no spark John Deere 425

eire4

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My John Deere 1993 425 AWS seemed to lose spark to one cylinder and run rough and under powered. The problem was intermitent and would correct itself just as randomly. I discovered if I moved wires coming out of igniter, engine ran fine. I put pressure on wires with zip ties and it ran fine. Then that failed to keep engine from running rough. Just installed new igniter and now there is no spark at all. All I did was replace igniter. I checked all connections and ground. Am I just unlucky that something else might have failed? Any ideas?
 

shiftsuper175607

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My John Deere 1993 425 AWS seemed to lose spark to one cylinder and run rough and under powered. The problem was intermitent and would correct itself just as randomly. I discovered if I moved wires coming out of igniter, engine ran fine. I put pressure on wires with zip ties and it ran fine. Then that failed to keep engine from running rough. Just installed new igniter and now there is no spark at all. All I did was replace igniter. I checked all connections and ground. Am I just unlucky that something else might have failed? Any ideas?

It would seem most likely it is something you did.
You could try and put the old part back on temporarily and see if it runs rough...but runs.

Is it the wrong part?
 

eire4

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I read a post somewhere that you could take the igniter apart and check for loose wires. I tried but broke the board. I ordered a new igniter online but no spark.
Then I ordered the igniter that I installed today from my local John Deere dealer. It should be correct. Next step?
 

shiftsuper175607

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I read a post somewhere that you could take the igniter apart and check for loose wires. I tried but broke the board. I ordered a new igniter online but no spark.
Then I ordered the igniter that I installed today from my local John Deere dealer. It should be correct. Next step?

You have the igniter grounded when it should not be?
"off" position of key is temporary ground for igniters to shut mower off...if you have that wire permanently grounded...no fire.
 

eire4

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My igniter is attached to engine with 2 bolts. Unless the bolts ground it, the only ground I see is the ground wire from the wiring harness to the frame.
 

eire4

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Yes I'am seated when trying to start. Would you unhook switch and jumper it to see if bad?
 
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mjb8fj

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Yes I'am seated when trying to start. Would you unhook switch and jumper it to see if bad?

You dont have to be in the seat, the brake switch overrides the seat switch on almost all machines. As far as grounding the ignitor or iginition box, they arent grounded. One of the wires on the wire harness is the ground for it. Those two bolts with the metal on the inside- are just mounting supports, you have a metal bolt trying to attach a plastic box to the engine, it needs the support for it. (Sorry just a rant I hear this every week that someone says they attached a jumper wire to it, where I have a few broken ones to show people that there is nothing there, those are just for support for the plastic).
As far as the part being good from the dealer- usually it is ok, but dont rule it out. It is not unheard of that a part is bad right out of the box. You have to see if you have voltage going into those coils that are connected to the spark plug. Thats the first place to start.
 
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