VHGMC Forums: Howard 350 - still no spark

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coastie
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Joined: 05 May 2013
Location: United Kingdom
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Posts: 21

Topic: Howard 350 - still no spark
Posted: 30 May 2013 at 9:48pm

Hi,

Still have no spark so am thinking of replacing the coil and condensor. There are many sellers of coils out there that say their product will fit the 350 but I am unsure as to whether they will.

Has anyone any experience of doing this and could give me any advice.

Regards.

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The Showman
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Joined: 03 Nov 2008
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Posts: 745

Posted: 30 May 2013 at 10:59pm

I'am not sure what engine you have, but i lost a spark on a kohler. spent 2 days changing coils points plugs, dam anoying when its a pull start, and it turned out to be the bakerlite plugcap. never known that before, but its the first thing i change now. hope that helps

No Fools....Only Horses. Wheelhorse of course

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simar kid
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Joined: 28 Jan 2011
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Posts: 2061

Posted: 31 May 2013 at 6:07am

Originally posted by coastie

Hi,

Still have no spark so am thinking of replacing the coil and condensor. There are many sellers of coils out there that say their product will fit the 350 but I am unsure as to whether they will.

Has anyone any experience of doing this and could give me any advice.

Regards.

we have a member on forum called series 1 gem, he is very well into howard rotovators and he will be more than helpful and can put you in the right place spares wise. good luck.

Not sure whats wrong. i think we will let it develop

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coastie
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Joined: 05 May 2013
Location: United Kingdom
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Posts: 21

Posted: 31 May 2013 at 11:15am

Thanks for the replies.

The engine is a Kohler K141 and I got the unit a few weeks ago; it had been under cover and left for about 7 or 8 years without being used. After cleaning out the fuel system, cleaning the points and replacing the oil it fired and worked well until the wheel drive gears jammed. I've unjammed them and took the opportunity to strip it a bit further and do a paint job as well as service the clutch.

It was all put back together and since then I've had no spark. Took the magneto off and cleaned it, cleaned all the connections, made sure the points were not earthing out, got a new spark plug and set the gaps correctly and now I'm flummoxed.

Don't know how to check that there is no break in the HT lead and as the cap is rubber don't think that is a problem.

Help!

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grendel
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Joined: 10 May 2011
Location: United Kingdom
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Posts: 176

Posted: 31 May 2013 at 6:04pm

when it jammed, has the flywheel sheared its key and turned?
Grendel

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coastie
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Joined: 05 May 2013
Location: United Kingdom
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Posts: 21

Posted: 31 May 2013 at 6:48pm

Hi Grendel,

No the flywheel and key are intact. I did wonder if the magnets had moved but they seem to be in the same place with no sign that the disc that they are on has moved at all.

Someone else wondered if the engine stopped at the time that the gears jammed and I can't be sure but I don't think that it did. I am pretty sure that I had to stop the engine myself.

Regards

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mowersman
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Joined: 07 Dec 2008
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Posts: 2817

Posted: 01 Jun 2013 at 7:52pm

Have you got a multimeter?
Andrew

The more I work with petrols, the more I like diesels...
Yeovil, Somerset

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coastie
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Joined: 05 May 2013
Location: United Kingdom
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Posts: 21

Posted: 01 Jun 2013 at 9:22pm

Hi mowersman,

Yes I do have a digital one and one I got from my dad which I think still works and is probably older than me and I'm 65.

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enginear
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Joined: 12 Jul 2010
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Posts: 626

Posted: 01 Jun 2013 at 10:30pm

Pull back the rubber cap on the ht lead if it is a wire clip type that go's to the spark plug take it off and gently insert a a thin clean nail into the lead then check for a spark as the clip may have rusted and broken inside the lead.or fit a new ht lead.

simple

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hitchinsm
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Joined: 22 Nov 2012
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Posts: 51

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 at 4:55pm

It can be one of three coils, all in stock. If you are interested send the coil to me and I will test it on the Mertronics tester that I use to test every coil that I sell.
something in the region of 70% of the old coils I test are ok, generally a points or condenser problem. Save the grief and change it to electronic ignition.

