It's tune up time and I noticed the NGK sparkplugs I bought are a little smaller than the standard "American" style plugs.  I found a 17mm socket fits them pretty good but I don't have a spark plug socket in 17mm.  Also, due to the odd design of the valve cover (the tight "tunnels/tubes" over each of the plugs that my socket just barely fits through) I'm worried about not being able to get the old spark plugs out of the valve cover or thread the new ones in.

Am I being overly cautious?  Is there such an animal as a 17mm spark plug socket?  Worth my time to go find one?

Tips, hints, etc?

Is there such an animal as a 17mm spark plug socket?  Worth my time to go find one?

Tips, hints, etc?

Well overhere plug sockets are sized according to the plug thread size, ie a 10mm plug socket fits a plug with an M10 thread. I have had the same problem working on bikes, I bought a cheap set of box spanners, they have a thin wall and so fit easily.

I figured out it's actually a 16mm socket but it does fit down the hole, it's just got about 1mm for wiggle room.  My issue is just getting the plug out and back up and then the new one down the hole and threaded.  Someone over on Zuwharrie told me about 3/8" fuel line and someone else suggested magnetic spark plug sockets so I'm going to try and find a solution after work tonight.

Thanks.

Someone over on Zuwharrie told me about 3/8" fuel line

That works quite well, just take care and make sure that the plug goes in square. Sometimes it helps to rotate it backwards a turn or so to allow it to line up. A 'proper' spark plug socket usually has a rubber insert to hold the plug in.

I just use the spark plug wire to pull it up out of it's hole, make sure you clean the hole real good with some electrical cleaner, leave no trace of oil in there.

Huh.  My plug socket has a foam insert, that holds the plug just fine, coming out, and going back in.  Never had a problem with it.

It's a 3/8" spark plug socket.  You guys are making it out to be difficult.  My cheap socket set had the socket with it and it has a small rubber piece inside it that holds the plug.  Unscrew the plug, pull it out, push the new plug into the socket, then thread it by hand until it's in and you're done.

You don't need metric spark plug sockets for hardly anything in the US except for some motorbike spark plugs.

3/8" and 13/16" are the 2 standard sizes that pretty much every vehicle I ever sold spark plugs for uses.

Should i ask if you gapped them?

THAT'S 5/8 AND 13/16