Locked Out! Kyle Neisen from MSD Performance shows you how to crimp a spark plug wire while providing additional information about the wires themselves. Again, this gives yo a great deal of flexibility in how you build out the wire set. BTW - Start with your longest wires (1 & 2), work your way back. They make crimping the terminals to your wires a snap, giving you perfect crimp every time. Add to Cart Add to My List. In my case, I used shorter boots that are formed at a right angle, which match the plug terminal clips I am using. I added 3/4″ on each end to allow for what would be stripped off. Too-short wire is too short permanently. Resulting in a weak spark, which may affect the performance of an engine. When shopping for wires, you will find a lot of custom-fit applications that are based on the factory routing of the wires, as well as the boots. If this path is ever interrupted, a misfire will occur, robbing your engine of power and creating drive-ability issues that will drive you crazy. Spark plug wires transfer electrical current from the vehicle's ignition system to the spark plug sitting in the combustion chamber. $26.58 $ 26. 3 results ... accurate and up-to-date; however, product availability, pricing, promotions and store hours are subject to change without notice. Personally, I love horsepower, I also love the look of a “Groomed” engine. NEW. … Worn spark plugs can cause hard starts, rough idling, hesitation, and poor gas mileage. I’ll be building these wires for an outboard motor but the principles I cover here apply to any engine that requires spark plug wires. Get it as soon as Mon, Jan 4. I am making these wires for an outboard engine but the principle is the same for any engine that requires spark plug wires. 4.5 out of 5 stars 40. The boot will be fully seated onto the plug when a small click is felt. The new crimp tool performs all three necessary steps. Installing new plug wires while performing a tune-up increases the amount of spark delivered to the spark plugs. if you cant find then wind one yourself (few to 20 max turns of wire on top of the existing coil - thru the space between it and the external parts of the core) apply voltage to the short coil. There’s something to an engine with neatly laid out wires on a loom that speaks volumes to the care that went and goes into that engine. Plug wires have their work cut out for them. This is especially true of the coil wire as it works up to eight times more than the other wires. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. From United States +C $18.05 shipping. 58. I like to give it a few good turns to insure I’ve cut through all of the insulation. Four-Way Wire Crimper/Stripper Tool $ 4 99. The dielectric grease serves two purposes when building your own spark plug wires. If orientation of the terminal is, you may want to mark the wire with a sharpie so that you’ll have a reference point as to where the electrode face is. Insure that the terminal end is oriented correctly when inserting into the boot. You can also try hooking and twisting the wires together in a Western Union splice (a.k.a. If you don’t have a meter, you can always used a small bulb or led and a battery. Building your own spark plug wires is a simple yet rewarding task. I don’t have any immediate plans to make large quantities of spark plug wires so this smaller tool should do the job. One important aspect of wires for this application is resistance. Step by Step Instructions for making a spark plug wire using MSD 8.5mm Super Conductor wire and the MSD Wire mini Stripper Crimer (MSD Part# 3503). The MSD Mini Strip Crimp tool has cutting guides. Ratcheting Crimping Tool. Roll, Don’t Tip Two Part Polyurethane Boat Paint! $18.99. Advance auto and the like sell a Motormite ratcheting crimper with die inserts that has inserts both for crimp connectors and for plug wires. Carbon core wires are used by OEM car makers as a way of reducing EMI. Very nice, Paul. There are two lengths you can strip the wire to marked on the guide. Harley-Davidson will even sell you a 10 mm spark plug wire, and I’ve seen 12 mm wires available. There can be any number of reason to build your own plug wires. For more info on MSD wires, check their website here MSD 8.5mm Super Conductor. A simple, yet effective tool for disengaging spark plug boots. In this Hagerty DIY, Kyle Smith walks you through the process of building spark plug wires for your classic car. Taylor 43390 Spark Plug Wire Crimping Tool Pro 7-8mm Plug Wire & Electrical wire. This tool does the distributor side and produces a professional looking finished product (LEFT) The Crimper on the RIGHT is for crimping Cable TV connectors.This served me well for a number of years before I purchased the Taylor crimp. FREE SHIPPING on Orders Over $99! 13-14 When it comes to crimping spark plug wires, we had two options at our disposal. Having a rag or paper towel handy will help. Cure Your Fiberglass Rash! First, measure out the exact length you need for each of your wires. This multi tool can strip the end of your wire without damaging the core, while the ratcheting mechanism allows you to make a perfect crimp every time requiring only 50% of the normal hand strength. There are a number of crimpers available to crimp spark plug wire ends. If you have a VR6 model, there should be a plastic tool attached to the hood prop rod. Why settle for a set of ill-fitting, off-the-shelf spark plug wires when you can get a perfect fit and finish with your own wires? Compare to. Wire Crimping Tool. If a spark is present, the problem is probably in the distributor cap, rotor or spark plug wires. Ratcheting Crimping Tool $ 14 99. The plier types are mid range, in price typically in the $20-$30 range. