Spark Tester

[wam2004]

So I bought a spark indicator from snap on (YA832A ) and I have tried it on several different engines and it doesn't seem to work. Does anyone else have this tester and got it to work? Also does anyone have the 23970 kit from matco? I'd like to get something like this because I have deep recessed spark plugs but the coo is china for the kit. Does anyone know of a us equivalent?

Thanks

 

[Thomas^2]

Firstly, I do not have this tool so I may be way off but it appears to use a capacitive pickup to light a neon while your finger forms the other. If so, they are fairly dim and often hard to see in direct sun light. They do no need to be used on the actual plug, just on the plug wire.

Also, the same effect can be produced using about 10 turns of solid core wire wrapped around the plug wire connected to a neon and grounding the other side of the neon. I can dig up a post of my dad's on another forum explaining the setup in detail and also the diagnostic information that can be gleaned from these, if it would be of interest.

 

[wam2004]

Firstly, I do not have this tool so I may be way off but it appears to use a capacitive pickup to light a neon while your finger forms the other. If so, they are fairly dim and often hard to see in direct sun light. They do no need to be used on the actual plug, just on the plug wire.

Also, the same effect can be produced using about 10 turns of solid core wire wrapped around the plug wire connected to a neon and grounding the other side of the neon. I can dig up a post of my dad's on another forum explaining the setup in detail and also the diagnostic information that can be gleaned from these, if it would be of interest.

I'd like to see the post you referenced. I thought that it could be dim but I didn't see anything at all. Do you know of a way I could test it to make sure the bulb isn't burned out?

 

[otis66]

Open it up. There is somthing inside (cardboard,or tape) preventing a closed circut.

 

[Fedwrench]

That's just a rebadged Lisle tool. what type of spark plug wires are you using it on. The tool should be hold and light. There is not a US made kit for spark testing that I'm aware of.

Tool aid is the OEM of the Matco and many other kits:

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-6963-tool-aid-23970.aspx

You may want to try a kv tester like this for plug wires.
http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-7560-waekon-76760.aspx

For Coil on plugs this is very handy. It won't replace a scope but, it's quick.

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-7559-waekon-76562.aspx

 

[Moltar]

I've never used this tool and I don't know where it's made but it looks like the best tool out there for a quick and dirty spark tester.
http://www.surespark.com/

 

[JASTECH]

I have the coil tester made by SO but don't know if it will test plugs/wires anybody? It is a red box with clear window and knob on right side to adjust gap for resistance. Bought it 20 yrs ago or more.

Thanks, JASTECH