I do not know how to pull the tubes. I ended up breaking them off (they break easily) right where they exit the head. I was hoping to pull them out and get a bolt remover around the round bottom ring of the plug, but I don't think removing them will even give enough clearance.
I have exactly the same problem. What appears to happen is that the washer is frozen to the head and to the remaining section of the plug. I have tried heat, freeze spray. Penetrants, and ez-outs with no luck. Pulling the head seems to be the next course of action for me.
I was going to (carefully) try a hole saw in reverse to cut into that ring and maybe start it turning or at least loosen it a little so an ez-out will work. Let me know how you make out.
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Thursday, November 19th, 2009 AT 12:05 PM