Colortune fix

[Linda]

I managed to crack a chunk of ceramic insulation from the Colortune tool. Is there anything I can do to fix it? It is the lower portion which does not seem to detach.
TIA

Linda

[garths311]

I think you can buy a replacement plug from the website . 14mm

[garth]

Linda,

There are industrial products formulated to repair ceramics but they are exotic and expensive in the quantity you require. Dow Corning and Epoxylite were good sources 20+years ago.

Before buying a replacement plug you might want to try a DIY fix. You got nothing to lose if the replacement chunk is not the portion inside the cylinder head. If it is the internal portion - new plug. The consequences of losing the patch during tuning are well known.

The trick to bonding a patch to ceramic is matching the coefficient of expansion of the patch material to the ceramic substrate so the patch does not spall off due to temperature differential. Try a 30/70 mixture of very fine silica sand (polishing grit) and the best hi-temp epoxy you can find. After the patch cures you can shape and polish it with a dremel tool. Paint the patch surface to avoid tracking.

[dbrick]

Agree with Garth, unless the upper insulator retains the inner ceramic. Any risk of it dropping in is not good

[garths311]

Agree with Garth, unless the upper insulator retains the inner ceramic. Any risk of it dropping in is not good

Umm which one?

[garth]

Agree with Garth, unless the upper insulator retains the inner ceramic. Any risk of it dropping in is not good

Umm which one?

The good looking smart one with the wild hair!

[Linda]

Thanks for the fix-it ideas. I hate to throw things away that can be fixed. I wondered if I could just hi temp silicone over the cracked part. Silicone is used over spark plug wires right? But then I wasn't sure if any of it could break off into the plug. If so then I won't chance it.

Linda

[Linda]

Well I emailed Gunson, the maker of the Colortune, asking if there was a fix for a cracked ceramic insulator. I got an answer back saying that they are sending me one in the mail. Wasn't that nice.
So buy a Colortune from the nice people at Gunson

Linda

[notoptoy]

Very cool and good customer service!

[Garm]

So buy a Colortune from the nice people at Gunson

Did!

[aclever1]

Very nice, I was looking to order one this week. It's nice to see good customer service, it's a rarity these days.

[Linda]

I got my Colortune today, actually they sent 2 since they didn't know the application. Wow so nice those Brits

Linda

[Linda]

If anyone needs their lawnmower Colortuned, come on by........................

Linda

[Garm]

^ Haha, maybe you can do my scooters.