Strange Snapper non starting problem

[mike72903]

Please ignore this question. Clearly, I am an idiot and that's all I have to say about that.:ashamed:

I have an older model Snapper RER (2810?) with a 10HP engine. Ran fine last week. Today it didn't want to start and when it eventually did it died almost immediately and smoked pretty bad after it did start. I pulled the plug wire to see if it was getting a spark. To my surprise it started right up and ran fine. When I pushed the plug wire back on the plug it dies right away. Put in a new plug with the same results. Cleaned inside the plug wire rubber boot with no change. Retrying with the wire removed always results in a good running engine but dies when pushed back on. Another weird thing that was happening with the plug on was that during the very short while it was running, the engine was making a screeching sound :confused2: Suggestions appreciated

 

[zman007007]

Maybe its just me, but I was and am still confused on this one, I wished he would have came back and explained it. LOL zman :confused2:

 

[mike72903]

Maybe its just me, but I was and am still confused on this one, I wished he would have came back and explained it. LOL zman :confused2:

No one replied so I assumed no interest. As it turns out the only problem was with me:ashamed: When I went to get the new plug I put the original in my coat pocket so I would be sure to get the correct one at the store. Walked down to the hardware store, found the correct plug, paid on my way out and stuck the new plug in my coat pocket. After installing it and experiencing the same problem as before, I started to remove covers and components off the engine to try and found something else wrong. After about an hour of looking in vain I stepped away to give it a little more thinking. Put my hand in my coat pocket and pulled out the newly purchased plug. I had reinstalled the original plug instead of the new one:confused2: Reassembled the parts, put in the new plug and it started immediately:thumbsup: So lets just call it human error. The screeching sound was possibly the belt slipping. Still happens from time to time on first starting but goes away as soon a gear is engaged.