--===============2989139259716481804==
--00000000000056767c0638f7a272
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
This could be timing. If the engine was stopped suddenly the key that holds
the flywheel position may have sheared and the magneto isn't firing at the
right time. So you see spark when you turn the motor but it might not be
when the air/fuel/compression are there.
-Paul
On Wed, Jul 2, 2025 at 3:46=E2=80=AFPM Brian and Wendy Warrick <
maynerdfamily@msn.com> wrote:
> I would try a plug first. If it was wet, it may be fouled out and not
> sparking under compression.
>
> Brian
> Nampa, ID
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Shop-talk <shop-talk-bounces@autox.team.net> on behalf of Jeff
> Scarbrough <fishplate@gmail.com>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:31 PM
> *To:* shop-talk@autox.team.net <Shop-talk@autox.team.net>
> *Subject:* [Shop-talk] It's A Simple Machine, Right?
>
> I've got a puzzle...
>
> tl;dr - should I try the plug first, skip ahead and replace the coil, or
> is there something else I should try?
>
> The patient is a Snapper rear-engine riding mower, a machine that's as
> simple as can be. Powered by a B&S Intek 12.5 HP engine, another simple
> machine.
>
> My friend was cutting his grass and managed to get the grass chute tangle=
d
> up in some old fencing. He got it loose, and continued to mow. After a
> short distance, the mower quit running and would not restart.
>
> I brought it into my shop and we started troubleshooting. I first tried
> ether - it seemed like it tried for a second, and then nothing. Pulled t=
he
> plug and it looked wet. Turned the engine over with the plug connected a=
nd
> grounded, and observed a spark. Not a magnificent spark, but a spark.
>
> Verified compression, but due to the position of the muffler, I could not
> get *any* of my compression testers to seal in the hole well. But it
> pushed against my finger with some force.
>
> Moved to the carb. Pulled and inspected. Float working, jet clear.
>
> Put it all back together, and nothing.
>
> Pulled the ground wire off the magneto coil and no change.
>
> So, I'm thinking weak coil. Not completely dead, but not working under
> cylinder pressure. Something else I read suggested a bad plug - this one
> was installed a month ago and has been working. Date code on the engine
> indicates it was built on April Fools Day, 2008.
>
> In the era of $15 lawn mower coils, I would throw one on with no qualms.
> But at $40 or $50, I hesitate.
>
> So, tl;dr - should I try the plug first, skip ahead and replace the coil=
,
> or is there something else I should try?
>
>
>
>
--00000000000056767c0638f7a272
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<div dir=3D"ltr"><div>This could be timing. If the engine was stopped sudde=
nly the key that holds the flywheel position may have sheared and the magne=
to isn't firing at the right time. So you see spark when you turn the m=
otor but it might not be when the air/fuel/compression are there.</div><div=
><br></div><div>-Paul</div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_quote_contai=
ner"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Wed, Jul 2, 2025 at 3:46=E2=
=80=AFPM Brian and Wendy Warrick <<a href=3D"mailto:maynerdfamily@msn.co=
m">maynerdfamily@msn.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail=
_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204=
,204);padding-left:1ex"><div class=3D"msg-2592799618886429586">
<div dir=3D"ltr">
<div style=3D"font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color=
:rgb(0,0,0)">
I would try a plug first. If it was wet, it may be fouled out and not spark=
ing under compression.</div>
<div style=3D"font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color=
:rgb(0,0,0)">
<br>
</div>
<div style=3D"font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color=
:rgb(0,0,0)">
Brian</div>
<div style=3D"font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color=
:rgb(0,0,0)">
Nampa, ID</div>
<div id=3D"m_-2592799618886429586appendonsend"></div>
<hr style=3D"display:inline-block;width:98%">
<div id=3D"m_-2592799618886429586divRplyFwdMsg" dir=3D"ltr"><font face=3D"C=
alibri, sans-serif" style=3D"font-size:11pt" color=3D"#000000"><b>From:</b>=
Shop-talk <<a href=3D"mailto:shop-talk-bounces@autox.team.net"; target=
=3D"_blank">shop-talk-bounces@autox.team.net</a>> on behalf of Jeff Scar=
brough <<a href=3D"mailto:fishplate@gmail.com"; target=3D"_blank">fishpla=
te@gmail.com</a>><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:31 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href=3D"mailto:shop-talk@autox.team.net"; target=3D"_blank">sh=
op-talk@autox.team.net</a> <<a href=3D"mailto:Shop-talk@autox.team.net"; =
target=3D"_blank">Shop-talk@autox.team.net</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Shop-talk] It's A Simple Machine, Right?</font>
<div>=C2=A0</div>
</div>
<div>
<div dir=3D"ltr">I've got a puzzle...
<div><br>
</div>
<div>=C2=A0tl;dr - should I try the plug first, skip ahead and replace the =
coil, or is there something else I should try?<br>
<br>
The patient is a Snapper rear-engine riding mower, a machine that's as =
simple as can be.=C2=A0 Powered by a B&S Intek 12.5 HP engine, another =
simple machine.<br>
<br>
My friend was cutting his grass and managed to get the grass chute tangled =
up in some old fencing.=C2=A0 He got it loose, and continued to mow.=C2=A0 =
After a short distance, the mower quit running and would not restart.<br>
<br>
I brought it into my shop and we started troubleshooting. I first tried eth=
er=C2=A0- it seemed like it tried for a second, and then nothing.=C2=A0 Pul=
led the plug and it looked wet.=C2=A0 Turned the engine over with the=C2=A0=
plug connected and grounded, and observed a spark.=C2=A0
Not a magnificent spark, but a spark.=C2=A0=C2=A0
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Verified compression, but due to the position of the muffler, I could =
not get *any* of my compression testers to seal in the hole well.=C2=A0 But=
it pushed against my finger with some force.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Moved to the carb.=C2=A0 Pulled and inspected.=C2=A0 Float working, je=
t clear.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Put it all back together, and nothing.=C2=A0=C2=A0<br>
<br>
Pulled the ground wire off the magneto coil and no change.<br>
<br>
So, I'm thinking weak coil.=C2=A0 Not completely dead, but not working =
under cylinder pressure.=C2=A0 Something else I read suggested a bad plug -=
this one was installed a month ago and has been working.=C2=A0 Date code o=
n the engine indicates it was built on April Fools
Day, 2008.<br>
<br>
In the era of $15 lawn mower coils, I would throw one on with no qualms.=C2=
=A0 But at $40 or $50, I hesitate.<br>
<br>
So, =C2=A0tl;dr - should I try the plug first, skip ahead and replace the c=
oil, or is there something else I should try?<br>
<br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div><br>
<br>
</div></blockquote></div></div>
--00000000000056767c0638f7a272--
--===============2989139259716481804==
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Disposition: inline
_______________________________________________
Shop-talk@autox.team.net
Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk http://autox.team.net/archive
--===============2989139259716481804==--
|