Regards Mike

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Author	Message
coastie Forum Member Joined: 05 May 2013 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 21	Topic: Howard 350 - still no spark Posted: 30 May 2013 at 9:48pm
	Hi, Still have no spark so am thinking of replacing the coil and condensor. There are many sellers of coils out there that say their product will fit the 350 but I am unsure as to whether they will. Has anyone any experience of doing this and could give me any advice. Regards.
	IP Logged

The Showman Forum Member Joined: 03 Nov 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 745	Posted: 30 May 2013 at 10:59pm
	I'am not sure what engine you have, but i lost a spark on a kohler. spent 2 days changing coils points plugs, dam anoying when its a pull start, and it turned out to be the bakerlite plugcap. never known that before, but its the first thing i change now. hope that helps
	No Fools....Only Horses. Wheelhorse of course
	IP Logged

simar kid Forum Member Joined: 28 Jan 2011 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2061	Posted: 31 May 2013 at 6:07am
	*Originally posted by coastie* Hi, Still have no spark so am thinking of replacing the coil and condensor. There are many sellers of coils out there that say their product will fit the 350 but I am unsure as to whether they will. Has anyone any experience of doing this and could give me any advice. Regards. we have a member on forum called series 1 gem, he is very well into howard rotovators and he will be more than helpful and can put you in the right place spares wise. good luck.
	Not sure whats wrong. i think we will let it develop
	IP Logged

coastie Forum Member Joined: 05 May 2013 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 21	Posted: 31 May 2013 at 11:15am
	Thanks for the replies. The engine is a Kohler K141 and I got the unit a few weeks ago; it had been under cover and left for about 7 or 8 years without being used. After cleaning out the fuel system, cleaning the points and replacing the oil it fired and worked well until the wheel drive gears jammed. I've unjammed them and took the opportunity to strip it a bit further and do a paint job as well as service the clutch. It was all put back together and since then I've had no spark. Took the magneto off and cleaned it, cleaned all the connections, made sure the points were not earthing out, got a new spark plug and set the gaps correctly and now I'm flummoxed. Don't know how to check that there is no break in the HT lead and as the cap is rubber don't think that is a problem. Help!
	IP Logged

grendel Forum Member Joined: 10 May 2011 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 176	Posted: 31 May 2013 at 6:04pm
	when it jammed, has the flywheel sheared its key and turned? Grendel
	IP Logged

coastie Forum Member Joined: 05 May 2013 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 21	Posted: 31 May 2013 at 6:48pm
	Hi Grendel, No the flywheel and key are intact. I did wonder if the magnets had moved but they seem to be in the same place with no sign that the disc that they are on has moved at all. Someone else wondered if the engine stopped at the time that the gears jammed and I can't be sure but I don't think that it did. I am pretty sure that I had to stop the engine myself. Regards
	IP Logged

mowersman Forum Member Joined: 07 Dec 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2817	Posted: 01 Jun 2013 at 7:52pm
	Have you got a multimeter? Andrew
	The more I work with petrols, the more I like diesels... Yeovil, Somerset
	IP Logged

coastie Forum Member Joined: 05 May 2013 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 21	Posted: 01 Jun 2013 at 9:22pm
	Hi mowersman, Yes I do have a digital one and one I got from my dad which I think still works and is probably older than me and I'm 65.
	IP Logged

enginear Forum Member Joined: 12 Jul 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 626	Posted: 01 Jun 2013 at 10:30pm
	Pull back the rubber cap on the ht lead if it is a wire clip type that go's to the spark plug take it off and gently insert a a thin clean nail into the lead then check for a spark as the clip may have rusted and broken inside the lead.or fit a new ht lead.
	simple
	IP Logged

hitchinsm Forum Member Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 03 Jun 2013 at 4:55pm
	It can be one of three coils, all in stock. If you are interested send the coil to me and I will test it on the Mertronics tester that I use to test every coil that I sell. something in the region of 70% of the old coils I test are ok, generally a points or condenser problem. Save the grief and change it to electronic ignition.
	Regards Mike
	IP Logged