Spark Plug Socket Mishap

[BrentEB]

Have you pulled and inspected the plug that was involved? Then the other ones? Could have picked up some junk on an electrode that fouls it. Could be a bad plug. What have you found?

 

[Scottintexas]

Mr1's are notorious for being finicky about plugs,
I'd switch them out and then get a yds to watch the engine and even drop cylinders

 

[tdonoughue]

First, listen to everything @Scottintexas says, because he is very reliable.

Then: when I have an issue like that, and I am able to stop and think, I go back and undo or redo what I did. In this case I would take off the pack, remove the plug, regap, reinstall and reinstall the pack. Go slowly and carefully from the point where you last had issue and make sure it is not something obvious (we have all been there, if you find that).

 

[Hike]

It was indeed the clean out kill switch. While the engines were running, I lightly lifted up on the hatch while it was in the locked position and sure enough the port engine shut right down. Looks like my hatch lid is slightly warped. After trying to adjust the height of the kill switch with no luck. I stuck a little velcro adhesive tab on the inside of the hatch just above the button to make sure it stays down. Problem Solved. Thanks for the help!

 

[Cambo]

So nice to find the cause of the problem and a simple solution .

 

[Gym]

If your plug was fouled your engine would progressively run rougher, you would see smoke or smell fuel.

Whereas it's shutting off with no warning it is a spark problem. If I understood your problem correctly that the rubber coil insulator came off it may have become damaged causing a high tension leak when the engine gets warm.

I would swap that coil with your other engine. If the problem moves to the other engine you'll need to replace that coil.

 

[Hike]

If your plug was fouled your engine would progressively run rougher, you would see smoke or smell fuel.

Whereas it's shutting off with no warning it is a spark problem. If I understood your problem correctly that the rubber coil insulator came off it may have become damaged causing a high tension leak when the engine gets warm.

I would swap that coil with your other engine. If the problem moves to the other engine you'll need to replace that coil.

@Gym To summarize this crazy episode:
1. Man changes spark plugs
2. Engine dies at wide open throttle
3. Man scratches head, realizes rubber washer from spark plug socket is missing and is still on a spark plug.
4. Removed rubber washer thinking problem fixed.
5. Problem continues.
6. Turns out the problem was actually the clean out kill switch. The hatch was not pressing down completely on the switch with all the vibration of 320 Horses!

@Beachbummer had it right: Correlation is not causation.