10 min Spark tester...with photos

[fucawi]

WE all k now what a pain it is tracking down a misfire ..pulling plugs and balanceing them on the block ...and of course with CD igniton the switch box is damaged if you crank with the plug leads off ....Every marine workshop has a spark tester with 1/4 inch gaps ....

Take a length of 1 x 3/8 timber and some old plugs you ripped the side electrode off ...drill 2 3 4 holes in the timber and screw in the plugs. Then a length of bent wire ...coat hanger ok to make some 1/4 gaps over the plug electrodes ...crock clip to ground it to the block and away you go .....

Oh yes if the ignition wont jump a 1/4 gap in air it wont jump the plug at cylinder pressure or fire a cold plug when starting

 

[wifisher]

Re: 10 min Spark tester...with photos

Why not just buy a spark tester that is made for this purpose and only costs $5?

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: 10 min Spark tester...with photos

Why not just buy a spark tester that is made for this purpose and only costs $5?

Im guessn' that FUCAWI, like myself, may enjoy developing home made gadgetry, he saved himself a trip to the store, and he has $5.00 to spend on lunch

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: 10 min Spark tester...with photos

The store bought gadgets are nice, but sometimes the home made gadgets have pride. Plus when you're working on something and you whip it out. It's always a good conversation piece..

As for spark testers, You can always use the buddy system. Just have them hold it. But it's usually a one time deal

 

[fucawi]

Re: 10 min Spark tester...with photos

Arnt you a load of lucky people in the USA ....no such thing exists here in uk ..certainly not one you can put 4 plug leads on at the same time

looked on e bay today ..all rubbish ..glowing neons and devices in line with the plug ..nothing that shows me a 1/4 spark in air and nothing for more than one plug ...except for a device that was screwed onto the end of a plug from which the side electrode had been removed and a cap fitted to the treads to give a 1/4 gap ....crock clip around the body of the plug ........nah stick to me bit of wood ..

 

[pnwboat]

Re: 10 min Spark tester...with photos

Here's one that I made up myself a few years ago.

 

[fucawi]

Re: 10 min Spark tester...with photos

looks good ..surface discharge I see ....still lots of new people dont know the old tricks and would prefer to spend money on con trick rubbish ....an electrical test screwdriver ..the sort with a neon in it will light up if held by a plug lead but that does not tell you if it will jump 1/4 inch and hold in place whilst you look for a wiring fault .... for most people drilling large holes in wood is much easier than steel ....

 

[pnwboat]

Re: 10 min Spark tester...with photos

Yes I've seen several of the ignition checkers out there. I wanted something that I could use to check the ignition with all of the actual plugs that I was using in the motor at the same time. I use a remote starter switch which is basically a hand held switch that is attached to the terminals on the starter solenoid. I simply turn the ignition switch on the dash to the "ON" position, walk back to the rear of my boat and I can engage the starter and ignition system standing right next to the motor. Makes it really convenient and I can visually compare the spark for all the plugs against each other. The spark plug holes in the metal bar are threaded with standard 14mm spark plug thread so any plug, surface discharge, bent electrode, etc. with that thread will fit. I've used it on a variety of different motors with great success.

 

[paddymichaud]

Re: 10 min Spark tester...with photos

Great ideay guys~! Just have one question for fucawi. Is it ok for the grouded wire not to be touching the sparkplug body? I would like to make one of these wooden ones (since I don't have a tap and die set to thread steel) to check timing, spark, and do quick compression tests. I was just under the assumption that the plugs themselves had to be grounded.