On Thu, 11 May 1995, Joel Walker wrote:

> 
> no, really, that's how i've done it ever since some idiot (who shall remain
> brotherless!) told me, "just grab hold of the wires ... it won't hurt you!"
> ohyezzzz ... if they're arcing, you might be sparking, when you grab. ;)

They won't damage you for life... But they sure let you know what 40 000
Volts can make it's way through.  You should feel what happens when the
timing light I once borrowed from my dad does when the sparkplug end
comes unattached.  Thank god the engine died after a couple dozen
revolutions, 'cause I sure was too shocked (or stupid) to let go of
the thing.

> 
> but if you look on a dark and stormy night, you will see little blue
> lightninganing on the wires.

A little of that "lightninganing" (great word) isn't bad.  If it just
creates a slight blue aura around the wires, it's probably not anything
to be concerned with.  If it looks like you've got a timing light going
when you don't... Then maybe it's time to replace the plugleads.

Cheers

<sstones@io.org>
SStones             Toronto,  Ontario.