Eagler's Nest
Engines => 2 Cylinder => 1/2 vw => Topic started by: leshoman on March 17, 2015, 06:39:12 PM
-
I came back from prop testing Sunday evening, it was calm when i took off but the wind had picked up and was a good cross wind. As can happen, everything is ok until the tail comes down, then the cross wind tuns one into the wind and across the runway, no problem getting stopped before edge of runway but at that point either need to shut down, straighten it up and taxi some more or drive across the infield, in this dry ground, and continue on the taxi way. This is what i did and hit a rough spot, some little bumps, not bad but one of the ignition boots came off on a plug, the engine continued to run on one cylinder but no power and did not want to accelerate above and idle. Upon checking the situation the little screw on terminal on plug, which i had tightened normally when installing new plugs about 23 hours ago had come undone, even though it was in a spring load clip on type terminal and the boot had been worked loose.the little screw end of spark plug was still in the terminal, inside the boot. I am going to lock-tite that little critter now.
-
That's good to know about. I would not have thought that that could happen. Would be nice to have some positive way to keep those type boots on.
-
You can order the plugs with solid type tips. It is hard to figure out because they use the same part number so local parts house guys get it screwed up every time. I sorta forget how I finally came up with mine.
-
Les.
Lost a race once thru just that.As we were using Lodge plugs at that time, as one of our sponsors we could not get the solid ones,
we used to apply a little silver solder on the screw terminal Didn't happen again.
-
Put a tie-wrap on the boot....I do, both ends!!
-
Because of my air scoops it is almost impossible. May come up with something behind them
-
MY scoops hold my boots down!
-
A hose-clamp (or some twisted wire) tightened on the outside of the boot ought to take care of it.
EDIT: Sorry, I overlooked the tie-wrap suggestion.
-
I think the point is being missed here.The problem was not the boot falling off,it was the terminal unscrewing.It was just resting in place.I think Les was lucky he found rough ground ,not rough air.Securing the boot is a good precaution,but don't think that's all you need to look at.That terminal,if its the screw type,needs to be secure.
Rex
-
I recall the spark plug end of the ignition wires in my VW cars were Bosch, and you had to remove the screwed on terminals from the plugs to attach them. They had a brass tube with a slot on the side and a wire spring in the slot that really grabbed the threads on the spark plug terminal. I don't remember one ever coming off. Perhaps these old wire ends would be a good solution?