Zap! Normal?

[mitchbuck]

So I was performing some maintenance on my 1990 90-hp Force and ended up getting a little zap when I touched the spark plug wire while the engine was running (who knows why I did it). To be specific, I touched the outside of the cover over the spark plug itself, and was zapped through the cover. It was not a bad zap, but was unexpected. Is this normal or do the spark plug wires need replacing? Or is it a sign of poor grounding?

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Zap! Normal?

No, I'd say you were grounded quite well. :joyous: Or standing in some water. Try running her at night and see if the wires are sparking. BTW - On mine the wires are less than three months old and I was getting zapped when they were new. I don't pull plug wires when the motor is running and I'm not using protection any more. Safe sparking only for me now.

 

[Jiggz]

Re: Zap! Normal?

As mentioned, it is not normal to get zapped. This is an indication your plug wire connectors are old and start cracking thus leaking high voltage. You can always replace them if you wanted to. Although I might had, it is usually not normal to touch the plug wire either when engine is running.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Zap! Normal?

The plug boots can be changed.
The wire itself can't be changed.
What you can do:Replace the boots and then shrink tube over the wire.
Then liquid electric tape over the shrink tube.
That will stop a lot of the shorting.