Lawn Boy 5239g, no spark no matter what I try!

[peteclark3]

Hey folks! I've been trying to fix our Lawn Boy 5239g's "no spark" problem for weeks (the weeks are mainly waiting for new parts to come). Tried spark plugs that work in other mowers (same plug type), it has a new condenser as of today, new points, and even a new magneto (coil?)

No matter what I do, I can't get this thing to spark any more. I'm not sure what might have caused the problem originally.

I'm attaching pictures of the top, hoping something is obvious.. if not, do you have any ideas of what I can try next, or how to troubleshoot?

 

[gary lee]

First check the gap on points then take avolt amp meter contintinuity setting to make sure when points open there not a short to armature plate. Make the spark plug wire is in coil. Recheck gap between coil and flywheel magnet .010. Just make sure there is not a path to armature plate when points are open.

 

[peteclark3]

Thank you! I apologize but just to make sure I'm doing it right, where should I touch on the mower with the multimeter to see if there is continuity?

 

[KennyV]

The points in the system complete the path to ground, for the primary side of the coil... when the points are open there should be no path to ground... (aside from the charging of the condenser) ... :smile:KennyV

 

[peteclark3]

Could I be so bothersome as to ask where to touch the two ends of the multimeter wires with the points open to test this?

 

[KennyV]

Across the Open point set... But you will be reading the LC of the primary & the capacitance of the condenser.... Your main concern would be that there is not a short, (very low resistance), when the points open... :smile:KennyV

 

[gary lee]

Check your wire connects at the point make sure theyre not touching the armature plate. Some times when you tighten that nut sometimes they twist around touch the plate. dicsconnect wire to kill switch to see if a problem. Hang in there buddy we get that LB running if takes till doomsday. If everything checks out fine with ignition there is couple of other areas consiter.

 

[peteclark3]

Thank you.. This lawn boy was a gift from Santa for my son (8yo) two Christmases ago.. Was running great until just recently! Before I replaced the coil and condenser i had put elec tape on the wires so the connectors wouldn't touch the plate, and watched for that when I screwed the new condenser bolt on. I will check again, but after that what should I try next? If I can find out what two places to touch with the multimeter to check for a short, I can probably ask better questions if I can see what might be shorting it.

Thank you again!!
Pete

 

[peteclark3]

Oh ok, I missed the second to last response. So I open the points and I touch the wires one to each point, and if there is continuity that is bad? Or is that expected?

I apologize, as soon as things get into electrical terms, I'm pretty stupid..

 

[KennyV]

You will be measuring the primary windings of the coil plus the condenser that is wired parallel to it.. It will have some resistance, not a dead short... if it is almost the same as when the points are closed, you have something shorted in your wiring Or your condenser is shorted or the points are Not opening.... :smile:KennyV