Magneto/wire issue?

Benmower

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Briggs intek 18.5hp V2 on Troy Bilt Bronco

I rebuild and cleaned the carburetor to figure out my problem. It wouldn't work right so I removed and cleaned it again. This time I changed the spark plugs, but when I went to change the one on the fuel pump side, gas gushed out. So after letting it vent for a short time, I installed the new plug and proceeded to starting the engine. At first it struggled, but after 20 seconds it sounded good and I went to start cutting the grass. This worked fine for about 2 minutes but when I started going up hill, power quickly faded. It came back after as I changed direction, but did it again going up. This engine has been giving me hard time for the past 2 seasons.

At this point, I do not think the carburetor is the issue. It started raining so I did not open the cylinder on pump side from the spark plug, but I am guessing it could be flooded again.

Detail: When the gas gushed out, I decided to push the gas out by turning the engine a few times. The vapors started a small fire that I extinguished right away. This engine was totally cold, so the only thing I could think of is the that magneto and wire works at least sometimes. I never had an issue or kink of wires that I can remember of, but who knows? The exhaust pipe on the opposite side from the pump smoked while the one on the gas gushing side looks clean. I forgot to check if it had much heat to it before the rain forced me to put the mower in storage but there was no smoke coming out that side which could mean the cylinder had stopped working or never worked.

Could it be a bad magneto/wire? Anyone has any suggestion?
 

Rivets

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Your float needle in the carb is not seating, allowing fuel to continue to flow all the time. Time to rebuild the carb, (making sure you replace the needle and seat) change the oil, (as it is fuel contaminated) and you should be good to go. Common problem where fuel is allowed to sit in the carb for an extended period of time. Has nothing to do with the ignition system.
 

Benmower

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Your float needle in the carb is not seating, allowing fuel to continue to flow all the time. Time to rebuild the carb, (making sure you replace the needle and seat) change the oil, (as it is fuel contaminated) and you should be good to go. Common problem where fuel is allowed to sit in the carb for an extended period of time. Has nothing to do with the ignition system.


I'll open it tomorrow to check the seat. Not sue if it's removable on that model, 407777, and the needle is almost brand new. Worth trying. Thank you.
 

Benmower

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Changed the coil magneto after changing the oil and started just fine.
 

Benmower

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HUH???

WOW!!!!!

Yes, it came Monday and I waited until Tuesday for a carburetor I had also ordered since I cleaned mine like 4 times this year alone, and I'm no small engine specialist. It was delivered at my neighbor's home who took his sweet time, 2 days to bring the parcel to me. So by that time I had installed the old one, the magneto, gaped it to .013 (matching what's on the other side) cleaned and re-installed the spark plugs and it was working fine mowing yesterday. I did cut and plugged (1 cut) the ground wire to the solenoid too because the plastic protection looked slightly crushed , but no wire was exposed and I could feel the pliers clearly cut through the wire. Both side looked clean cut after I cleared the plastic for my plug.
This morning I removed both spark plug to check and everything was fine in the cylinders. I used the mower all day restarting about 8 times to pull dirt from a project to my backyard.
Any way I appreciate the comments and suggestions. Thanks.
 
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