Shock Therapy for the Budget Minded

[tangobravo]

While running my Super Mini today I went to seat the spark plug wire and rotate it a little to assure it was down on the plug. Well, I can assure you a Phelon point ignition definitely can put out some good voltage. I was nicely lit up with several idle speed hits. After checking it over, the insulation near the plug boot was a little weak. 
After removing the boot, cleaning everything up, slicing the end back some, I re-crimped the end with my MSD crimper. Tightened the plug ring on the terminal and tried it again. It is now very difficult to get any electron surge messing with it.
Seems this could possibly not end well in the middle of a heavy cut. You could lose control of the rear handle and have a nice upper body mess with a rapped out chain. Might be a good idea you check yours to avoid becoming a spark plug ground electrode!
Is this a common problem with these category Homelites??

[edju1958]

With all the SEZ saws I have I've never had this problem,BUT....Last summer I was working on my XL-800 & had the same thing happen to me.That was a Wico system & was equally effective in jolting me.I ended up replacing the plug wire as it was frayed & the bare spot on it was grounding out.

[jklw77]

Has happened on 2 of my Homelites.

[tangobravo]

Probably a good part to keep in top condition! Or maybe loan to your brother in law-

[tangobravo]

Seems I have this little annoyance of a problem sorted out now. Someone previously replaced the plug wire terminal with a "crimp on" style. The longer metal collar positions itself much closer to the plug boot where the wire enters. As a result it is MUCH easier to catch a spark off the wire entry area on the boot.
I replaced the terminal with the correct original "wound spring" style and now can am no longer being lit-up when I touch the wire/boot area. Use the correct style terminal to avoid trouble! TIA

[tangobravo]

A final 😲 caveat on this problem for the crew here-

When you need to, find a genuine Phelon spring ring terminal end. There are many OUT OF SPEC spring ends out there that WILL NOT work well. Some have too long of a retention leg and are prone to spark leaking at the wire entry on the boot. Most are TOO TIGHT and not only have trouble going on the spark plug end, but WILL NOT come off easily. When you try to remove the boot end from the plug, the entire wire end falls apart and tears off the wire. Then you will have to reassemble the terminal and boot to the wire.
If you have an original Homelite terminal (They always work well!) KEEP IT for re-use! Replace the wire or boot if necessary. Don't create a big aggravation for yourself with out of spec terminals!

[edju1958]

I learned a while back not to throw out the simplest things when it comes to these saws.I tried looking for a wound spring terminal end a few months ago & they're very difficult to find.Just within the last week I had to replace a boot on my C5 & luckily I had a parts saw in the back shed that had just what I needed.Just when you think the parts saw has nothing left to give it comes up with yet another obscure part.

[Homelite Homer]

FYI.. Believe it or not you can buy the Spark plug boot and that spring ( They come together) at just about any Napa store that sells small engine parts.. It's about $4.00 I believe... They have them in my local store.. Have bought a few so far and they work great !!!

[tangobravo]

Might get a part # for us if you found one that works right. Thanks for the information.

[Homelite Homer]

Sure thing... Napa Online P/N = SME 70151032

[tangobravo]

Thanks for the tip!

[Homelite Homer]

You are most welcome !!