Gravely 7.6 super - NO SPARK

[GJosh]

Having trouble getting my gravely 7.6 superconvertible to start. With an inline spark tester grounded to the negative of the battery I can get a very strong spark showing. If I run it in line with the plug I get nothing. If I take the plug out and try to ground the plug anywhere on the machine, I get nothing. I've tried several different plugs thinking it must be a bad plug but still nothing.

What am I missing? It has got to be something simple.

Thanks for your help.

 

[skyhook]

Take a "ground cable" ( booster ground cable )from the battery ground, and ground it to the engine,
see if that works.

 

[GJosh]

Take a "ground cable" ( booster ground cable )from the battery ground, and ground it to the engine,
see if that works.

Tried that to no avail.

Here is another curious fact: If I run the spark tester in line to the top of the plug (as one would normally due) there is no sign of spark.

If I touch the end of the tester to the base of the plug it lights up like christmas!

Any thoughts on that???

 

[Recoveryhill]

Tried that to no avail.

Here is another curious fact: If I run the spark tester in line to the top of the plug (as one would normally due) there is no sign of spark.

If I touch the end of the tester to the base of the plug it lights up like christmas!

Any thoughts on that???

What you describe defies gravity. On a gasoline engine, it's voltage, points, (or electronic ignition module) plugs and done, ignition wise. Remove the plug, ground its base to the engine, turn engine over and observe spark or lack of spark. If you don't have spark with a grounded plug base you don't have voltage to the plug, period. Goto points or electronic ignition module.

Best of luck.

 

[mark02tj]

What you describe defies gravity. On a gasoline engine, it's voltage, points, (or electronic ignition module) plugs and done, ignition wise. Remove the plug, ground its base to the engine, turn engine over and observe spark or lack of spark. If you don't have spark with a grounded plug base you don't have voltage to the plug, period. Goto points or electronic ignition module.

Best of luck.

Would agree that if you don't see spark, that you need to do something to get it there, but there is no electronic ignition module for that old engine. You might need a new magneto. Contact Richard's Lawn & Garden Service in West Virginia. They are THE Gravely experts!! And super-friendly to boot!

 

[JRobyn]

IF you can get them to answer the phone!! E-mail seems to work best.

Mods, might be good to move this to the Gravely (two-wheel) sub-forum?

Does the 7.6 super have the magneto ignition?

- Jay

 

[GJosh]

It does have teh magneto and it is clearly generating a lot of "voltage". However, for some reason I can't figure out I can't that voltage to the plug.

(i've also posted to the Gravely sub-forum).

Thanks

 

[skyhook]

Well this has me puzzled also,,
It seems you have the "tester" with the extra clip on it, (meant for checking ignition problems also)
If you ground the plug base and have "no" spark", then you have "no" spark.
If I read your post correctly, when you use the "clip" on the tester and ground it, you have spark,,
this leads me to believe that the spark intended for the plug is being diverted to ground, which is why
you have no spark at the plug. Concentrate on finding this unwanted ground.....
I'm unfamiliar with your machine but if it has a "ground" kill switch, for spark, look in that area.

 

[JRobyn]

Or somehow there is a break in the ground path back to the magneto?

Despite trying different plugs, might there be a chance that they are all bad or the wrong type? If the tester shows a good spark when it's connected to an engine ground or the base of the plug, yet NO spark when connected to the plug electrode, that kinda eliminates everything except the plug, no?

- Jay

 

[skyhook]

Doesn't matter what type plug...
it only matters once inside the head, (specific to that engine) they "all' should spark when grounded,
I personally don't think it's "the" plug, so NO.
Remember this, a spark or electricity will always take the least path of resistance,
your magneto is grounding out before it reaches the plug, IMO...
I'd tell you to check the plug wire, but you probably already have done so.
"Ground's" are 99% of most problem's, and they are the most difficult to find.