My Suffolk punch 43s lawnmower recently stpped. Fuel not a problem, which left spark. Changed plug, checked grounding stop, all fine. Cut 1/4 inch of park lead. Good strong magets in fly wheel... Finally bit the bullet and paid nearly £70 for new ignition coil. Fitted today hoping to cut the grass because it's like a meadow, and still no spark. What else can it be??

Hi,
I gather you speak of a 17" reel mower made originally from Qualcast.
The ones I found had Tecumseh engines. This is liable to be okd enough to have points. On a conventional ignition machine, a sheared flywheel key would do it also.
Got any engine numbers? May be stamped into housing near plug.
Peace,
Clarke

Hi,
I gather you speak of a 17" reel mower made originally from Qualcast.
The ones I found had Tecumseh engines. This is liable to be okd enough to have points. On a conventional ignition machine, a sheared flywheel key would do it also.
Got any engine numbers? May be stamped into housing near plug.
Peace,
Clarke

Hi, thanks for response. Can't see any numbers on housing, but very clear on main body... Qualcast Suffolk Punch 43S L80102, No 089164/K. It doesn't have points, and the key is slightly worn, but does not make the flywheel loose. It might just allow a couple of degrees of misalignment. Could this be the problem? I thought this would only affect the timing, not the spark.

Hi,
Did a bit more searching. It seems that the majority if not all had a Tecumseh HS35 engine. The pictures I could find had a float carb. I would try removing the main jet (bolt) from the bottom center of the float bowl (7/16" or 11mm) in order to check the jet for plugging. There will be two or four holes near the head and one or two toward the other end. Depending on type of carb there may be one down inside the bolt on the vertical. Make sure these are all clean; one of them does the actual fuel metering. I need engine numbers to look it up exactly.
I can give you a link for the Tecumseh manual:
http://www.cpdonline.com/692509.pdf
Newer models have gone to a Kawasaki FA series engine, I think.
Since it has no points, a notched key will only affect timing; it would still fire.
Peace,
Clarke

Hey. Thanks for your help but I've found the problem. It was suggested that it may be the valves, so I broke the motor down prepared for a seating in session. Low and behold when I split the crankcase, six teeth off the camshaft cog lay like dead fish in the sump... just got to find a replacement now and that bloody grass is going to gat a proper haircut. Thanks again to all.