Briggs has no spark.

warburtonplayer · Oct 19, 2008

I have a cast iron briggs engine 6 hp. I recently rebuilt it, before I rebuilt it I put a new magnito and points and a condenser on it and it ran and starter great. Now after the rebuild I cannot get a spark out of it? I re-gapped the magnito today and still nothing. Any ideas what could be wrong. The motor turns over has compression so I cannot figure out what is going on. Does anyone know anykind of trick I can do to get it started. It is on my newly restored speedex tractor and I already painted the motor so I am going to be irritated if I have to pull the flywheel. Please help.

Destructo_D · Oct 19, 2008

Try a different spark plug. Even if the one you put in there is brand new, it doesn't mean that it is a good plug.

johnnylight · Oct 19, 2008

does your flywheel have a keyway?--sometimes this breaks and she will get no spark,
causing the flywheel to be out of alignment, The magnet on the flywheel is not where it supposed to be.

warburtonplayer · Oct 20, 2008

Does it matter which way the magnito is bolted on/ Could it be on backwards?

Treemonkey1000 · Oct 20, 2008

Check for bare wires grounding out. The vibration can also break wires after a lot of running time. Another idea is the center hot wire to the plug may have broken going to the spark plug. Those will break as well giving you no Spark Scotty.....

johnnylight · Oct 20, 2008

warburtonplayer said:
Does it matter which way the magnito is bolted on/ Could it be on backwards?

As long as the magnito and the magnet on the flywheel pass each other and the key way is in your good to go.

If it's upside down and it does not line up --No spark

jinman · Oct 21, 2008

warburtonplayer said:
Does it matter which way the magnito is bolted on/ Could it be on backwards?

I agree with Johnnylight on the alignment. That could happen from being upside down.

I used to remove the spark plug and hold the wire in my hand while rotating the the flywheel just enough to get a little jolt. If you feel it that way and the plug won't jump a spark when you pull the starter rope, then it might be a bad plug. Make sure the plug is dry and not fouled out.

hazmatguy · Oct 21, 2008

If the unit has set for some time try buffing the points with a fine emery cloth or file from your wife.

As the other said there is not much that can go wrong except the key way and the wires.

Briggs makes a "magna tron" replacement kit that would do away with the points. Fit up by the magneto, easy fix.

Good luck

dqdave1 · Oct 21, 2008

Condensor may be bad. Make sure all wires are not grounded. This engine probably has a ground wire that grounds out when throttle is pushed all the way to idle; look for this wire under carb and make sure it is not grounded all the time. (remove it to make certain.)

warburtonplayer · Oct 22, 2008

Where can I fint the Magna Tron? I am so tired of messin around with the points and condenser.

warburtonplayer · Oct 22, 2008

Ok so heres the deal, pulled te fly wheel off to check the points and magnito. When I put a tester on the points to see if it was working the strange thing is it had current when the points were opened and when they were closed? I thought that it should only have a solid current when it was closed. Should the magnito and coil ground wire be screwed onto the post on the points and the other wire behind the points set screw? I just dont know what is going on. I am at the end of the line I know I have good compression the magnito is brand new, Are the points bad? Someone please help.

warburtonplayer · Oct 23, 2008

Ok so I checked the gap on the points, checked the gap on the magnito, hooked everything up and I still have no spark!!! What is the problem. I tried to find a magnetron but they dont make them for this model cast iron motor. Everything is ground out maybe a break in the ground wire? I have tried every trick I can in order to get it goin. The tractor has been totally restored and the motor with orginal decals, It was runnin great before the tear down. what could be the problem?

border collie · Oct 23, 2008

You didn't by chance paint over the magnet on the flywheel? It needs to be cleaned of any rust or paint.(just where the magnet is) Also disconnect the kill switch wire and see if it is grounded out.

Iplayfarmer · Oct 27, 2008

warburtonplayer said:
Ok so I checked the gap on the points, checked the gap on the magnito, hooked everything up and I still have no spark!!! What is the problem. I tried to find a magnetron but they dont make them for this model cast iron motor. Everything is ground out maybe a break in the ground wire? I have tried every trick I can in order to get it goin. The tractor has been totally restored and the motor with orginal decals, It was runnin great before the tear down. what could be the problem?

Don't give up! You've got the time into this thing for a great restoration. It's going to be some little short or something easy to fix... if you can ever find it.

Take a few days vacation from it. Take your significant other out on a date. Come back at it after a few days away with a fresh approach, and go through it systematically. Don't assume you did anything right the first time. Just check all the electrical one wire and one connection at a time. You'll find it.

dqdave1 · Oct 27, 2008

sounds like either ground wire is touching metal or a bad condensor. Could be a bad coil also.

warburtonplayer · Oct 31, 2008

Ok so I went back pulled the flywheel again. Replaced the ground wire coming from the points with new wire and grounded it to the frame. And guess what I still have no spark!!! How can this be? It has a new condenser magnito and points what is going on? At this poin I have about $1200 in the restoration which is totaly done with the exception of getting the motor to run. Should I scrap the whole thing and find a new motor?

irvingj · Oct 31, 2008

I'm not sure if this is applicable to your Briggs or not, but motorcycles will have current measured from the points the points to ground whether they're open or closed; to set the static timing (instant when points just begin to open), I connect a couple of "D" cell batteries to a flashlight bulb, connect one lead from this to ground and the other to the points. To determine just when the points open the light will only dim a bit, but not go out. Hope this may help-- don't give up!

oldmech · Oct 31, 2008

Hi! I think you have bad wiring from Point set. Point cut current from magneto for make induction in the coil (Do not ground the point set). Condenser and Coil must be grunding no the point. If you ground the point you stop engine. Good luck ! Oldmech

johnnylight · Oct 31, 2008

warburtonplayer said:
I have a cast iron briggs engine 6 hp. I recently rebuilt it, before I rebuilt it I put a new magnito and points and a condenser on it and it ran and starter great. Now after the rebuild I cannot get a spark out of it? I re-gapped the magnito today and still nothing. Any ideas what could be wrong. The motor turns over has compression so I cannot figure out what is going on. Does anyone know anykind of trick I can do to get it started. It is on my newly restored speedex tractor and I already painted the motor so I am going to be irritated if I have to pull the flywheel. Please help.

Did you ever check the keyway?
Do you still have the old magnito,points, condenser(they work before) I would put the old ones back on to see if she fires up.

this way we can rule out defective parts

warburtonplayer · Oct 31, 2008

The new points and magnito and condeser worked before I pulled the engine apart to rebuild. They were brand new when I put them on. I only ran them for a few minutes after I put them on then tore the engine down. I am ready to give up.