shield.
Lisle’s Method, using the LIS65600 auto specialty tool implements a different approach. First, if the broken porcelain is stuck down in the spark plug hole, the first part of the Lisle kit is used to press it down a little further without breaking it.
Forcing it all the way into the the cylinder would create more work, don’t worry it doesn’t do that. After the porcelain is further down, it allows room for the second part of the Lisle tool to be used. The left handed threads of the tool self taps into the electrode shield so it can then be pulled out along with the porcelain, still fully intact.
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Corey :
Date: October 30, 2008 @ 2:06 am
Do not hesitate to purchase this product. It works better than the “Rotunda Tkit-2007sp-flm”. I wish more users posted comments on how great this product really works. I was afraid to purchase because there were no reviews, but i am a believer now!!! Thank you again for another great product. I am looking foward to my next spark plug change thanks to this tool.
dennisb :
Date: October 30, 2008 @ 6:59 am
Thanks Corey. We were hesitant to recommend this tool at first. You would think that Ford engineers would have the best soloution for the broken spark plug problem. But, after having positive feedback on this specialty tool, we quickly realized that this is the best method for this problem. It’s not about selling the most expensive product…we try to recommend the the best product for our customers, regardless of the price. And in this case, the Lisle is a better solution compared to the Rotunda at a fraction of the cost!
Ryan :
Date: December 10, 2008 @ 1:57 am
How does this tool actually pull the spark plug out? Do you just pull it by hand or is there a bolt that tightens on a washer on the head to slowly move it out? Thanks.
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: December 10, 2008 @ 7:30 am
Ryan, The nut tightens to pull it out as follows; If the porcelain is not stuck you can skip the first step of pushing it to allow access. The puller housing is placed in the hole, then the puller screw goes down the center. After the puller screw is self tapped into the electrode shield, the nylon washer and nut is attached. And by tightening the nut on the puller screw, the broken electrode shield is pulled out. Here are the complete directions that are included with the Lisle 65600 broken spark plug remover tool, page 1 & 2.
Rick :
Date: December 11, 2008 @ 11:55 pm
Got my tool today..Thanks for a great removal tool….did the job in a really short time…back on the road
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: December 12, 2008 @ 7:16 am
Thanks Rick. I’m glad to hear that the Lisle 65600 spark plug remover worked well for you and I appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Terrance :
Date: December 21, 2008 @ 8:31 am
Got it quick, worked like a dream. Kudos to Lisle and you for recommending this tool!
dennisb - On Ford Spark Plug Removal :
Date: December 21, 2008 @ 8:35 am
Terrance, thanks. I’ve recommended this tool for awhile now based on my customer’s feedback, but recently I used this tool myself, for a demo and I can say it really does work great. I took some pictures and posted them in a blog, Ford’s Bad Design.
TRENT :
Date: February 14, 2009 @ 4:33 pm
On our 2004 it worked great, but sad to say it be traded ASAP because of Ford’s bad design — Louisiana
Eric Z :
Date: May 13, 2009 @ 12:43 pm
The Lisle 65600 tool worked perfectly on our ’05 stang that had 3 broken plugs. It was easy to use and saved us ton of time, money, and headaches!
Eric Z – Texas
David :
Date: March 9, 2010 @ 1:52 pm
getting ready to change plugs in 2005 F150 with 85K. figured i’d be prepared and get the tool. of course then i probably won’t need it but if spending $75 means no broken plugs it’s worth it. i do have two concerns however. first is if the porcelin is pushed in enough to break the ground strap is there a risk of broken pieces (porcelin or strap) falling into the cylinder? second, does the self tapping extractor create chips (as it taps) that could wind up in the cylinder (especially if the porcelin came out)?
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: March 9, 2010 @ 2:13 pm
Legitamite concerns. See the newest Blog on this tool.
Click Here
Chris :
Date: June 22, 2010 @ 4:41 pm
Glad i found this information.Preparing to do my plug change on my 2005 F-150,and with the knowledge learned here the Lisle will be in my arsenal when i begin this task.Another must have tool to make this easier is the OTC 6900 socket.Together these tools make a once monumental job a little easier for owners to do themselves!
Jack Ross :
Date: October 27, 2010 @ 11:17 am
The tool worked great on the first two plugs that broke. On the third, I have inserted the tool and it stripped out of the shell. This happened twice. The shell is still in place, however, I can not thread the tool anymore, it will not grab. I have already pushed the porecelain way in. If I can remove the poreclain the other type tool that taps for a bolt may work. Is it possible to get the poreclain out with the Calvan tool after I have pushed it in with the Lisle tool?
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: October 27, 2010 @ 11:38 am
Jack, if the threads are worn on the puller – maybe a new puller would bite-in. As far as the As far as removing the porcelain with the loc-tite method it all depends if the center hole is still “open” and not distorted from being pushed. There have been some cases when the puller has seemed to have worn after few uses – so much so that it wouldn’t grab. I think I would most likely try a fresh puller to see if it grabs. Link below.
Puller Screw for 65600
MikeS :
Date: July 13, 2011 @ 3:21 pm
Dennis,
I recently read that if we take the time to put some grease on the tip and possibly some of the Nickel Anti-seize that Ford makes you buy on the cutting threads then they will maintain their edge better. Plus the grease on the tip provides a way of grabbing some of the particles produced that would normally fall into the cylinder. Probably not fail safe but seems sound to me.
bryce :
Date: November 26, 2011 @ 11:36 pm
I got all but 2 of my plugs out. One that broke, broke in a way I was able to use the lisle kit but the other the porcelain broke 1/4” further up and left the electrode pin down in the well along with the electrode shield and porcelain within it remaining in the head. 2 questions: I sprayed air into the first and got most of the little pieces of porcelain out from the lisle tool but is that good enough? And the other broken plug with the electrode pin remaining what can i do to remove it? It’s on the back right conveniently, and I do assume it must be removed before using the lisle tool. will these itty bitty porcelain pieces hurt the combustion chamber? It seems impossible to remove 100% of them.
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: November 27, 2011 @ 7:45 am
Some guys are using shop vacuum’s with a small diameter rubber hose taped to the shop vac hose in order to clean out the cylinder better. I would also crank the engine over (with the injector and coil unplugged) to help blow out any remaining debris. I would try using a long pair of needle nose pliers like in the video (on the main article) to break the porcelain so the tool can then be used.