Grounding plugs/plug wires

[SXIPro]

I have read on here and on PWCT, and on MSD's website that you should always ground your plugs when cranking the engine or damage to the CDI or other electrical components could occur.

Anyone know the failure rate due to this? I know that I, for one, have cranked my ski with the plug boots off the plugs and the plugs out of the head many times, especially if I have taken water into my motor and am rushing to expel it all. I've also done it on all my skis when I winterize and am fogging the cylinders.

From here on out, I am going to try to remember to ground them....

How many of you have actually toasted your CDIs by not grounding the plugs/plugwires?

 

[keefer]

I think that it is good advice. You have to realize that the high voltage produced on the secondary of the coil needs to be absorbed otherwise it can produce a back pulse that can affect the CDI over time. Damage to the coil by causing a breakdown of the insulation of the windings due to internal arcing is also possible. This can cause shorts which will damage or ruin the coil. You gotta figure that there is 20 - 30 kv produced to make that spark.

 

[Dustin Mustangs]

I do this all the time and have never lost any type of electrical component other than a few start/stop switches which I can only assume are not related. IMHO the true danger here is pumping an a/f mixture out the plug hole(s) while flirting with an accidental spark.

 

[Mike W]

I have an old set of plugs I install in the boots when I do a compression check. I lay the plugs on top of the head so they are grounded.

 

[MADMAT]

Kawi put a place to ground your plugs for a reason.

I have fried at least 2 MSD's due to this issue. I opened them up after they were bad and the caps were swollen due to no place for the energy to go IMO.

I always thought someone should make a little Kawi type thing for our SJ's.

 

[sflsurfrider]

the power has to go SOMEWHERE.... and arcing through insulation, whether its the leads' insulation, or the internal insulation.... primary or secondary, is not a good thing.

i see people not grounding them all the time with no issues, but i still always either ground them with a sparkplugs to the head, or just slide the boots over a couple of the head bolts.

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

I do it all the time.

Ive never toasted an MSD because of it.

if you just lay the plug boots against the engine, they generally DO find a path to ground, you can hear them arcing, and see it if you look.

 

[hangtime]

Push the stop button when cranking and no spark is produced .

 

[MADMAT]

Push the stop button when cranking and no spark is produced .

Really? Nice trick.

 

[Kny21]

Push the stop button when cranking and no spark is produced .

X2.... thought that was a given for skis that don't have the plug grounds.

 

[Dustin Mustangs]

Well it is now

 

[750SX]

yeah or pull the lanyard

 

[SXIPro]

yeah or pull the lanyard

On a Kawi, yes, on an SJ, no. Pull the lanyard on the SJ and hit the start button, and nuthin at all happens.

 

[Kennay]

On a Kawi, yes, on an SJ, no. Pull the lanyard on the SJ and hit the start button, and nuthin at all happens.

All you have to do is hold the stop and start at the same time with the lanyard in place. Cranks but no spark.

 

[63chevyll]

when i was a young grasshopper i did lose a CDI due to this, now i always ground em.


$500 part sucks

 

[restosud]

i do it religiously.had a enhancer shut down because of it.unplugged it for a few seconds and it came back to life.lucked out i guess.
pulling the lanyard is the best way imo however.

 

[hangtime]

If you pull the lanyard on an SJ it does not crank over at all .
No lanyard = No crank

 

[restosud]

who said only yami

 

[SXIPro]

who said only yami

It was pretty much covered in posts 12 and 13.