Sailman 1,291 #1 Posted July 29 I posted a couple times trying to solve the no spark issue on the K161 (K141 actually) on the 704 I was bringing back to life. A lot of different advice from folks on this site but nothing that solved my problem. Went through all the wires to points, to condenser, to cut off switch and spark plug wire. NO SHORTS, good continuity. New points, new condenser, new spark plug, new $75 magneto.... still no spark. I don't give up easy but this one has me beat. Going to offer it in trade plus $$ to anyone who has a running K161 and wants to tackle this one. Or I will just look for another running K161. or just sell the whole damn thing.... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TractorEd 633 #2 Posted July 29 (edited) I hate that you’re having trouble with that. If I were close to you I’d gladly come by and try to help. I think you just need a 2nd set of eyes on it. Anyone on here close to you? Can you check with a nearby small engine shop? With all you’ve done, I don’t think it would take someone with a lot of experience to get it to spark. And they will tell/show you what the issue was. Sparkees Small Engine Repair is near you. And several others it looks like. Edited July 29 by TractorEd 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,814 #3 Posted July 29 27 minutes ago, TractorEd said: I hate that you’re having trouble with that. If I were close to you I’d gladly come by and try to help. I think you just need a 2nd set of eyes on it. Sometimes a second set of eyes spots simple stupid things I overlook. Just getting back to basics sometimes works for me too. Like turning on the gas cock... 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,172 #4 Posted July 29 3 hours ago, Sailman said: new $75 magneto... Did the new magneto check out good using the test procedure that we sent you on your other post? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,834 #5 Posted July 30 2 hours ago, WHX?? said: Sometimes a second set of eyes spots simple stupid things I overlook. Just getting back to basics sometimes works for me too. Like turning on the gas cock... This weekend… 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,834 #6 Posted July 30 Points are new, are they gapped? Flywheel magnets good? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,172 #7 Posted July 30 9 hours ago, Pullstart said: Points are new, are they gapped? Flywheel magnets good? Have the new points been cleaned by pulling a dollar bill or brown paper bag through the closed contacts to make sure the are making a good contact? 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike'sHorseBarn 2,998 #8 Posted July 30 I had this same exact problem on a k91 once that I never did figure out so I got rid of it...........I won't buy a kohler with a magneto anymore as a result. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sailman 1,291 #9 Posted August 3 On 7/29/2024 at 6:51 PM, TractorEd said: Can you check with a nearby small engine shop? I tried one shop recently and they were bad mouthing the old Kohlers so have not looked further. Don't want to spend a bunch of money having a shop charge me to redo the work I have done with same results. Will check out Sparkees Small Engine. On 7/29/2024 at 7:31 PM, 953 nut said: Did the new magneto check out good using the test procedure that we sent you on your other post? Magneto's check out as best I can tell with a digital tester. All the previous suggestions seem to match my results. On 7/29/2024 at 9:56 PM, Pullstart said: Points are new, are they gapped? Flywheel magnets good? Points are new, gapped and cleaned...magnets seem good. On 7/30/2024 at 7:18 AM, 953 nut said: Have the new points been cleaned by pulling a dollar bill or brown paper bag through the closed contacts to make sure the are making a good contact? yes On 7/30/2024 at 9:03 AM, Mike'sHorseBarn said: I had this same exact problem on a k91 once that I never did figure out so I got rid of it...........I won't buy a kohler with a magneto anymore as a result. Afraid that's the same issue for me. I have been able to solve issues with my wheel horse tractors but this one has me beat..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,834 #10 Posted August 3 On 7/30/2024 at 9:03 AM, Mike'sHorseBarn said: I had this same exact problem on a k91 once that I never did figure out so I got rid of it...........I won't buy a kohler with a magneto anymore as a result. c’mon now Mikey! We get bills more than refund checks but we still check the mail 3 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sailman 1,291 #11 Posted August 4 10 hours ago, Sailman said: I have been able to solve issues with my wheel horse tractors but this one has me beat..... Actually that's not totally true.....having a real tussle getting the pin out of the steering wheel shaft @Pullstart provided for me.... But given its a freebee I cant complain. Tried beating it out, drilling it out (broke 2 drill bits), going to fabricate a small 4 ton hydraulic press next...I'll get that sucker out yet! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EB-80/8inPA 1,640 #12 Posted August 4 1 hour ago, Sailman said: I'll get that sucker out yet! Never lose hope. Never give up. Unless/until further efforts become uneconomical, then by all means, #^{!< it. Is the juice worth the squeeze? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark siebenaler 87 #13 Posted August 4 I would switch it over to a external coil much better spark once I did that. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 16,994 #14 Posted August 4 On 7/30/2024 at 9:03 AM, Mike'sHorseBarn said: I had this same exact problem on a k91 once that I never did figure out so I got rid of it...........I won't buy a kohler with a magneto anymore as a result. On 8/3/2024 at 9:44 AM, Sailman said: Afraid that's the same issue for me. I have been able to solve issues with my wheel horse tractors but this one has me beat..... I've had issues with magneto K90s in the past and the point gap made a HUGE difference. If you have them set at 0.020 close them to 0.018, possibly more. One engine would weak spark with the plug out, not spark with the plug installed. Intermittent good spark at times but would not run. The points ended up at 0.016 and finally got it her fired up. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill D 1,916 #15 Posted August 4 Can you convert this engine to a battery ignition? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark siebenaler 87 #16 Posted August 4 1 hour ago, Bill D said: Can you convert this engine to a battery ignition? Yes I did? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark siebenaler 87 #17 Posted August 4 Another thing with these magnets after Years of use your relying on the strength of magnets for a good spark maybe the magnets are week? Switch it over to battery ignition. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 16,994 #18 Posted August 5 The only problem going with battery ignition on a tug motor is charging the battery. But they use such little juice just for ignition, a charge will last a while 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark siebenaler 87 #19 Posted August 5 9 hours ago, wallfish said: The only problem going with battery ignition on a tug motor is charging the battery. But they use such little juice just for ignition, a charge will last a while My wheelhorse stays charged it has the stator behind flywheel does his 704 not have one? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,060 #20 Posted August 5 43 minutes ago, Mark siebenaler said: My wheelhorse stays charged it has the stator behind flywheel does his 704 not have one? No it does not 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 15,434 #21 Posted August 5 16 hours ago, Mark siebenaler said: Another thing with these magnets after Years of use your relying on the strength of magnets for a good spark maybe the magnets are week? Switch it over to battery ignition. I've had lots of magneto engines over my years and never found one with bad magnets. Not that it can't happen. Extreme heat and dropping will harm a permanent magnet. However, if the mounting bolts are loosened and the core of the coil pulls down tight against the magnets, and requires any effort to pull away, you have enough magnetism to create a spark. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sailman 1,291 #22 Posted August 5 21 hours ago, Mark siebenaler said: I would switch it over to a external coil much better spark once I did that. This is a pull start motor. Coil still work with that? How would I wire it up? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,060 #23 Posted August 5 2 minutes ago, Sailman said: This is a pull start motor. Coil still work with that? How would I wire it up? Points are points. Wire it up like any battery ign. engine. You need the battery, battery tray, coil, condenser, coil bracket, wire ,and an on /off switch. Charge the battery every so often. A little bit of a pain but it beats a non running tractor . 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sailman 1,291 #24 Posted August 5 18 hours ago, Mark siebenaler said: Another thing with these magnets after Years of use your relying on the strength of magnets for a good spark maybe the magnets are week? Switch it over to battery ignition. Magnets seems fine. How do I convert it to battery ignition? Please be specific with wiring, I am not electrical engineer . Charging is not an issue, I can put trickle charger on it occasionally. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,060 #25 Posted August 5 Battery positive to switch. From switch to coil positive. From neg coil terminal to points. Also condenser to coil negative. Battery negative to tractor frame or engine block. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