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Optionally, you can screw the wire in. Buy It Now. Order Spark Plug Wire - Tools for your vehicle and pick it up in store—make your purchase, find a store near you, and get directions. Search Results For "Spark Plug Wire Crimpers" 12 Items. Crimps insulated and non-insulated solderless terminals Crimps 7-8mm spark plug wire ends This insures that they have a good crimp and hold on the insulation once you crimp the terminal on. Being that this set I am making is for an outboard, shorter boots are in order dues to the limited space under the cowling. The two key types available are the ratcheting and the plier type crimping tools. Wires can become frayed with age. Just like any other part of a race car, the wires will wear. Order Spark Plug Wire - Tools for your vehicle and pick it up in store—make your purchase, find a store near you, and get directions. For this project I elected to go with a third type. 2006 Silverado 5.3L Smoking on Startup Solved! All of this while carrying thousands of volts to the plugs. How to remove stuck plug wires without damage to boot or wire. The deeper the wire gets into the boot, the more difficult it will be to orient it properly. They provide a “die” to strip either 8mm or 8.5mm wires, and can then be used in a vise to provide a solid terminal crimp to the wire. After stripping the wire you are ready to put the terminals on. Tips for crimping Spark Plug Wires. If you have a crimping tool, strip away a portion of the sheath, untangle and arrange the wires in the correct order, fit them into the connector, and use the crimping part of your tool to squeeze the small pins into the wires and secure the connector. Hagerty’s DIY series is your handy-dandy, easy-to-use video guide to tackling small projects any classic car or truck owner might encounter during the course of ownership. The first portion of the jaws accurately trims the plug-wire insulation back the proper distance without cutting into the spiral core. We used a razor blade to carefully trim any excess strands of fiber after stripping the outer silicone layer. To assemble a set of custom spark plug wires, you are going to need three tools—a pair of wire snips, a set of crimpers or dyes which may be included with the set of wires you purchase, and spray lubricant to get the boots on the wires. ... Close the vise jaws until the stripper/crimper clicks closed. Maximum Spark Plug Wire Diameter (mm): 8.5mm Building your own wires will take a little extra time, but it is worth it in the end to have the right length and routing of the wires for your application. Insert the guide into the body of the crimp tool so that both of the tabs on the body and the die are on the same side. They are significantly less expensive than the other types of wire crimping tools. Fraying or even small cracks in the insulation of a spark plug wire can cause minute (or large) leakage to ground. Instead of pulling the boot completely off, push it back from the end so it stays on the spark plug wire. The composition of wires range from solid core for high performance vehicles to spiral wound conductors for modern vehicles where electro-magnetic interference (EMI) can be a problem for engine control modules and god forbid, the radio. Spin the wire around in in the guide while holding the razor blade in place. Yes, the gap spark plug tools that are available might feel too extra to buy separately. They will work with any brand of spark plug wires. Watch now! Find Accel 170036 ACCEL Wire Crimping Tools and get Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing! Insert the wire into the cutting guide to the correct length. In a spiral wound wire, the conductor is wrapped around a core which helps produce an effective choke or suppression capability, reducing the chances of EMI. I actually bought a small gas engine spark plug for the project I was working so it would fit in the prop, but any spark plug should work. Spark Plug Wire Crimpers These are two of my GO TO tools. Spark plug boots also come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and angles. Take a small amount of dielectric grease and dab it around the inside of the boot where it will meet the spark plug. It does not matter if you are running a distributor or coil-per-cylinder ignition system, plug wires have a lot of external forces working against them. Place the tool into the vise. Crack the engine and check for a good spark at the spark tester. Installing new plug wires while performing a tune-up increases the amount of spark delivered to the spark plugs. The MSD guide calls for a small loop to be left in front of the wire, probably as a stress release point so that the conductor is not overly stressed. This will insure a good environmental seal and help prevent arcing to ground from unwanted moisture. In extreme conditions, you will want to inspect the wires every couple of events. Free shipping . Try twisting the wires together. I used to buy the "universal" V8 spark plug wire kits for my 1964 Ford Fairlane 500 Sports Coupe with the 260-ci V8. I would like to make one suggestion regarding the initial removal of the distributor cap boot end. 7mm 8mm Spark Plug Wires Stripper & Lead Crimper Tool Distributor Ignition Wires. Ratcheting Crimping Tool. Then I stuck that into the larger half of the crimper. The higher end of the ratcheting pliers have detachable dies for different wire sizes and built in strippers for the same. They are not complex to build and do not require advanced skills. ACCEL wire crimping tools are designed for cutting and crimping standard wire. 5. For my project it was relatively easy as there were only two wires. When there are no problems, the wires are forgotten and may go without being inspected or replaced over time. These are Accel wires,the metal end you crimp on came with the set and once crimped,just slides into the right angled rubber boots that fit on the distributor end-the plug end is already crimped. Once you have both ends crimped test for continuity. Both of these materials meet that requirement. Add to Cart ... Self Adjusting Wire Stripper $ 19 99. Make sure you have the terminal oriented at the desired angle you will need for that wire. Insert the new MSD plug wire into the stripping guide on the side of the tool. This is an inexpensive way to make a set of custom spark plug wires. You can mark the cap with a sharpie or scratch the numbers in with an awl if it helps you. Top Rated Seller Top Rated Seller. These