How often do you change your HT leads?

BogMonster · 16 April 2006, 15:48

My engine is about 6 years old. I assume it's still on the original set of HT leads. On a car engine they'd be past their best by now, possible arcing etc on damp mornings - on a boat engine in a permanently damp environment I guess this will be more serious but maybe marine HT leads are made to a much better spec to start with?

What interval does everybody change them at or just "when they start to leak"!? these are chafed slightly in a couple of places.

I found a new set of plugs in the box of bits this morning so that's one less thing I have to buy

BogMonster · 17 April 2006, 17:15

Hmmm well 41 views and no reply so I assume nobody changes them as a matter of course

OK another question while waiting - spark plug equivalents - my Johnson uses QL87YC Champions which aren't available here, various information I have suggests that an NGK BPR6HS is an equivalent which is in good supply locally, is there any issue with using "equivalents" in 2 stroke engines or am I safe to use this if required?

Nos4r2 · 17 April 2006, 17:33

As long as it's the right equivalent it'll be fine. I've always used NGK's in all my motors as they are easier to source and cheaper.

Jackwabbit · 17 April 2006, 18:06

As far as I know we haven’t changed the HT leads on any of our engines, the oldest is a Yamaha 30HP 2troke pre-mix & it’s over 15 years old & still starts better than the 8 year old Yamaha 40HP auto-lube.
From the engines I have looked at the HT leads are sealed into the coils, so I think the coil would have to be changed to change the HT leads.

BogMonster · 17 April 2006, 18:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackwabbit

As far as I know we haven’t changed the HT leads on any of our engines, the oldest is a Yamaha 30HP 2troke pre-mix & it’s over 15 years old & still starts better than the 8 year old Yamaha 40HP auto-lube.
From the engines I have looked at the HT leads are sealed into the coils, so I think the coil would have to be changed to change the HT leads.

Ah ok ... that makes it a wee bit more expensive then!

Some spiral wrap around the leads will protect them from chafing any more I guess, I can't see where the coils ends finish as they disappear into a big ignition unit thingy (technical term

)

I just wondered on the "equivalent" thing as the plugs I have that came with the boat were branded "Champion Marine" while the NGK equivalents are just "ordinary car plugs" as far as I know. Maybe there is no difference.

Thanks

Nos4r2 · 17 April 2006, 18:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

I just wondered on the "equivalent" thing as the plugs I have that came with the boat were branded "Champion Marine" while the NGK equivalents are just "ordinary car plugs" as far as I know. Maybe there is no difference.

Hmmm....I bet the champions are a tad more expensive...

BogMonster · 17 April 2006, 21:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Hmmm....I bet the champions are a tad more expensive...

Ah but very conveniently I work for a company which happens to have a trade account with both Champion and NGK

its just that we have to put a big order in about once a year (min order qtys) so it will be a while before I can get any Champion ones and we already have the NGKs for something else. £1.70 each for the NGKs.

Andy Gee · 18 April 2006, 08:51

I've only ever had to change HT leads once, Mariner 75hp 2st, a pair fitted to a 6.5m. Kept having intermittent faults i.e miss firing/loss of power. Couldn.t find any fault until I lightly "streched" the HT leads and when the pressure was removed a load of wires popped out of the side wall alll the way down/ Tried the same on the other engine and it was the same on 2 of the 3 cylinders. Replaced the lot and never had any more problems. The engines at the time were about 4 years old with around 1650hrs on them.
cheers
Andy