Lawnboy 8243

[vito]

I have a lawnboy 8243. It is an F engine, 1987 model. I bought it new and it has been great. It would not start this year. I took the muffler off, cleaned the ports, checked the carb, and checked spark. I got no spark. I removed the wires from the brake/switch and still no spark. I changed the plug, and eventually the coil pack. Still no spark. Then, when I was testing with a bolt in the spark plug lead, it was not getting spark when I had it by t5he engine. But, it slipped off and fell down by the mounting bolt where the handle attaches to the deck. I got an audible and visible spark. I'm assuming I have some type of a ground issue. I sanded the mounting surfaces where the ignition mounts to the engine. There are no other wires on the mower, other than the 2 wires running from the brake/switch to the ignition. The switch has continuity between the 2 wires when not depressed. No continuity when it is depressed. It depresses when you hold the safety bale down on the handle.


Any suggestions as to what might be going on? Thanks a lot.

 

[KennyV]

It is at times tricky to find a spot on the engine where you can get a spark to jump, without shorting out your test to an unseen point...
Since the spark is generated in the coil mounted on the engine... any place on the engine or any metal that is attached to the engine will allow for a spark... You will not have a grounding problem with the secondary windings of the coil.
Use a good spark plug as the external test for spark, it will be much easier to controll where the ark should be... :smile:KennyV

 

[Briana]

Hey there! WELCOME to LawnMowerForum! :biggrin:

I moved your thread to the Lawn Boy Forum. You'll get a better response there. :thumbsup: