waterproofing those stupid sparkplug tubes on a petrol 4by

[meece4x4]

I was passing on some waterproofing ideas to a mate on another forum and thought I might share them here too, As both our trucks are petrol powered we have had many a time where they have conked out after going through a river/water hole/mud hole etc because of the inability of the sparkplug leads to keep water out of the tubes and/or the location of the dizzy on most petrol motors, heres what we did to ours and now they are far more waterproof.

I have sprayed my dizzy and coil with a product called "SOFTSEAL" we use it for sealing Telecomunication cables agaisnt water, Its like a very thin brown coloured underseal that drys a bit like the consistancy of latex, repels water like you wouldnt believe, I have sprayed the stuff over the entire underside of all my 4bies and have coated the dizzys, sparkplug leads, coil and anything electrical under the bonnet of my Fez and my wifes Escudo,

i have also used these little foam gromits that we use to stop water running down pipes where the underground telephone cables come out of the ground to seal the tubes on the spark plugs they are made of the same sort of stuff earplugs are made of and are about 3" in dia with a hole in the centre of it .. you force the plug lead through the hole scrunch it up wack the lead on and it will expand in the hole and make a completely watertight seal (get them off your friendly Downer techie)

You can buy SOFTSEAL at electrical places like Rexels and Supercheap sometimes stocks it. the advantage with softseal is if you have to remove it a rag dampened with a tiny amount of turps will wipe it off, its about $14 a can and I have used 3 can on 2 trucks, the advantage with it though is water just beads up and runs off instantly anywhere the stuff is sprayed and mud/sh*t/roadkill dosnt stick either .. making that after play cleanup a dodle

with these mods and a snorkel fitted my wifes motor continued to run even after she dropped her escudo into a hole on Baleys beach and had the nose completely underwater up to the windscreen wipers... she stopped her motor while i winched her out .. waited 20 sec for the engine bay to empty of water turned the key and it started first pop without having to spray WD40 over everything like we normally have to

[Steve_t647]

You can put a condom over the coil and a medical glove over the distributor too.

These actualy work and if stuck or having problems are in the bush they take up bugger all space in a tool kit. Close any holes with electrical tape and you are good to go

[meece4x4]

You can put a condom over the coil and a medical glove over the distributor too.

These actualy work and if stuck or having problems are in the bush they take up bugger all space in a tool kit. Close any holes with electrical tape and you are good to go

hmmm might have to do a condom run then , gloves in the first aid kit but no rubbers

wonder if it losses power if I get the numbing ones
or extra traction with the ribbed ones

[lneil]

Hey Mark, Thanks for the tips. I've been wondering how to improve the 'Zuk's waterproofing. I currently just use heaps of Silicone spray, but it doesn't last and it's not really all that waterproof.

Any idea of who in Nelson might have some of those grommets, I don't recognise the 'Downer' name?

[meece4x4]

Hey Mark, Thanks for the tips. I've been wondering how to improve the 'Zuk's waterproofing. I currently just use heaps of Silicone spray, but it doesn't last and it's not really all that waterproof.

Any idea of who in Nelson might have some of those grommets, I don't recognise the 'Downer' name?

hmmm ... sorry wouldnt have the foggyest who the local telecom contractor is down your way keep an eye out for a techie hiding under a umbrella in the pissing rain .. if you have no luck and you can wait untill im back at work in early feb ill flick some down to you if you like i have a heap in my work truck ... (which is at work ... and Im not ).

cheers meece

[lneil]

Thanks Meece, I'll get in touch if I haven't found any by then.

Hey, are you selling the 'zuk?

[Raiknn]

Thanks for the tip Meece. I was wondering how to get this stuff in Timaru but have found a site that does orders.

http://www.autoone.co.nz/

assuming the crc softseal is the same stuff.

cheers

[tallsam66]

Hey Mark, Thanks for the tips. I've been wondering how to improve the 'Zuk's waterproofing. I currently just use heaps of Silicone spray, but it doesn't last and it's not really all that waterproof.

Any idea of who in Nelson might have some of those grommets, I don't recognise the 'Downer' name?

hmmm ... sorry wouldnt have the foggyest who the local telecom contractor is down your way keep an eye out for a techie hiding under a umbrella in the pissing rain .. if you have no luck and you can wait untill im back at work in early feb ill flick some down to you if you like i have a heap in my work truck ... (which is at work ... and Im not ).

cheers meece

In Nelson the contractor may be "Transfield"