Another Cox Mercedes with a broken needle tip

This is getting to be a trend. Second time in eight Mercedes engines. Only times I have ever seen it. But, others here have experienced it also. Thankfully this broken needle was standard size, not the long handle needle most found on these.

I know these engines in such a confined space get hot despite the cooling fan doing it's best. But two out of eight. It may be partly because the hood on these cars interferes with the needle and PO's screw them down tight to reduce the height of the needle above the hood and consequently the interference. And/or they may be castor locked. But this one was loose.

After seeing this before, the cure was simple. I just inserted the broken needle in the insert, heated and pulled. Came right out. But this insert was level with the surface of the back plate not elevated like all others.





The orifice in the insert for some reason is smaller than the previous one, it took a pin to remove it as the wire I used to remove the other stuck needle tip would not go through this one.