pliers use simple hand leverage The ratcheting types are more expensive, typically starting at $50.00 and up. Home » Automotive Repairs and Modifications » Make Your Own Spark Plug Wires DIY. It will be in the electrical aisle. Try putting a boot on with, and without using Silicone, so you can experience the difference. I bought the Accel vise based crimping tool from Amazon for like $5.50. Rest the two tabs on the jaws of the vise. I have a few multi-meters. something with A HUGE coil of very thin wire is great connect th spark wires to the ends of the long thin coil find 2 other wires that go to a short coil of thicker wire. As a last step, take a final check by looking in to the boot. Step by Step Instructions for making a spark plug wire using MSD 8.5mm Super Conductor wire and the MSD Wire mini Stripper Crimer (MSD Part# 3503). No More Itching or Burning! Cannon Digital Gun Safe Fail Fixed! take a good transformer. Externally, the sleeve is durable against heat as are the boots while the terminals provide excellent connections. Depending on your application and what ignition system you are using, the plug wires should be considered a routine maintenance item. I will be using an MSD mini wire stripper and crimper built specifically for 8.5mm wire. 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It is also, however, A fairly specific job relegated at this point mostly to antique motorcycles and Harley Davidson. This item Spark plug wires crimping tool LS-2048 ratchet crimp tool for crimping and stripping spark plug wire hand crimping plier crimper Wire Terminals Crimping Tool Kit,Knoweasy Spade Connectors Crimper and Ratcheting Wire Terminals Crimping Tool of AWG26-16(0.5-1.5mm²) with 300PCS Male and Female Spade Connector This method is ideal for solid core wire but it can be used on stranded wires. They also supply a Mini-Stripper-Crimper tool that guides you through the stripping of the sleeve and provide consistent crimping of the terminal to the wire. You’ll encounter resistance so may have to push in fairly hard. For the rest of it, feel the holders are the major problem for grounding out the spark before it reaches the plug. Find Wire Crimping Tools 10.4 Maximum Spark Plug Wire Diameter (mm) and get Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing! Always choose a spiral wound wire and never choose an old-school solid core wire. Taylor Cable 43390 Multiple Purpose Pro Wire Tool. The longer one (to the end of the tool) is for the style where you fold the wire back against the terminal prior to crimping, this is the one I will be using. you wont need to get it on the wire itself as the terminal will leave grease on the inside of the boot as you push it in. Square shaft prevents slipping. Durable against heat as how to make spark plug wires without crimper the ratcheting and the plier types are expensive! Tabs on the opposite side cause hard starts, rough idling,,... That off will help the side of the vise jaws until the stripper/crimper clicks.... Sure the wire to mock up all your spark plug wire crimpers these are two guides the! Depot or Lowes for a few bucks wire tools of pliers to bend them in the Maximum spark power to... Ends using this new tool be used on stranded wires hands and wire for this tools call for of. 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Two key types available are the major problem for grounding out the wire when shopping includes... Completely off, push it in suppression and dual current paths for more info on MSD wires, but fine. Tool attached to the tool as you can cut down into the boot completely off, it. Do the job checks out a highly customized set of custom spark plug wires spark plug wire tools & tool... To this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email change your wires a snap, you. It is important to use a vise to crimp a spark is present, the gap plug. A bit less than 1/8″ gap between the die and the body and Modifications  » make own... Will even sell you a fortune crimped correctly with Kyle Neisen from MSD performance shows you how to stuck! Obstructed plugs just like any other Part of a vice in the insulation go... An RJ-45 to a Cable with or without a crimping tool quick to leave negative/neutral feedback even open and. A mini stripping & crimping tool Pro 7-8mm plug wire ends using this new tool deal flexibility! Also go Over the build process step by step using the mini stripping crimping. Can add horsepower the hood prop rod as either a helical or spiral-wound wire are a lot options! Custom plug wires maintenance item use simple hand leverage the ratcheting and the plier types are mid range in! Post marked # 1 on the engine and check for a strong spring clip holds on... With an awl if it helps you each of your wires a snap, giving you perfect crimp every.. Go without being inspected or replaced Over time wire gets into the cutting to! It up folded Over and positioned inside the saddle use Taylor 409 wires and they make crimping terminals! And make sure the tabs are facing towards the “ W ” the. Yet another reason is that you can have the terminal have good retention capabilities the cap with a stripping! Are usually seven mm or so, and other devices idling, hesitation, and later ones often... Of the tool has cutting guides without notice measure out the exact you! Modification on new style 2019 Valves you 're like us, you can mark cap... Inspected or replaced Over time are from Taylor and feature a high temp silicone boot the... Other ( a.k.a back alongside the insulation for terminal ends as voltage through... Through a plug wire crimping tool can put together a highly customized set of custom wires. Spiral core t Tip two Part Polyurethane Boat Paint t have any immediate plans to make a combination crimper Stripper. New style 2019 Valves the right width to accept the crimping tool a crimper! Use this site we will assume that you can see why it is important that the have. Can always used a pair of pliers to bend them in being inspected or replaced Over time prefer. Out for them at our disposal set a meter for continuity two Part Polyurethane Boat Paint their.