Spark Plug fires only once

[idoseadoo]

Hey all, Sorry for posting this in the B&S section, but my motor didn't fit any of the categories. It's an "AllPower" 13hp generator engine. 420cc chinese motor. Looks very basic. I'm getting an issue where the motor fires the plug only once. I tried the original plug it came with as well as an NGK BR8ES. It cranks over well with my moped battery, but I only get the one spark. The gennie is about 5years old and has never been run since new. Compression is only 50lbs. It's never even been broken in, so I'll have to go through that first I guess...

Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[Scrubcadet10]

Might have a bad ignition coil which provides spark to the plug. 50 pounds compression is good since most or all small engines have a compression release on the camshaft that holds open the exhaust valve when turning over to make it easier to start. I have a feeling the engine is similar to a Chinese predator 420cc, look up 420cc predator ignition coil, see if looks the same.

 

[idoseadoo]

Looks like if I disconnect the black wire that goes to the coil, it runs... what's this mean?

 

[idoseadoo]

Well, so much for this gennie... it ran for about 2 min, maybe less, just enough to make a video for my wife with thumbs up and then it LITERALLY blew up. Something in the crank let go and a huge window appeared in the block. Chunks of aluminum flew every which way. Total disaster... thankfully the CL seller is kind enough to refund me the money. I count myself very lucky not only because the refund, but because I didn't get hit with the shrapnel. :frown:

 

[Scrubcadet10]

DANG! sounds like either a rod threw, or the counterbalance let loose.

 

[bertsmobile1]

The problem is anyone, including you can order a container full of junk from China.
Depending upon the weight you get 300 to 800 in a 20' container which to get to Aust costs $ 8000 on the back of your truck at the wharf.
The factories who make copies of what you send them ( no they don't send spies over to buy local products ) usually have no quality control so you get a container full of plain white cartons with things inside.
Once landed you stick a decal on them and sell then cheap because a 2Kw generator is around $ 50 ex factory in China + $ 30 to $ 10 freight and $ 5 for the decals.
And this is exactly what is happening both over there & down here.
Every week some one brings a clone generator / fire pump / mower into the shop and they all walk out again calling me names because my repair estimate is some where from 1 to 3 times what they paid for it.

If you NEED a generator, get an old established brand from a real shop.
If you WANT a generator then get one on line & take your chances.

Buying a cheap generator is quite litterally gambleing with your life.
More than one person down here has been electrocuted ( some died ) when using cheap Chinese no name generators.
To save the cost of 2 wires and some insulators a lot of them are grounded through the frame , you grab the frame while holding something that has a good ground and poof you are bi-char or a vegetable to be a burden on your family till you die.

 

[idoseadoo]

I'm sure that's exactly what happened, except it wasn't just someone who ordered this container of junk, it was the Home Depot. These are the gennies sold through them. It actually seemed like a pretty nice unit until the engine puked the connecting rod out a newly improvised hole. I'm starting to think that maybe I should have changed the oil sooner, like before ever cranking it over. It had oil in it, but there was no telling how much as the dip stick didn't have any demarcations. I just saw that it HAD clean oil in it...

 

[idoseadoo]

Some fun pics of the carnage

 

[ILENGINE]

The crank bearing shows no oil at time of failure. the hole in the block looks like it had a lack of oil, and the crank and fire once gives the indication that the low oil level sensor was activating because there wasn't enough oil in the engine to satisfy it.

 

[idoseadoo]

Wish someone told me that before I figured out how to disable that safety switch. Never heard of that on a small engine before...