heater hose not an electrical insulator ??

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sat Sep 03, 2011 7:29 pm

I have read somewhere a reference to heater hose or fuel hose not being a good electrical insulator - due to carbon in it to make black??

Bugalugs here was making do with a short piece of heater hose to insulate a spark plug on a Victa 2/ mower, as original insulator cap long gone.

A snip through the wall for the lead and overlap to protect the screw on end.

Suddenly mower would not start, got zap in lead, did not test the new plug that worked a minute ago. Fitted another new plug and bingo, crap plug, next day fits the insulator heater hose bit - no bloody start again!!

Thought has occured to me now, much later, of the claim of hose not being an insulator. Spark may be tracking to earth via rubber hose??

I'll be back for an update......

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sun Sep 04, 2011 12:28 pm

and for that update.... yup, and I thought heater hose, rubber, was an electrical insulator. Ripped my make shift "insulator" off and mower started first pull. Then induced a short between HT lead connection of spark plug and engine - got ZAP between spark plug and hose and then from hose to engine body and engine trying to cut out.

d_generate · Post by **d_generate** » Sun Sep 04, 2011 6:30 pm

Who would have thought, thanks for that bit of info, I'll store it at the back of my head with other bit's n bobs.................Like brake fluid in the power steering to stop it leaking, swells the seals.

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 8:35 am

eh!! must be the secret ingredient in the Lucas power steering fix goo - they promise a refund if it does not fix leaking seals. Or use engine oil as an emergency fluid replacement for clutch slaves or masters leaking their fluid, or hydraulic oil rather than fluid