spark plug valve locating

[1idejim]

can anyone please explain how the spark plug and AM radio works as a valve finder? a few years ago i was called in to find a valve at a school and the groundsman (who is not only one of my best friends but worked for me for 18yrs.) told me that the dept. head took the no.1 plug wire loose from his truck and drove all over the soccer fields with an AM radio hanging out the window for 2 days before they called me.
thanks
jim

[SoCalLandscapeMgmt]

can anyone please explain how the spark plug and AM radio works as a valve finder? a few years ago i was called in to find a valve at a school and the groundsman (who is not only one of my best friends but worked for me for 18yrs.) told me that the dept. head took the no.1 plug wire loose from his truck and drove all over the soccer fields with an AM radio hanging out the window for 2 days before they called me.
thanks
jim

That is a hillarious visual image.... sounds about right for school district employees!

[1idejim]

i have worked with a number of school districts and most are good to work with. ours however is slow or no paying and the employees are mostly contractors that can't make it on their own. my fondest memory is of a fellow in a neighboring county (taking me by the hand to a set of steps) and telling me that a valve is buried on one side of the steps or the other, he installed it. why i found it 900 ft. away in the dugout where i was headed when he stopped me i don't know. saw him at the wholesale house some time ago and he was telling me when they got some free time they were going to do some digging around the steps to find that valve (he knows it's there,dammit)

[Az Gardener]

Sounds like you live in the twilight zone :laugh: Say hi to Rod for me.:waving:

[M L Thomas]

can anyone please explain how the spark plug and AM radio works as a valve finder? a few years ago i was called in to find a valve at a school and the groundsman (who is not only one of my best friends but worked for me for 18yrs.) told me that the dept. head took the no.1 plug wire loose from his truck and drove all over the soccer fields with an AM radio hanging out the window for 2 days before they called me.
thanks
jim

Thats dammed funny!

Did he ask you if you wanted to go snipe hunting after you were done trying to locate a valve?:laugh:

[1idejim]

truth is stranger than fiction, rod says hi, but what about the spark plug?
thanks
jim*trucewhiteflag*

[1idejim]

hwere the flag come from?

[Az Gardener]

but what about the spark plug?
thanks
jim*trucewhiteflag*

I have to admit I have never tried the spark plug method as my residential clients would can me of I started driving across their lawn in our cab over dump trucks.

I have heard some strange things but I missed that one.

[Beerigator]

I remember seeing this done yrs ago ( or somthing sim. ) where they hooked the zone wire to the plug wire and was able to follow it with a portable AM radio which made a unique static sound. I seem to remember him getting a hell of a shock too but it did work! Ah, the good ole days.......

[1idejim]

I remember seeing this done yrs ago ( or somthing sim. ) where they hooked the zone wire to the plug wire and was able to follow it with a portable AM radio which made a unique static sound. I seem to remember him getting a hell of a shock too but it did work! Ah, the good ole days.......
maybe that's the reason for the FM filter on some of the better toner probes

[jerryrwm]

You have to hook a jump wire from the plug wire to the common wire. And then put the radio between stations. Cripes I thought everyone knew that.

[1idejim]

everybody does, now thanks to you.
thanks for the reply jerry.

[jerryrwm]

everybody does, now thanks to you.
thanks for the reply jerry.

Hope you knew I was just funnin'.. :dancing: