Lisle 51410 Offset Spark Plug Boot Removal Pliers: Hassle-free Engine Maintenance Made Easy Review

The team that put the V-8 engine in my Silverado still has a laugh. Spark plugs are a real problem. Without the right boots, getting the boots out is almost impossible. This works very well with the most complex connector wires.

I have a 2007 Flex-Fuel 5.3 LC9 Chevrolet Suburban. They mate well with the metal shield at the end of the connector. This metal boot lid has a notch at the top and these pliers fit into that notch to prevent slipping. Much better than what I used before.

The tool is ideal for removing stubborn cable lugs and the like. But this durable tool has other uses as well. These are great as "fingers" when you need a little extra strength to squeeze the sensor's connector or plug, and also to pull the connector out. I'm sure there's a lot more that can be done with it.

I used these pliers to remove the spark plug boots on my 2007 GMC Yukon, including the infamous #8 connector buried deep in the back of the engine on the passenger side. There are longer versions of these pliers sold under different brands for less money. They are too long to fit in the limited space of the Yukon. The shorter version of Leslie did the job.

As I bought my Corvette used I don't know when the spark plugs were last changed, maybe never. With these pliers, I was able to go in and pull out those hard-to-reach and hard-to-reach connector wires. Six of the eight connector cables were damaged, but at least they came out, so make sure you have a spare set of cables. It also took about a week for my hands to heal from scratches and bruises.

I just used these yesterday to remove all eight spark plug leads/boots to do some ignition tests. Even turning the pliers back slightly on the end of the boot pulls the boot off without tearing it etc. I used them on my 1971 Mustang with a 302 CI V8 engine. I had to remove the air filter housing to get to the right cylinder spark plug boots/wires. Let the pliers do their job!

Cousin of the double offset tool from the same company. Both are useful for removing spark plug boots. This is especially true for vehicles that have not undergone scheduled maintenance. In many of these cases, the boot appears to be almost "welded" to the spark plug insulator. This tool allows the operator to grab the bottom of the boot. Always twist the dust boot back and forth a few times before removing it from the fork.

This tool has one main function so some may consider it a waste of money but I'm tired of taking my hands off removing the spark plug boots from the lawn mower so that's it worth to me. Works very well as long as there is space to fit it. I have a snowblower that works better than my hands because I can't reach it and it's guaranteed to hurt me, you know that spot on the back of your hand that burns when you first hit it and then goes numb. for a few minutes. That rules it out.

Lisle has been making great automotive tools, at least since I started working with cars over 40 years ago. This one is no exception. The fit and finish are fine and it's great for a single purpose tool. It's not meant to do anything other than remove spark plug boots and I've seen a couple of reviews where people don't seem to get it. Of course, no tool fits into every nook and cranny, and some spark plugs are very difficult to reach. It's not the fault of the instrument; Car designers are to…