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
Unexpected consequences
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- Posts: 4095
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:39 pm
- First Name: Norman
- Last Name: Kling
- Location: Alpine California
Re: Unexpected consequences
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
Norm
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- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu Nov 05, 2020 11:37 am
- First Name: Don
- Last Name: Keil
- Location: Bozeman MT
Re: Unexpected consequences
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.
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- Posts: 627
- 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
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.
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.
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- Posts: 852
- 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
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
Art Mirtes
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- Posts: 1559
- 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
I have one of those that my grandfather bought prior to WW2.Norman Kling wrote: ↑Sun Jul 25, 2021 7:10 pmBetter 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 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