Briggs has no spark.

warburtonplayer · Oct 19, 2008

I have a cast iron briggs engine 6 hp. I recently rebuilt it, before I rebuilt it I put a new magnito and points and a condenser on it and it ran and starter great. Now after the rebuild I cannot get a spark out of it? I re-gapped the magnito today and still nothing. Any ideas what could be wrong. The motor turns over has compression so I cannot figure out what is going on. Does anyone know anykind of trick I can do to get it started. It is on my newly restored speedex tractor and I already painted the motor so I am going to be irritated if I have to pull the flywheel. Please help.

Destructo_D · Oct 19, 2008

Try a different spark plug. Even if the one you put in there is brand new, it doesn't mean that it is a good plug.

johnnylight · Oct 19, 2008

does your flywheel have a keyway?--sometimes this breaks and she will get no spark,
causing the flywheel to be out of alignment, The magnet on the flywheel is not where it supposed to be.

warburtonplayer · Oct 20, 2008

Does it matter which way the magnito is bolted on/ Could it be on backwards?

Treemonkey1000 · Oct 20, 2008

Check for bare wires grounding out. The vibration can also break wires after a lot of running time. Another idea is the center hot wire to the plug may have broken going to the spark plug. Those will break as well giving you no Spark Scotty.....

johnnylight · Oct 20, 2008

warburtonplayer said:
Does it matter which way the magnito is bolted on/ Could it be on backwards?

As long as the magnito and the magnet on the flywheel pass each other and the key way is in your good to go.

If it's upside down and it does not line up --No spark

jinman · Oct 21, 2008

warburtonplayer said:
Does it matter which way the magnito is bolted on/ Could it be on backwards?

I agree with Johnnylight on the alignment. That could happen from being upside down.

I used to remove the spark plug and hold the wire in my hand while rotating the the flywheel just enough to get a little jolt. If you feel it that way and the plug won't jump a spark when you pull the starter rope, then it might be a bad plug. Make sure the plug is dry and not fouled out.

hazmatguy · Oct 21, 2008

If the unit has set for some time try buffing the points with a fine emery cloth or file from your wife.

As the other said there is not much that can go wrong except the key way and the wires.

Briggs makes a "magna tron" replacement kit that would do away with the points. Fit up by the magneto, easy fix.

Good luck

dqdave1 · Oct 21, 2008

Condensor may be bad. Make sure all wires are not grounded. This engine probably has a ground wire that grounds out when throttle is pushed all the way to idle; look for this wire under carb and make sure it is not grounded all the time. (remove it to make certain.)