Keeping ignition dry

wcroom · Sep 23, 2011

Hurricane Irene took the roof off of all of my outbuildings. The tractor shelter is a few buildings down the list after the storage shed and the haybarn for repair.
Every time it rains, I have a heck of a time starting my IH 404. The ignitiong gets wet and I have to use WD40 in the distrubutor cap and on the points to dry it out before it will hit a lick.
Is there something I can use to seal the ignition from moisture? I thought about one of the anti-oxidants like you"d use in an electrical panel. Just coat everything and hope for the best. Anybody else had this problem? Other than parking it inside, what did you do?

Thanks in advance for your replies- Wesley

Paul Shuler · Sep 23, 2011

I have a farmall cub that is the same way. It wont start if its foggy outside. Had someone tell me just last week that he fixed his old JD that had a mag on it by spraying the outside of the cap and mag with a clear finish. Maybe a laquer or something and he has not has a problem since. Have not tried it myself yet.

Ed Hotaling · Sep 23, 2011

Krylon makes an ignition sealer. I believe it's a clearcoat that will hold up to the heat and oil of an engine.

Andrew Z · Sep 23, 2011

Cut a 2L soda bottle in half and put that over it. Seems to work pretty well.

Andrew

snoop-nc · Sep 23, 2011

Ed...posting down below...has the right idea. There are several companies that make a "sealer". I remember selling some when I worked in auto parts store...well over 20 years ago...and I believe it was a product of Radiator Specialty Co. You would spray the cap rather heavily and then some on wires. Let "dry" before starting.

Good luck...especially so on your storm damage!!

Rick

IAtractorKid · Sep 23, 2011

Spray the lip on your distributor cap with aeresol silicone and then put it on. It will be water tight. You can also use the silicone in place of dielectric grease on the plug wires.

Oldiron29 · Sep 23, 2011

wcroom, I have cut old iner tube and made covers for all my distrubutors and mags. Wrap is with a wire tie keeps out snow and rain. oldiron29

Dr. Bert · Sep 23, 2011

wcroom: I use the clear silicone caulking compound. I wipe all joints on the distributor or magneto, and smear some around each spark plug wire where it comes out of the nipple. Dries clear and disassembly is not compromised.

Dave I Love My H · Sep 23, 2011

Back in the 70's I had a 1970 Volkswagon Beetle.
Great little first car; but when it got REALLY cold (those who can remember the weather of the 70's in Pennsylvania, BRRRRR!) that little Streuselmobile would crank but not want to start!
The mechanic who worked on the car told me to go to Volkswagon and get a distributor boot. Snapped it on and never had a problem starting afterwards.
I don't know if anyone manufactures those boots in modern times but it might be worth you performing a search.
Good luck!
Dave

wcroom · Sep 23, 2011

Thanks for the replies. I see sealing the distrubutor and spark plug wires is running ahead of everything else, and sounds good to me, but what about the hole in the bottom side of the dist cap? Leave it open as a drain hole, or seal it as a possible point of entry for moisture?
I'll try silicone grease on the contacts all around, and silicone sealer between the cap and distributor. I gotta do something. I talked my 19 year old daughter through drying out the distributor cap on the phone today so she could mow. I'd like to keep that girl moving!

Thanks again- Wesley

mike1972chev · Sep 23, 2011

Also,you can take a piece of Gortex (A small 1/4 diameter circle.You can take it off of any of your weather gear

And glue it over the vent hole in the distributor cap.(Or any distributor hole period!) It will let the air vent the cap,but will not let any water in!

You can use that trick on ANY electrical part that is open to weather,but you dont want water in it.Distributors,alternators,ECT.

rustyacresnd · Sep 25, 2011

My '66 Chevy 4x4 with a 292 6cyl. would always end up with a wet dist. after driving through a puddle of water too fast. I put on a distributor boot and never have a problem anymore. I think the boot came from a 70's 0r 80's Ford 4cyl., maybe a Pinto, Mustang or Escort. Don't remember which one I scrounged it off of. Check the bone yards or aftermarket. Someone should have one.

Keeping ignition dry

wcroom

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Paul Shuler

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Ed Hotaling

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Andrew Z

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snoop-nc

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IAtractorKid

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Oldiron29

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Dr. Bert

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Dave I Love My H

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wcroom

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mike1972chev

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rustyacresnd

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