Spark plug harness routing ideas

[8708]

Hi folks,
I have installed my new mags and am routing the spark plug wires. I have tried several paths using the supplied clamps and adel clamps but I have learned that the forum usually has some good ideas. Does anyone have any photos of their installations?
Thanks! Jay

[Hank Jarrett]

Not my engine but here is a nice neat one (whoever owns this plane chime in and I will label the photo)

[Hank Jarrett]

This is mine.

[Scott]

Many variables here i.e. engine, mag, baffle, cowling, spark plug combination.

But also some constants - remember that the mags move with the engine and baffles, but the engine mount and firewall do not. This is less pronounced with the small shock mounts on the A65 but more significant with the Lord-style mounts. What this means is your preference is to route the wires clear of the firewall and engine mount, or ensure that there is sufficient slack in the wires to accommodate engine movement if you have to support the wires at the mount or firewall.

With slick mags, clearance to the firewall is tight and it may be better to allow the wires to rub the firewall rather than pull tight radii to avoid contact. In this case a patch of teflon tape on the firewall and some form of sacrificial (Koroseal perhaps) wrap on the wires would be good. Pay attention to the close quarters of the top cowling too. Lots of discussion on "to bump or not to bump" the top cowlings!

PS the first photo that Hank posted illustrates what I'm talking about, the two wires going to the lower plugs look to be pulled tight over the engine mount. As the engine shakes and moves in the mount, this will put unnecessary stress on the wires and possibly cause the shielding to cause chafe damage to the engine mounts.

Also, while (metal tab) tyraps are adequate for wire to wire support, use adel clamps or the proper slick wire clamps to support the wires at, for example, engine mount, baffle feed-through, or other places where the weight of the wires is being supported and a stand-off is needed.

Note: The purpose of support is three-fold: support the weight of the wires, hold the wires clear of potential chafe points, and stand-off from the attach point (to prevent damage to both the wires and attach point).

[waltermrich]

Scott, Had to pass this on, I saw today in the EAA Sport Aviation magazine a article on you and your Taylorcraft winning the Grand Champion Lindy award for Grand Champion Classic at Oshkosh this year. Nice to see, Read it with great interest and I think your T Craft deserved it.

[Hank Jarrett]

Got to agree with Walter, Scott's plane is a real beauty and you should go to his page and see more of the detail photos. She is amazing. I will also check those plug leads for support and routing. As I remember there is slack in them when I put them on but it looks like they may have tightened up and that might have even had something to do with the bad mag check on her last flight. SHARP EYE Scott! Thanks.

[Scott]

Thanks Guys. Lindy is still front and center on the kitchen counter. I expect the boss will get tired of him soon!

I don't appear to have an appropriate photo on my blog so here's one from my file. Bendix mags, but you can see I avoided the engine mount altogether and my preference for koroseal over tyraps:

[astjp2]

Just dont let the wires rub on anything, I use T&B zip ties with the metal lock tabs. I also use tygon tubing to space the wires off of things with the zip ties. Tim