The HT lead dance - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Delta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 12:08:49 am
content: To my great shame, I have always been very blasé when holding spark plugs against an earth point, but today I got my comeuppance.Having already checked the kill-switch, the magenteo spacing, the point gap and the plug-gap on a Briggs and Stratton lawnwomer engine, I did as I always do; held the plug by the HT lead boot and pressed the body upon the engine block. Then, my trusty assistant yanked upon the recoil starter.No spark.I leant closer, putting my left hand against the chassis of the mower for balance. "AGAIN" I shouted!Fuck me! I felt every single ignition pulse in the top right of my chest. DUH DUH DUH DUH DUH DUH! It was like being shot by a machine gun. I emitted words - some of which are swears, some of which are not even words, swears or otherwise - and then fell onto the floor in a heap. My assistant (in this instance, my long suffering girlfriend) upon seeing I was not dead, also fell to the floor in howls of laughter.The worst of it all: I had been off the booze for nearly three days, yet then NEEDED a bottle of lager to calm the heart. (Fortunately there was a nice bottle of Dutch stuff in the fridge)The lesson I have learnt is; always get someone else to hold the plug....

author: g.lewarne
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 10:25:06 am
content: On some engines its just a tickle, on some it can knock your socks off. Ive had both, and the latter is super unpleasant

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 10:34:00 am
content: The worst I've had is a bite from a camera flash. It by no means tickled but I suspect the mower was worse.

author: cvanc
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 12:15:13 pm
content: The moral of the story: Always have a beer handy!

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 01:10:02 pm
content: And that old Briggs doesn't even have a CDi ignition like modern ones. CDI's had the benefit of stronger spark at cranking speeds, ha that would have knocked your socks off too.I rarely got bitten in the ~5 yrs I spent on small motors after learning great respect for magneto type ignitions at the tender age of about 10 with an old side valve Mk 10 Villiers.Yep they bite.Locally there was a deaf guy that was involved in the fledgling racing industry ~40 yrs ago. He had a knack for getting old flathead V8's purring like a Swiss watch. His method was to short each bank of the V8 out in turn so he could bestfeelthe evenness of the firing on each side. Way back then there were no sissy rubber plug caps on the leads so he just laid an arm along each row of plugs.That's something I could never force myself to try.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 02:07:55 pm
content: Quote from: cvanc on August 25, 2016, 12:15:13 pmBut always after, never before -- unless you want the opposite effect!Tim

author: alanb
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 04:35:37 pm
content: Quote from: T3sl4co1l on August 25, 2016, 02:07:55 pmWRONG! he hadn't had a drink for three days and then he had the accident, compared with a lifetime of drinking without this happening.

author: Refrigerator
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 04:58:13 pm
content: My grandpa once told me that the best way to check the spark is to put your finger in the boot and try start.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 11:52:57 pm
content: Quote from: alanb on August 25, 2016, 04:35:37 pmI meant immediately before, but you're right about that, too.Tim

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 26, 2016, 12:03:53 am
content: In my youth I had a car where the key got stuck in the on position. Starting involved shorting the starter to the engine with a screw driver. Stopping was yanking the lead off the distributor.Worked a treat.My word! Was I surprised the first time it got me? I was cautious in theextremeafter that!