782 hydro

[convoy]

anybody know why my 782 has two ignition coils and how they are supposed to be wired.Also could improper point setting cause backfire?

 

[OldMachinist]

The 782 would have a 19HP Onan engine and the original coil would have had two spark plug outputs on it.

 

[convoy]

thank you kindly old machinist,I had no idea what I had I bought it cause it had a rear tiller and the guy said it quit running a couple years ago he thought it dropped a valve seat but I"d like to see if I could get it running before I tear into it.Is onan a good engine?

 

[VinceSMTA]

Actually, the 782 originally had the KT17 Kohler engine in it. However, the coil would be similar to that in the diagram as the kohler also had two plug wires going out from it.

 

[art]

That model kohler does have issues with valve seats!

 

[OldMachinist]

Don't why I was thinking it had a Onan but they are correct it's a Kohler. The reason somebody wired up two coils is that they get over $100 for the Kohler dual output coil. You can get a Harley universal coil of Ebay for under $25. Harley Dual Wire 12V Universal Coil | eBay
Berfore you buy a new coil do a compression test and check the points and condensor.

 

[convoy]

hey this is great,i'm gettin alot of good information from all you guys.the wierd part to me is I can get it to fire and almost run(it's gettin fuel)and spark in both wires so I eyeballed the points,they looked like they had.060 or better gap,so I set'em down to an eyeball .020 and now i'm gettin some serious backfire on exhaust,to me it acts like it's out of time

 

[wdchyd]

Could it be running lean on fuel..??

 

[convoy]

I don't know ,seems like backfire always has something to do with elctrical.I know on car engines when you have a distributor when you change point gap you change timing.Does that apply to this as well?

 

[marv barton]

On the original KT17 coil the plug wires actually "screw" into the coil-the coil nipples have coarse threads cast into them. Make sure you trim back the ends of the wires for good spark as this may contribute to your backfire. Guess how I learned this!! You are correct that adjusting the points changes the timing on that engine. Good luck.