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Harry Ferguson Tractors Discussion Forum

Plug Wires Leaking?

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DennisPinOhio

12-01-2007 08:17:01

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My "48 TE 20 has 12 volts, negative ground and a Pertronix Ignitor and matching coil.
The other day, I went to shut off the fuel cock with the engine running, and accidentally brushed no. 4 plug wire with my left hand. It about threw me over the fence! Talk about a jolt. I am assuming the Pertronix has a super high voltage output.
Question is are stock wires unable to handle this higher voltage or are they just old?
Can they be shielded or should I buy some better grade of wire.
Thanks in advance for any answers.
Dennis

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Bob (Aust)

12-03-2007 19:04:25

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Re: Plug Wires Leaking? in reply to DennisPinOhio, 12-01-2007 08:17:01

Old Git. My Pertronics ignition system works fine with copper core plug and coil leads. There is nothing on their web site or in their product brochure prohibiting the use of copper core leads.

Bob in Oz

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gshadel

12-03-2007 07:47:29

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Re: Plug Wires Leaking? in reply to DennisPinOhio, 12-01-2007 08:17:01

Dennis, my guess is your existing wires have cracks, were dirty, and/or were damp. Good stock plug wires should contain that voltage, even with your suped-up ignition. You can spend the extra $$ on high end wires if you want, that's your call. I have the Pertronix flamethrower coil, but stock points/condenser, & I've been running the standard TSC generic copper core, cut-to-length AG wire set. No prob's. However, I did have some problems with wet wires running rough (tractor sits outside) and have sprayed the wires heavily with that marine ignition wire sealer stuff that leaves a heavy coating of clear plastic film on the wires, cap & plugs. That does a good job.

George

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DennisPinOhio

12-04-2007 04:11:31

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Re: Plug Wires Leaking? in reply to gshadel, 12-03-2007 07:47:29

Thanks for the tip.
I think I will use the sealer. Where can it be obtained?
Thanks.
Dennis

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gshadel

12-04-2007 09:24:04

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Re: Plug Wires Leaking? in reply to DennisPinOhio, 12-04-2007 04:11:31

don't recall, NAPA maybe. You probably WON'T find it at Autozone, Autoworks, Advanced Parts, etc. I recall having to search around town and finally found it at a local independent auto parts dealer. I'll bet a marine parts place, boat shop will have it. I discovered the stuff back in the day when I had a VW bettle, they were kind-of notorious for wet ignition wires because the rear engine hood had louvers to help keep the engine cool. I found the stuff at a foreign car specialty parts store.

George

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DennisPinOhio

12-05-2007 06:23:29

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Re: Plug Wires Leaking? in reply to gshadel, 12-04-2007 09:24:04

Thanks, George.
I"ll try NAPA, since the owner has restored Ford tractors and will know what I"m attempting to do.
G"day.
Dennis

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Jerry/MT

12-01-2007 17:02:11

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Re: Plug Wires Leaking? in reply to DennisPinOhio, 12-01-2007 08:17:01

I need to quit reading these posts so quickly. Guess I missed the part about the matching Pertronix coil. If you have that, then indeed the coil MAY provide a higher voltage, but only IF you have bigger plug gaps.

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Bob (Aust)

12-01-2007 12:14:37

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Re: Plug Wires Leaking? in reply to DennisPinOhio, 12-01-2007 08:17:01

Dennis. I too have the Pertronics Igniter and matching high voltage coil - best investment I ever made!
Bruce is correct - the coil is rated at 40,000 volts. A "hit" from that will tend to curl your hair!! third party image

For the cost of leads, I'd be making up a new set from good quality copper core lead.

Unrelated, what plug gap are you using? I suspect you may significantly increase engine efficiency with the Pertronix igniter and coil by opening the plug gap up to 40 thou or even wider. Plugs in modern car engines with solid state ignition often are set as wide as 60 thou. Just a theory - haven't had time to try it yet.

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DennisPinOhio

12-02-2007 07:33:46

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Re: Plug Wires Leaking? in reply to Bob (Aust), 12-01-2007 12:14:37

I gapped the plugs per the manual, which is .025. Am now considering opening up to .045 as has been suggested.I agree the Pertronix was a very good investment.
Thanks for the response.

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Bruce(OR)

12-01-2007 20:48:25

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Re: Plug Wires Leaking? in reply to Bob (Aust), 12-01-2007 12:14:37

Currently GM plug gap at .060" is for some DIS ignition systems only. Any distributor type ignition system that GM produced in the past has had a service buletin posted dropping the maximum plug gap to .045". This wider gap was for the leaner burning engines. Great idea, unfortunately it produced a rougher running enine with the .060" gap and overworked the coil and module a tad bit.
The narrower maximum .045" plug gap made a whole lot of people happier with a smoother running engine.

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Bruce(OR)

12-01-2007 10:25:09

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Re: Plug Wires Leaking? in reply to DennisPinOhio, 12-01-2007 08:17:01

Petronics coil is rated for 40,000 volts. I have a new one in it's box. You probably have bad insulation on your wires. Long plastic handle screwdriver with a jumper wire from the shank to ground. Run the screwdriver along your wires. Good luck!

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Jerry/MT

12-01-2007 09:56:50

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Re: Plug Wires Leaking? in reply to DennisPinOhio, 12-01-2007 08:17:01

They could be old and have cracks in the insulation or just really dirty and you have some conduction down the outer insulation.

I don"t think the Pertronix has any kind of "super high voltage". It only provdes more precision switching of the primary circuit and provides a more optimal spark. The voltage and current delivered is a function of the resistance in the circuit including the spark gap. (If it only takes 9000 volts to fire the plug in that secondary circuit, the coil delivers that voltage, If it takes 12,0000 volts, that"s what the coil delivers up to it"s limiting voltage.)

If you run the engine in a dark situation, you can often see spark like flashes on bad wires. So wipe your wires down, check for cracks and replace as necessary with copper core spark plug wires.

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DennisPinOhio

12-02-2007 07:36:04

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Re: Plug Wires Leaking? in reply to Jerry/MT, 12-01-2007 09:56:50

Thanks, Jerry and to all who responded.
I think I will look in the Summit Racing catalogue and see if they bulk, copper core wire I can fab up myself. Regards,
Dennis

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oldgit

12-02-2007 20:45:06

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Re: Plug Wires Leaking? in reply to DennisPinOhio, 12-02-2007 07:36:04

I thought you could not use copper core wires with the Petronics ignition

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