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I would try a plug first. If it was wet, it may be fouled out and not spark=
ing under compression.
Brian
Nampa, ID
________________________________
From: Shop-talk <shop-talk-bounces@autox.team.net> on behalf of Jeff Scarbr=
ough <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 i=
s there something else I should try?
The patient is a Snapper rear-engine riding mower, a machine that's as simp=
le as can be. Powered by a B&S Intek 12.5 HP engine, another simple machin=
e.
My friend was cutting his grass and managed to get the grass chute tangled =
up in some old fencing. He got it loose, and continued to mow. After a sh=
ort distance, the mower quit running and would not restart.
I brought it into my shop and we started troubleshooting. I first tried eth=
er - it seemed like it tried for a second, and then nothing. Pulled the pl=
ug and it looked wet. Turned the engine over with the plug connected and g=
rounded, and observed a spark. Not a magnificent spark, but a spark.
Verified compression, but due to the position of the muffler, I could not g=
et *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 cyl=
inder 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 indica=
tes it was built on April Fools Day, 2008.
In the era of $15 lawn mower coils, I would throw one on with no qualms. B=
ut 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?
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<div style=3D"font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;=
color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class=3D"elementToProof">
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);" class=3D"elementToProof">
<br>
</div>
<div style=3D"font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;=
color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class=3D"elementToProof">
Brian</div>
<div style=3D"font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;=
color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class=3D"elementToProof">
Nampa, ID</div>
<div id=3D"appendonsend"></div>
<hr style=3D"display:inline-block;width:98%" tabindex=3D"-1">
<div id=3D"divRplyFwdMsg" dir=3D"ltr"><font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif" st=
yle=3D"font-size:11pt" color=3D"#000000"><b>From:</b> Shop-talk <shop-ta=
lk-bounces@autox.team.net> on behalf of Jeff Scarbrough <fishplate@gm=
ail.com><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:31 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> shop-talk@autox.team.net <Shop-talk@autox.team.net><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Shop-talk] It's A Simple Machine, Right?</font>
<div> </div>
</div>
<div>
<div dir=3D"ltr">I've got a puzzle...
<div><br>
</div>
<div> tl;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 simp=
le as can be. Powered by a B&S Intek 12.5 HP engine, another simp=
le machine.<br>
<br>
My friend was cutting his grass and managed to get the grass chute tangled =
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.<br>
<br>
I brought it into my shop and we started troubleshooting. I first tried eth=
er - it seemed like it tried for a second, and then nothing. Pul=
led the plug and it looked wet. Turned the engine over with the =
plug connected and grounded, and observed a spark.
Not a magnificent spark, but a spark.
<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. But=
it pushed against my finger with some force.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Moved to the carb. Pulled and inspected. Float working, je=
t clear.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Put it all back together, and nothing. <br>
<br>
Pulled the ground wire off the magneto coil and no change.<br>
<br>
So, I'm thinking weak coil. Not completely dead, but not working unde=
r cylinder pressure. Something else I read suggested a bad plug - thi=
s one was installed a month ago and has been working. Date code on th=
e 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.&nb=
sp; But at $40 or $50, I hesitate.<br>
<br>
So, tl;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>
</body>
</html>
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