Electrocution -- Dizzy
 

Can a person who's turning the distributor for timing purposes be electrocuted? From the wires?

Shocked -Yes. Electrocuted? Not likely, unless they had a pacemaker or something like that which got messed up in the process.. Very short duration, very high voltage spike at fairly low current - more likely to repel your hand than anything, at first event.

I remember an old "country mechanic" in my hometown that used to stall Ford flatheads by shorting out all 8 plugs with his forearms. Don't know how long he lived. though...:cool:

only if there is water on it or if you grip wires really tight. You won't die but you'll feel like Yahoo Serious for a while. Not recomended for people with pacemaker...

LOL reminds me of the time my old girlfriend asked me "what does that do? I was holding a Joe Hunt vertex magneto (around 80,000 volts) at the time. Boy was she pissed when I demonstrated. Here, I said. Hold onto this and this LOL. The more I laughed the more she cried. I wonder why she stopped hanging around?

Anyhoo, if the ignition is on and the coil is charged, it can be discharged by turning the dizzy if the points are opened or shutter is passed.
It won't happen unless the coil is charged tho.........

That only works on magnetos LOL ROFLMAO I still think that was funny. Evidently I had a better sense of humor than she did.

Don't try it with a Motronic car. Big(ger) zap.
-Chris

you should NOT get shocked if the plug wires and cap are good.

Ok, check this out...... I have pretty new wires. I noticed that the 'housing/skin' (cloth-like) are burnt. The burnt parts are where the wires touch each other. I turned the lights off in the garage but there exist no spark. The 'burning' process stopped once I reorgnized and separated the wires with them 'plastic hooks'. I've worked on tuning cars for 20+ years, but this is the first time I have seen this. Did not want to take chances.

Can someone explain this?

Thanks.

P.S.

I was beginning to feel left out when I was not getting 'responses' to my Yahoo account.

What is going on here?

If I were you I'd look into getting some magnecor wires.
Your wires should not be arcing at all even if they are touching.

In the days of flathead engines, ignition systems were running a few thousand volts, maybe up to 15kv. Today's ignition systems scoff at those pathetic voltages. They are now beyond 30-40kv, up into the 50 and 60kv area. That kind of voltage will surely get your attention. It probably won't kill you, but it will wake you up, for sure.

Regardless of the fine condition you think your ignition wires are in, touching them while the engine is running is either brave or stupid.