Recently someone left our mower outside in the rain and it just
wouldn't start. No spark. Spark plug works. I'd took apart the
carburator and nothing seems to be blocking the fuel supply.

The grass is growing to my waist as I type. We are thinking of buying
the same make and model which is on sale. I believe Honda makes
better movers but we need a mower with power wheels and corner
cutting blades. We have no options but to get the same old new one.
What is causing it not to start?

Thanks

Tim Zimmerman wrote:
Recently someone left our mower outside in the rain and it just
wouldn't start. No spark. Spark plug works. I'd took apart the
carburator and nothing seems to be blocking the fuel supply.

The grass is growing to my waist as I type. We are thinking of buying
the same make and model which is on sale. I believe Honda makes
better movers but we need a mower with power wheels and corner
cutting blades. We have no options but to get the same old new one.
What is causing it not to start?

Thanks


Cracked (and wet) ignition wire, or wet points, or wet paper air cleaner.

Bob

zxcvbob wrote:

Tim Zimmerman wrote:
Recently someone left our mower outside in the rain and it just
wouldn't start. No spark. Spark plug works. I'd took apart the
carburator and nothing seems to be blocking the fuel supply.

The grass is growing to my waist as I type. We are thinking of buying
the same make and model which is on sale. I believe Honda makes
better movers but we need a mower with power wheels and corner
cutting blades. We have no options but to get the same old new one.
What is causing it not to start?

Thanks


Cracked (and wet) ignition wire, or wet points, or wet paper air cleaner.

Or, depending on vintage, wet ignition module or other...

I'm curious how you know spark plug "works" but don't have spark???

If they get wet and have cracked insulator or seal around base, they'll
never dry out and work right again...I'd replace it on general
principles--at least stick a different one on the end of the wiyur and
make sure I'm getting spark before going further...

Duane Bozarth wrote:
zxcvbob wrote:

Tim Zimmerman wrote:

Recently someone left our mower outside in the rain and it just
wouldn't start. No spark. Spark plug works. I'd took apart the
carburator and nothing seems to be blocking the fuel supply.

The grass is growing to my waist as I type. We are thinking of buying
the same make and model which is on sale. I believe Honda makes
better movers but we need a mower with power wheels and corner
cutting blades. We have no options but to get the same old new one.
What is causing it not to start?

Thanks


Cracked (and wet) ignition wire, or wet points, or wet paper air cleaner.


Or, depending on vintage, wet ignition module or other...

I'm curious how you know spark plug "works" but don't have spark???

If they get wet and have cracked insulator or seal around base, they'll
never dry out and work right again...I'd replace it on general
principles--at least stick a different one on the end of the wiyur and
make sure I'm getting spark before going further...


Could also be just a little bit of water in the carburator bowl. I've
had that happen a few times. I remove the jet in the bottom of the
carburator bowl (tecumsuh engine) and drain about an ounce of gas out,
and blow in the jet to clear it since I have it out anyway.

Bob

zxcvbob wrote:
.....

Could also be just a little bit of water in the carburator bowl. ...

But he said he had "no spark", so fuel isn't the problem (yet)
anyway...may be an issue after he's got spark, granted...

Duane Bozarth wrote:
zxcvbob wrote:
....

Could also be just a little bit of water in the carburator bowl. ...


But he said he had "no spark", so fuel isn't the problem (yet)
anyway...may be an issue after he's got spark, granted...


He also said the sparkplug works. How does he know? Think about it.

Bob

Best guess would be wet wires in the high voltage ignition section. How
about bring it indoors till it dries? Or squirt spark plug wire with a bit
of "wire drier" from the auto parts store.

As the other fellow suggested, perhaps wet air filter.

I'd be tempted to give it a day indoors before going out and buying another
one. Air conditioning and dehumidifier are a good idea, to supply it with
some dry air.

--

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
www.mormons.com


"Tim Zimmerman" wrote in message
...
Recently someone left our mower outside in the rain and it just
wouldn't start. No spark. Spark plug works. I'd took apart the
carburator and nothing seems to be blocking the fuel supply.

The grass is growing to my waist as I type. We are thinking of buying
the same make and model which is on sale. I believe Honda makes
better movers but we need a mower with power wheels and corner
cutting blades. We have no options but to get the same old new one.
What is causing it not to start?

Thanks

"Tim Zimmerman" wrote in message
...
Recently someone left our mower outside in the rain and it just
wouldn't start. No spark. Spark plug works. I'd took apart the
carburator and nothing seems to be blocking the fuel supply.

The grass is growing to my waist as I type. We are thinking of buying
the same make and model which is on sale. I believe Honda makes
better movers but we need a mower with power wheels and corner
cutting blades. We have no options but to get the same old new one.
What is causing it not to start?

