Need help with a K181

[Cub_OG]

I can not get spark. I've tried different coils points plug wires and still nothing. I'm not sure what to do. I have it bench wired right now. Is it possible to ground the starter but not the motor.

[Yosemite Sam]

Why is it possible to ground the starter but not the motor?

I'm guessing this is a Starter/Generator style engine?

First thing, make sure the wire from your points and the condenser are attached to the neg side of the coil (condenser case MUST be grounded).

For the sake of this test, we are assuming that all the related parts are good.

Using a good hot battery or boost box.

Attach a "jumper wire" from the pos side of the power source to the pos side of the coil.

Attach neg side of power source to ground (normally anything metal that it attached to the block will work providing it makes contact with bare metal).

Then use your volt meter or test light to make sure your connections are good.

Attach your test light or volt meter to the neg side of the coil, and the other lead or the point on your test light to bare metal and turn the engine in it's normal operating direction.

When the points are open there should be power at the neg side of the coil. When the points are closed there should be no power at the neg side of the coil.

If you still have power to the neg side of the coil when the points are closed... Then the points are NOT making contact and there is absolutely no need to do anything else until you get the points good and clean so they can make contact. Once the points are good and clean, they may need to be adjusted closer together so they can make contact.

Not knowing anything more than what you have told us, keep in mind that the places where the coil, condenser, and points attach to the engine must be clean bare metal in order for them to make good contact. ALSO keep in mind that when performing this test YOU DO NOT WANT ANY AMOUNT OF GASOLINE ANYWHERE NEAR THIS ENGINE and there are absolutely no other wires that need to be attached to this engine in any way other than the ones mentioned within this text, we are checking the ignition system on this engine and it has NOTHING to do with the starting or charging systems.

Once you have established that you have power source voltage at the neg side of the coil when the points are open and no voltage at the neg side of the coil when the points are closed (this should be exactly the same if you measure voltage at the wire where it attaches to the points) when you turn the engine in it's normal operating direction you should be able to hear the spark plug fire at the exact instant the points no longer make contact.

[Yosemite Sam]

Once you have successfully made the spark plug fire, you then need to go to the technical section and find out how to make the plug fire at exactly the right time. Look up how to static time a Kohler engine.

If the plug fires, but does not fire at the exact instant that it is supposed to, you will NEVER be able to make this engine run the way it should.

Depending on the engine that you have, the sight hole for the timing marks is most likely directly behind the starter/generator and you can not see what you need to see to get this engine timed with the S/G in place. Don't fart around and waste time trying to do something that can't be done, just unbolt the S/G and get your timing right.

[dvogtvpe]

if your points are dirty , oily or burnt they won't ground decent or at all. I've had new point with a little oil residue on them cause no spark. I'll take a piece of paper and pull it through the points to dry them off, $100 bills work best but in a pinch singles work to

[ol'George]

Originally Posted by dvogtvpe

if your points are dirty , oily or burnt they won't ground decent or at all. I've had new point with a little oil residue on them cause no spark. I'll take a piece of paper and pull it through the points to dry them off, $100 bills work best but in a pinch singles work to

Well there goes another coffee sprayed keyboard/LCD

[dvogtvpe]

Originally Posted by ol'George

Well there goes another coffee sprayed keyboard/LCD

sorry bout that.

[ol'George]

Originally Posted by dvogtvpe

sorry bout that.

that is ok, @ least I didn't have to change my shorts Ha,LOL!

[Cub_OG]

Well did a little more work tonight. Following you guild lines. The point was not closing fully with the gap set at .020. I never had that happen before. With them set to .017 they close and I had continuity. Got spark had it fire and run but the carb was nursing off the choke. When I pulled the carb off it was full solid with black ickyness. New float needle and seat after soaking it for three days. This one is far beyond neglected.

[J-Mech]

Wow.........

[Cub_OG]

So is it ok for one to John Deere