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Ignition question for you small engine guys

Discussion in 'Chainsaws and Power Equipment' started by haveissues, Jul 5, 2015.

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  1. haveissues

    haveissues

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    I have a tiller with a brigs vanguard 5.5 horse engine. It will run for a couple of minutes then die. After that, it will restart, run for 5 seconds or so and die again, loosing spark each time it dies. You can restart it right away and it dies 5 seconds later. Bad coil I assume?
     
    haveissues, Jul 5, 2015
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  2. normanscag

    normanscag

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    Make sure you dont have spark first. What i tell people that says it runs 5 seconds and dies or alittle longer, is to spray brake cleaner in carb to see if your able to keep it running long, if so its a fuel issue like a gummed carb. Why i say this is becuase 90 percent of my calls are no spark issue. If it stays the same then possible coil. Please dont take this wrong, alot of people cant see the spark. Easy test with brake cleaner
     
    normanscag, Jul 5, 2015
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  3. haveissues

    haveissues

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    I put a tester inline and the spark disappears as the engine dies. It goes from very bright blue to non existent. I'll try it though.
     
    haveissues, Jul 5, 2015
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  4. normanscag

    normanscag

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    Sounds like a coil good to here u have a tester
     
    normanscag, Jul 5, 2015
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  5. ironpony

    ironpony

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    also possible bad condenser, cheaper than a coil
     
    ironpony, Jul 5, 2015
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  6. rookie1

    rookie1

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    I'd say coil but I would check the wiring also before I buy a coil.
     
    rookie1, Jul 5, 2015
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  7. haveissues

    haveissues

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    I'll give the wiring a better going over. I did look at it quickly and tried disconnecting the kill switch just in case it was acting up.
     
    haveissues, Jul 5, 2015
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  8. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    Is this thing old enough to have points?
     
    brenndatomu, Jul 5, 2015
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  9. haveissues

    haveissues

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    No, it isn't that old. The engine looks like it is from '96
     
    haveissues, Jul 5, 2015
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  10. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    Condensers disappeared from small engine ignitions 30 years ago. Well before Briggs started calling some of their engines "Vanguard". Always worth a look tho on engines that are so equipped.

    Sounds like the typical failure mode for a failing coil to me. A cool for that motor shouldn't break the bank.
     
    MasterMech, Jul 5, 2015
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  11. haveissues

    haveissues

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    That's kinda what I assumed. Turns out I was using a Briggs and Stratton spark tester. Didn't even know I had it lol. I was surprised the coil is actually close to $70.
     
    haveissues, Jul 5, 2015
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  12. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    Any aftermarket options?
     
    MasterMech, Jul 5, 2015
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  13. haveissues

    haveissues

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    It looks like there is a $20 mystery brand one on ebay. I think I'm going to try that since it is a tiller and it isn't exactly an emergency if it doesn't run. If it was a honda I could replace everything external on the engine for $70.
     
    haveissues, Jul 5, 2015
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  14. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    I've had mixed luck with eBay stuff but real good results with stuff from the bigger companies like Stens and Rotary. They often have a guarantee behind the parts and you would be surprised just how often the parts are actually made by an OEM supplier.

    I still use mostly OEM stuff but when the asking price gets too high or the machine doesn't justify the cost, I don't hesitate to go aftermarket.
     
    MasterMech, Jul 5, 2015
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  15. old 040

    old 040

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    better make sure your engine doesn't have a low oil shut down, check, and top off the engine oil first.............;)
     
    old 040, Jul 7, 2015
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  16. haveissues

    haveissues

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    First thing I thought of! This engine is really simple-only a few wires
     
    haveissues, Jul 7, 2015
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  17. old 040

    old 040

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    if i remember right on this series of engine, the low oil shut down wires are below the gas tank through the top of the engine and kinda hard to see, are you sure it doesn't have the shut down on yours?
     
    old 040, Jul 7, 2015
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  18. haveissues

    haveissues

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    You might be right. What I thought was some sort of ignition module is listed as part number 710305 and is a "oil gard" module (that is how briggs spells it. don't know if it is a typo.) I'll see if that module is grounding out the ignition. I first suspected a low oil shutdown but didn't see one so I incorrectly assumed it wasn't there. Thanks for the tip.
     
    haveissues, Jul 7, 2015
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  19. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    Certainly worth looking into. I forgot Briggs had engines with LOS :rofl: :lol:. Some LOS systems do indeed have a delay built into them that will allow the restart and kill it a few seconds later. Now that I re-read your OP....


    A dying coil will usually continue to play dead until it cools off.

    Nice call old 040 ! :yes:
     
    MasterMech, Jul 7, 2015
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  20. Horkn

    Horkn

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    Why would Briggs add a LOS? My old@ss Briggs don't even need oil to run. ;). Lol
     
    Horkn, Jul 7, 2015
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