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Craftsmower no spark

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Old Dec 11, 2006 | 09:17 AM
  #1  
78bigunns's Avatar
78bigunns
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Craftsmower no spark

I have myself a Craftsman 18hp mower.

I have a no spark issue. I pulled the plug and held it next to the manifold and got not spark.

Where/what is the coil on these?

Any other tests I can do myself before loading it up to go to the local small engine shop?

It cranks and eveything spins freely.

Thanks,
Blair
 
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Old Dec 11, 2006 | 09:32 AM
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What brand of engine on the thing? I had a Murray mower that quit once and it wound up being a module of some kind that went out after 6 years.

I own a Craftsman mower now with a 20 horse Kohler engine.
 
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Old Dec 11, 2006 | 10:15 AM
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You should check for spark from the wire not the plug. You could have a bad plug.
Just a thought.
 
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Old Dec 11, 2006 | 11:53 AM
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7700Rob
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Originally Posted by 06supercrew
You should check for spark from the wire not the plug. You could have a bad plug.
Just a thought.


Right... Hold the wire with a pair of rubber handled pliers close to a head bolt or something, and give it a spin make sure what ever you use has a good clean ground. More engine info would help, some of the Briggs twins had two coils... Coils are under the flywheel, sometimes a little surface rust on the magnets and/or the coils would reduce or stop ignition...
 
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Old Dec 11, 2006 | 12:27 PM
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Check the air gap on the armature and make sure the kill wire isn't disconnected or grounded. Here's a link to B&S' troubleshooting page.

http://faqs.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/faq...i=&p_topview=1
 
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Old Dec 11, 2006 | 12:31 PM
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Not sure about twins, but the stator (alternator for charging the battery) is under the flywheel, the ignition armature is located under the cowl, next to the flywheel. It generates electricity by magnets embedded in the flywheel passing it, and sends that juice either to a coil, or directly to the plug (s).
 
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Old Dec 11, 2006 | 12:33 PM
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you have a bad ingnition coil.
 
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Old Dec 11, 2006 | 04:36 PM
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From: Southern MD
Originally Posted by 78bigunns
I have myself a Craftsman 18hp mower.

I have a no spark issue. I pulled the plug and held it next to the manifold and got not spark.

Where/what is the coil on these?

Any other tests I can do myself before loading it up to go to the local small engine shop?

It cranks and eveything spins freely.

Thanks,
Blair
I have the 16 hp I/C Briggs (twin cyl) on my riding lawn mower.
Several years ago, I had been cutting grass (no problems with engine) and my wife called me in, for lunch. When I went back out, that engine wouldn't start for anything.

Bottom line. Bad ignition module.
Cost: About $60.

I changed it out, myself.

Here's what surprised me. One cylinder got spark. The other one didn't.

I hope this helps.
 
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Old Dec 11, 2006 | 10:22 PM
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From: charlotte nc
like i said bad ignition module. a very very common problem
 
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Old Dec 12, 2006 | 05:34 AM
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Another thought is if it has a low oil shut off, you may be low on oil or it may be stuck.
 
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Old Dec 12, 2006 | 06:15 AM
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Thanks for all the replies. I think it's a Kohler, the tractor came with the house when I bought it last year.

It's a 2004 unit, I'll have to double check the motor though. Could be a B&S, I wasn't paying attendtion.

I'm going to look at that link and I'll check out my motor info tonight.

Thanks again,
Blair
 
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