Unexpected consequences

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nicklm
Posts: 61
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2019 6:22 pm
First Name: Nick
Last Name: Miller
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 touring
Location: NRedington Bch, FL
MTFCA Number: 31031
MTFCI Number: 18935

Unexpected consequences

Post by nicklm » Sun Jul 25, 2021 6:28 pm

We have a 1926 New and Improved touring and it had an occasional skip. I thought it was time to clean the plugs and timer. Removing the plugs there was a carbon build up. I cleaned off the carbon with acid thinking it would come out cleaner than any other way. Completed the cleaning and installed the plugs. The car would not start. Charged the battery and tried again. No luck. I took all the plugs out and reattached the plug wires with the plugs resting on the head. One plug occasionally had a spark. They were grounded out and even cleaning again with brake cleaner would not let the insulators work. Who new the acid would disable the plugs. Replaced the plugs and the car was back running well.

While feeling good about this discovery, we noticed the spark plug wires were occasionally sending a spark, at the coil box end over to the 6 volt wires on the box. Repositioned the high tension wires away from the 6 volt wires and it stopped the random sparking and the skipping that started this maintenance, has stopped.

Always a learning experience and a car show where ever you stop.

Nick


Norman Kling
Posts: 4072
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:39 pm
First Name: Norman
Last Name: Kling
Location: Alpine California

Re: Unexpected consequences

Post by Norman Kling » Sun Jul 25, 2021 7:10 pm

Better way to clean is to scrape off the electrodes and or sandblast the insulators. That acid, must have either opened some connection or caused an internal short which would cause no spark. The old spark plug cleaners were small sandblasters.
Norm


LeakyRad
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 2020 11:37 am
First Name: Don
Last Name: Keil
Location: Bozeman MT

Re: Unexpected consequences

Post by LeakyRad » Mon Jul 26, 2021 9:22 am

acid is very good conductor and so are its salts. your plugs are shorted. most salts are water soluble so you might save them by a long soak I water.


Been Here Before
Posts: 625
Joined: Mon Oct 07, 2019 2:00 pm
First Name: George John
Last Name: Drobnock
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1922 Coupe
Location: Central Pennsylvania

Re: Unexpected consequences

Post by Been Here Before » Mon Jul 26, 2021 10:11 am

Of course there are acids and there are acids. What acid did you use for your cleaning? A search of the internet suggest muriatic (hydrochloic) acid of a weak percentage. Or as suggested from a period publication Acetic (Vinegar) Acid.

Of course I believe the suggestion id for the top of the sparking plug and not the electrodes. Best a wire brush or grit blast.
Scan1acidsparking.jpg
Scan1acidsparking.jpg (62.12 KiB) Viewed 1350 times


Art M
Posts: 843
Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2019 12:57 pm
First Name: Art
Last Name: Mirtes
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 Touring
Location: Huron, Ohio
MTFCA Number: 32489
MTFCI Number: 24068
Board Member Since: 2016

Re: Unexpected consequences

Post by Art M » Mon Jul 26, 2021 10:52 am

An old trick on your mechanic friend. Dip a rag in battery acid. Wipe the outside of each sparkplug with the rag. The car will not start and it probably will take your friend to find the issue.
Art Mirtes

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RustyFords
Posts: 1554
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:16 am
First Name: Don
Last Name: Allen
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Touring
Location: Houston, TX
MTFCA Number: 50001

Re: Unexpected consequences

Post by RustyFords » Mon Jul 26, 2021 11:01 am

Norman Kling wrote:
Sun Jul 25, 2021 7:10 pm
Better way to clean is to scrape off the electrodes and or sandblast the insulators. That acid, must have either opened some connection or caused an internal short which would cause no spark. The old spark plug cleaners were small sandblasters.
Norm
I have one of those that my grandfather bought prior to WW2.

I knew it existed because I remember him using it when I was a kid and I knew it was in my dad's stash of misc stuff. My dad found it a few weeks ago and gave it to me.

Can't wait to dust it off and use it on my plugs.
1924 Touring

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