Coil Testing - 18hp briggs and stratton

[ragman88]

I think I read on some site (while looking for the coil) it said "L" engine. It does not look like a "V" twin, I guess opposed like you said. Not a Vanguard according to the sticker on the case. You mean the small wire on the coil that the small engine place said went to the kill switch (ground)? If so, that is when I had it run for a sec (after I disconnected it), then grounded it out on the case to shut down. Then it would not start up again (even with that small wire not touching anything. I think that's what you mean. Thank ya'll guys for sticking with me, LOL. Hard to do over the internet in a forum, LOL. Great to have also, good help here!
Phil

[ragman88]

Went thru all the wiring, The wire from the magneto did connect to the plug on the back of the switch that had the marking "M". I'm guessing that is ok. However, on the back of the switch, there are 5 terminals that go into a plug from the wiring harness. There is a 6th terminal that says "3". It is the ground (as best as I can find on the internet-part of the terminal touches the outside of the plug case). Nothing was connected to this. So, If i'm thinking correctly, even with the wire from the magneto connected to the correct terminal on the switch, with NO chassis ground was connected to the "3" (ground) terminal, a ground was not going to happen, is this correct???? If that is true, could a positive source somehow thru the switch/wiring travel down the wire that connects to the magneto-backfeeding somehow and shorting out the magneto?

Sorry for the rambling, just trying to figure this thing out LOL. Think I'm in over my head. The small engine place said he really didn't want to mess with it since the wiring harness has been cut/tapped multiple times. I guess could be a headache for him LOL.

Thanks

Phil

[Bazooo guy]

I am having a similar problem with my kohler k399-2t.
Only 1 cylinder is firing.
The box you described is a rectifier that converts ac to dc volts from the magneto behind the flywheel for charging. If you have a magneto type ignition there are points and a primary coil behind the flywheel that sends a spark to the secondary coils on the side of the block and they fire the plugs. Problem could be points, condenser or primary coil.

[racerone3]

For some reason the coil on the L head briggs could be really finicky. Try this.... remove the small wire from the back of the magneto, remove the plug wires from the plugs and lay them on the engine so that they are grounded. Grab both with pliers and have someone crank the engine. While its cranking slowly lift the plug wires away from ground. That particular magneto (new ones... the originals didn't) has an internal breaker and sometimes this grounding procedure will reset it. What are the terminals on your ignition switch labeled? The 5 main ones should be : B- battery+, G- ground, M-magneto, L-lights and S-start

[ragman88]

She's running!!!!! But smoking a lot. Could it be smoking because the oil was half full of gas. when drained, it was approx. 1/2 gas, 1/2 oil. Someone told me that a needle valve or something in the carb was prob. stuck open letting gas drain into the case the last 3 years just sitting. I hope it quits smoking!

The new problem, it wont go, LOL. It will go forward and backwards, but will not turn. Alway's gonna be something on an old machine I guess till it gets tuned in good.

[Jeff t-boss]

Being that you said it sat for some time, combined with all the no-run cranking problems you had, there could be alot of unburned fuel/oil in the muffler. It might be burning it off now that you have it runnin. Let it run at a medium rpm for about 1/2 hour to see if it burns it off and smoke clears.

[ragman88]

Thanks, I will do that.