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Old trick [message #306826] Fri, 09 September 2016 20:53 Go to next message
jhbridges is currently offline  jhbridges   United States
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
Senior Member
Since I've been working around ignition systems the last couple of days, I remembered an old PMI trick. It comes from the days of Ford 300CID inline 6 engines which for reasons I don't understand, failed ignition wires somewhat more often than most engines. Wait for a moonless night, or open the garage door to let the exhaust out and keep the coach nose first in the garage. when it's good and dark, turn off all the lights. You want as close to total darkness as you can get. Pop the hatch off and crank the engine. Look all around the distributor and along the sparkplug wires. They should be completely dark. An eerie purplish/blue glow (properly called corona) indicates failing insulation on the wires, replace them.
My 23' has new Patterson wires, and the 26' has the ones that came with the MSD 'Flamethrower' setup the PO put on, neither show signs of deterioration. The ratrod toad looked like Yoda and Darth Maul swinging light sabers at each other so I invested 30 scoots in some decent new wires for it. Save yourself some grief before you drive into a rainstorm.

--johnny


Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons. Braselton, Ga. I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
Re: Old trick [message #306829 is a reply to message #306826] Fri, 09 September 2016 21:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
Senior Member
Johnny Bridges wrote on Fri, 09 September 2016 21:53
Since I've been working around ignition systems the last couple of days, I remembered an old PMI trick. It comes from the days of Ford 300CID inline 6 engines which for reasons I don't understand, failed ignition wires somewhat more often than most engines. Wait for a moonless night, or open the garage door to let the exhaust out and keep the coach nose first in the garage. when it's good and dark, turn off all the lights. You want as close to total darkness as you can get. Pop the hatch off and crank the engine. Look all around the distributor and along the sparkplug wires. They should be completely dark. An eerie purplish/blue glow (properly called corona) indicates failing insulation on the wires, replace them.
My 23' has new Patterson wires, and the 26' has the ones that came with the MSD 'Flamethrower' setup the PO put on, neither show signs of deterioration. The ratrod toad looked like Yoda and Darth Maul swinging light sabers at each other so I invested 30 scoots in some decent new wires for it. Save yourself some grief before you drive into a rainstorm.

--johnny

Johnny,

If you are at Mansfield and will share some adult beverage, I bet I can explain it to you. And yes, it is completely correct and a just a little ahead of the spray mist test.

Matt - holed up in Erie PA


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: Old trick [message #306831 is a reply to message #306826] Fri, 09 September 2016 21:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jhbridges is currently offline  jhbridges   United States
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
Senior Member
If I get to Mansfield, it will be sans coach and only for a day or two - I've shows on each side of it. I understand corona. It just strikes me strange that that particular engine - in both sizes - seems to show the trouble more often than other stuff. Maybe the luck of the draw, I've had it in pickups and Ecomomylines and stationary service over the years. Amount of exposure?


--johnny


Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons. Braselton, Ga. I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
Re: [GMCnet] Old trick [message #306837 is a reply to message #306831] Fri, 09 September 2016 21:22 Go to previous message
James Hupy is currently offline  James Hupy   United States
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
Senior Member
Ran into the same problem with a Waukesha engine on a Sewage treatment
plant that was set up for dual fuel. Ran well on natural gas but stumbled
on swamp gas ( methane). Turned off all the lights and the problem revealed
itself. Tech guys from the factory didn't believe me. We replaced the plug
and coil wires and put silicone sleeves over them and no more issues. Made
believers out of those factory guys.
Jim Hupy
On Sep 9, 2016 7:10 PM, "Johnny Bridges via Gmclist" <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:

> If I get to Mansfield, it will be sans coach and only for a day or two -
> I've shows on each side of it. I understand corona. It just strikes me
> strange that that particular engine - in both sizes - seems to show the
> trouble more often than other stuff. Maybe the luck of the draw, I've had
> it
> in pickups and Ecomomylines and stationary service over the years. Amount
> of exposure?
>
>
> --johnny
> --
> '76 23' transmode Norris upfit, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and
> add - ons.
> Braselton, Ga.
>
> "Sometimes I wonder what tomorrow's gonna bring when I think about my
> dirty life and times" --Warren Zevon
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
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