Ignition damage while timing engine?

[cocacola]

I don't have a spark gap tool (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercury-Outboard-Spark-Gap-Tester-91-850439T-1-NEW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ124104QQihZ005QQitemZ150104154563QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V)mentioned in manual and want to check/set my timing. Are there any alternatives?

[captcarb]

Ground all the spark plug leads.

Some say it is not necessary, but I have never heard a good explanation of where the high voltage is safely dissipated.

jim

[pyro]

Plug an old extra spark plug into each wire if you'd like to make sure the pulses are properly discharging.

I left them hanging disconnected when I timed mine, didn't hurt anything.

[Euroski]

High voltage got to go somewhere when the coil fires. Seen a few auto engine computers die when the fellow mechanic didn't ground the coil case and high voltage lead.

[captcarb]

exactly

[TD]

Like pyro says but be sure to ground them. I run a piece of tie wire and hook the plugs onto it and ground the wire behind a bolt.

[cocacola]

that's what I had in mind (read below)

and yes... I agree, "This is America, Speak English Damnit!!"



Like pyro says but be sure to ground them. I run a piece of tie wire and hook the plugs onto it and ground the wire behind a bolt.

[pyro]

In theory, the un-coupled high voltage can arc and break down the insulation in the coils and/or wires.

[captcarb]

Or arc into the primary and get to the switch boxes and the ecu and show up as a failure much later.

jim

[BamBam2970]

oR sET THE sOB ON fire !!! and sand doesn"t work well !!!

[pyro]

what the piss?

[BamBam2970]

nOT ANY PISS !! tHE SPARK jUMPING AND SETTING IT ON FIRE !! THAT WAS ALL !!!! sEEN tHAT hAPPEN bEFORE / All Is WEll !!! Its The Long Weekend !