[psrumors]

Yes, it's me holding on to a sparkplug with that little motor running. I guess if your not grounded it really don't hurt. Or these little magneto fired motors don't have enough uuummmpphh to hurt. Which is it?

<img src='http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/846536/DSCN1414.jpg' width=600 height=450 >

 

[parts man]

If I had to guess, I'd say that the motor wasn't grounded because of the wooden skids, and being up on the trailer, although, a metal jack would ground the trailer.
As far as the magneto goes, they still produce normal coil voltage 15K or better volts!! (same principal as the ignition on lawn mowers etc.)

 

[memmurphy]

As a kid I was nailed good by a 3hp Briggs on a mower. I was holding the plug against the block while my grandfather pulled the rope to check for spark. I think when he pulled I lost the ground connection to the block along with my fingers too close to the tip.

Working in electronics, I've had worse since then. One thing you don't want to do is have the voltage pass through one hand to ground through the other hand, (the current crosses the chest through the heart). Keep one hand in your pocket if possible while working around high voltage. Also use the back of your hand if in doubt as the current can cause the muscles to contract, you may not be able to let go. Just some tips from lineman and teachers I thought I would share.

Mark

 

[psrumors]

Well, I was amazed. I have been bit countless times by ignitions. This was the first one I intentionally "grabbed". It didn't hurt a bit, but all I touched was the terminal at the spark plug.

 

[aguysmiley]

That reminds me of one of my "brighter" moments.

I had replaced the starter rope on an old 9.9hp Mercury outboard. The engine was on a stand inside the shop. When the new rope was in, I pulled it out to make sure there was a decent length of rope on it. The engine was not in the water so I pulled that rope very slowly to avoid starting it. It started. Not being familiar with this old of a Mercury, I couldn't find the kill switch. Without water, water pumps burn up very fast. So I reacted faster. I decided to give a plug wire a quick yank. I wasn't quick enough. I got caught with the wire just off the plug, engine still running on one cylinder, and I couldn't let go. mg: Somehow I managed to muscle my way out of it and got the plug wire all the way off. The stupid thing was still running on one cylinder, so I got to go back after the other wire.

After that incident, I got in the habit of finding the kill switch before I did anything else to a motor.