Spark Plug Wires

[scolley]

Hello all,

The spark plug wires I ordered came in but they don't have the spark plug ends crimped on them yet. I want to avoid buying a crimper if I can because I have too many tools lying around that I don't use much and I can't see needing to do this a lot in the future. I thought I could take them to a mechanic friend of mine who has a crimper to put them on for me but I don't know if I can thread the distributor end of t he wires through that conduit between the engine and the fuel tank. Can anyone tell me if they will? If not, I'm going to have to buy a crimper

 

[ericlb]

i just use a pair of channel lock pliers, , put the steel braid wire on the side away from the open side of the plug end and crimp the first tab, then kind of roll and crimp the second tab over it, take s a little pratice, but ive done that for 40 years, and never had a wire end pull off when i pulled the wires to change plugs

 

[js305]

I understand how you might feel about buying more tools. You may already have a crimper, many of the combination stripper crimper tools have the place to crimp the spark plug ends. If you don't, you can get an inexpensive one that will work fine for that so if you use it only once it won't be a big investment for the convenience of having right there. I bet your mechanic friend has several and might be willing to loan you one.

 

[DGinVT]

Follow the response by ericlb. I, also, have used this method for many years with not problems. Just make sure that you have good metal contact and you will be fine

 

[souNdguy]

hint. a cable tv end hexagonal ( not the round collet sleeve ) crimper that does the 2-3 size sleeves for 'F' connectors works JUST fine.

and if nothing else. so does PLIERS

no beauty contest. just has to work!

 

[NNP]

Do the best with what you have.
Crimpers and/or solder sure is nice, but they just have to make
good electrical contact.
I have a few beaters running around here that had badly corroded
wires on the cap end. Cleaned the cap holes, cut the ends off the wires, stripped back the insulation a half inch to get to good 'ungreen' wire, folded the wire back beside the insulation and stuck em in the cap. run fine.
Folding the wire along the side adds enough resistance to the 'push in' that they don't fall out.
(ya, I'll get new wires eventually LOL....now which tractor was it? can't tell by the way they run......)

 

[scolley]

Thanks everyone.

If I crimp the ends onto the wires first, can I still fit the distributor end of the wire through that metal tube above the engine or will it be too large to fit through it?

 

[Caryc]

Soundguy and I seem to do it the same way. The tv "F" crimper works just fine. I stick the shank of a 1/8" drill bit in the crimper along with the wire. It gives you the rolled pinched crimp you see in the pic on the right.

 

[scolley]

Thank for all the helpful pictures Caryc. I love this forum.