Hour Meter Engine Install

[street]

I want to install an hour meter on a small gas engine today. The research I have done says to wrap wire around spark plug five turns and zip tie wire wrapped around spark plug wire to secure.

My question is why a zip tie to hold wire wrap around, is there any reason why I couldn't electric tape the wire around the plug wire?

Not sure if being tightly secured around plug wire makes a difference or causes issues.

Anyone has any knowledge of installing or see an issues would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Car-Guy]

I assume you are asking about a simple one wire induction run time hour meter.. I think the tie wrap is just in case the spark plug wire gets oily at some point and the electrical tape won't hold very well.

[street]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Car-Guy I assume you are asking about a simple one wire induction run time hour meter.. I think the tie wrap is just in case the spark plug wire gets oily at some point and the electrical tape won't hold very well.

Yes, induction or for instrument not working proper or if it may cause some sort of starting issues etc.

Thanks, and that maybe why I only see for zip tie to be used.

[OldShooter]

Spark plugs get hot.

[sengsational]

I'd say a zip tie is just preferred to tape as it's less likely to slip over time.

To expand on hour meter installation a bit, does it matter where along the spark plug lead it goes? One may guess that farther away from the spark plug and closer to the magnito would be more likely to remain undisturbed. Not sure if the signal would be the same, though.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sengsational I'd say a zip tie is just preferred to tape as it's less likely to slip over time. To expand on hour meter installation a bit, does it matter where along the spark plug lead it goes? One may guess that farther away from the spark plug and closer to the magnito would be more likely to remain undisturbed. Not sure if the signal would be the same, though.

I installed one of these on a portable generator last year. Wrapped the wire a few inches back from the spark plug and secured it with two small zip ties. Works great.

[street]

Thanks so much for the experience everyone has giving and for bringing up some great questions.

I will stay with what has been recommended and what install said to do. I was thinking tape would be a better option than ties but that may not be the case.

[Murf2]

Zip tie would also be much easier to remove, if needed.

[CRLLS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murf2 Zip tie would also be much easier to remove, if needed.

And there is no need to clean up the sticky mess that tape leaves. Use black zip ties. They are typically better suited for outdoor use than white ones, UV-wise.

[FI_RElater]

Street

I used zip tie for one on lawn mower engine... placed the readout securely at lower handle attachment point

just make sure you have the proper number of turns when rapping around spark plug (instructions should say how many)... I've had mine on to remind me of proper hours for oil change and reminder for hours before either resharpening or changing blade. It should also give you an indication of poor performance if the idle speed rpm is "off" or if it can't reach same full speed rpm's

[OldShooter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by street ... I was thinking tape would be a better option than ties but that may not be the case.

Issue would be the adhesive softening with heat and deteriorating with heat and time. Scotch 88 is AFIK about the best tape for this kind of thing. Actually if I were doing it I would probably use stainless aircraft safety wire (which I have) or I would chase down some stainless zip ties. I guess there is a tiny chance that metal would screw up the inductive coupling but you'd know that right away.

[street]

Thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions and experiences. Very much appreciated and I will zip tie. I thought I could get one here, but I couldn't, so I ordered one.