Maintenance overhaul depot methods of cleaning used spark plugs do not result in reconditioned spark plugs of sufficient quality to meet the increased operating requirements of high output aircraft reciprocating engines. The investigation described herein was undertaken to improve the quality of reconditioned spark plugs. Previous research indicated that chemical cleaning offered the best chance of success. Battelle Memorial Institute pursued this avenue of attack and finally developed a method using a caustic soda solution which could be blasted into the firing end of a spark plug by means of a steam ejector. It was finally concluded that a three minute cycle would clean more than 95 percent of all spark plugs the first time. One repeat cycle would be sufficient to clean the remaining 5 percent.
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