I need help trouble shooting little or no spark. I have installed a new coil, wire and plug. I have a smalllllll spark when I touce the wire to the engine. I do not have spark on the plug when installed on the wire and is toucing the engine. Why? Could the magnet be weak?:mad:

Hi,
Does your machine use a trigger; silver rectangular piece near the dipstick with white wires going to it. It fails more often than the coil and can take the coil out with it.
Peace,
Clarke

Clarke,
Yes it does. It is a Kawaski 420V engine. I have the kill wire removed from the coil during all my testing. Would this still be the problem? I used two sheets of paper to gap the new coil. Do I need less or more gap?

Hi,
You must unplug the kill wire down near the trigger or it will not be in the circuit; should be a 2-prong plug down there.
A business card is often described as a suitable air gap gauge.
Peace,
Clarke

Clarke,
I tried disconnecting those wires, but I still have no spark across the end of the plug. I have a spark with the wire when I touch it to the engine but not after I hook it to the (2) new plugs?? I'm lost... The spark plug is wet with fuel... when installed in the engine.

Hi,
Maybe I was unclear! The wire going to the trigger must be hooked since it causes the fire. The wire to the wiring harness must be disconnected.
Does it backfire; sign of a bad trigger?
Peace,
Clarke

Clarke,
Sorry, this is getting confusing. My question is why do I have spark on the end of the spark plug wire and then when I put the plug on the wire I do not? Am I making myself clear? No it doesn't backfire, I wish it would. I have no spark on the plug...

Hi,
If you have access to a multimeter, check the continuity through the plug cap. Should be 5 kilohms on most. It will say it on the side and is the hard composite material.
Additionalty, it could be a shorted plug. Measure continuity from post to threaded body. Should be none.
Peace,
Clarke

Clarke,
I checked the plug and it has about 5k. I also checked the plug cap and it also has resistance. With that much resistance in the cap and plug I'm not getting any out at the end of the plug. I have a new coil. How do I increase the output? Would a weak magnet decrease my output? I have also tried removing the JohnDeere spark plug cap (which has reisistance through it) and used a straight metal one. (no resistance) I get good spark with it but as I said before none across the end of the plug. Its like it doesn't have enough power to jump the gap. I even tried narrowing the gap. No luck.

Hi,
The cap should have resistance. Sounds like the plug is bad.
Peace,
Clarke

Clarke,
Follow up on JD 175. I check out the plugs and compared with a new JD plug. The champion had a lot more reisitance, and one was open. I finally had JD pick up the mower and it was the trigger. ($69.00) More than the a new coil.
Running good now... Thanks for your help...