Thanks

gas caps on lawnmowers have small vent holes in them

rain water gets in through those holes

remember: gasoline is explosive, be extremely safe with it and around it

dump out all your gasoline in the tank, into a safe container and dispose of
it properly, even a little water screws up your gas

crank the gas out of your carburetor/engine (full open throttle, pull
starting rope or use electric start)

put some fresh gasoline in the tank

start it up

if it still won't start, carb jets need working over probably if it's gettin
spark (may have dried gas/varnish that needs to be cleaned out)

get someone qualified to do this if you aren't

effi wrote:
....
put some fresh gasoline in the tank

start it up

OP said and ..."it just wouldn't start. No spark."...

Gas ain't the problem (yet) anyway...

"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message
...
effi wrote:
...
put some fresh gasoline in the tank

start it up

OP said and ..."it just wouldn't start. No spark."...

Gas ain't the problem (yet) anyway...

op said "Spark plug works."

confused yet?

"effi" wrote in message ...
"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message
effi wrote
OP said and ..."it just wouldn't start. No spark."...
Gas ain't the problem (yet) anyway...

op said "Spark plug works."
confused yet?

Plug works, but no spark.

The magneto normally creates a large potential difference
capable of creating a spark to "fire" the combustion of
gasoline. Apparently, the step-up transformer which
produces enough potential isn't causing the electrons to jump
the gap on the spark plug.

I adjusts a coil near the edge of the flywheel and found
only two sparks (via high-tension wire and ground) during
a start attempt. A second start attempt results with no sparks.
A third attempt results with two sparks after a minor
adjustment to the coil.

The flywheel where magnet is embedded is left alone,
maybe this could be the problem.

So as the flywheel goes around, the magnet passes by the
coil. And should create a rapidly changing magnetic field
which induces a current in the coil, but this isn't happening.
Is a magneto ignition system good only for airplanes? What
are some possibilities I can do to achieve a consistent
spark?

Tim Zimmerman wrote:

Is a magneto ignition system good only for airplanes? What
are some possibilities I can do to achieve a consistent
spark?

Magneto systems were used exclusively for a long time...

If it ran before it got wet it's highly likely it's moisture somewhere
in the electrical system...if it didn't, then it's possibly the coil
itself...

On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 07:52:42 GMT, "Tim Zimmerman"
wrote:

"effi" wrote in message ...
"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message
effi wrote
OP said and ..."it just wouldn't start. No spark."...
Gas ain't the problem (yet) anyway...

op said "Spark plug works."
confused yet?

Plug works, but no spark.

The magneto normally creates a large potential difference
capable of creating a spark to "fire" the combustion of
gasoline. Apparently, the step-up transformer which
produces enough potential isn't causing the electrons to jump
the gap on the spark plug.

I adjusts a coil near the edge of the flywheel and found
only two sparks (via high-tension wire and ground) during
a start attempt. A second start attempt results with no sparks.
A third attempt results with two sparks after a minor
adjustment to the coil.

When my car acts like that, it's because the cable(s)
that go from the distributor (or whatever they call the
electronic version) to the plugs are shorting out somewhere
in the damp. In that situation a couple hours with a
hair-dryer, and/or a can of chemical wire-dryer usually
fixes it long enough to get the car home.

Are you sure you dried everything out throuroughly?
dampness in the wiring harness can be depressingly
persistant.

Airgap from flywheel to the coil should be about .014 or so, which works out
about the thickness of a cardboard box from spark plugs.

Coil should be dry to work.

Grounding wires to shutoff switch should be insulated, and not grounded.

We talking points or electronic?

--

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
www.mormons.com


"Tim Zimmerman" wrote in message
. ..

Plug works, but no spark.

The magneto normally creates a large potential difference
capable of creating a spark to "fire" the combustion of
gasoline. Apparently, the step-up transformer which
produces enough potential isn't causing the electrons to jump
the gap on the spark plug.

I adjusts a coil near the edge of the flywheel and found
only two sparks (via high-tension wire and ground) during
a start attempt. A second start attempt results with no sparks.
A third attempt results with two sparks after a minor
adjustment to the coil.

The flywheel where magnet is embedded is left alone,
maybe this could be the problem.

So as the flywheel goes around, the magnet passes by the
coil. And should create a rapidly changing magnetic field
which induces a current in the coil, but this isn't happening.
Is a magneto ignition system good only for airplanes? What
are some possibilities I can do to achieve a consistent
spark?

Check to see if you have a spark by pulling the plug, attach it to the
wire, pull the cord, and look for a spark

...For a quicker response, ask your wife or a neighbor to hold the plug
while you test it

I spray a bit of Berryman's B-12 carb cleaner down the throat when
starting mine up (takes 3-4 pulls max)

Ken

In article , Tim
Zimmerman wrote:

We are thinking of buying
the same make and model which is on sale

How do you know that? Your subject line says "Make, model tag missing".

--
"I'm a man, but I can change... If I have to... I guess." -- Red Green