K181 no spark, has me baffled???

[TIGman 2,006]

 Well I'm trying to get the Kohler K181 to fire up on the 875 and having no luck. 

I replaced both battery cables,spark plug, plug wire, points, condenser and also the coil which looked questionable.

Points set at .020,  spark plug at .025.

All connections have been cleaned or replaced.  Roll it over and NO spark.

Where should I be looking next to correct this problem???  Thank you!!

[scotty 252]

On the post of my coil when i put a new one on i put a washer between the points and condenser wires and i lost spark. I took the washer out and it started to get spark.

[953 nut 56,577]

Have you got 12 volts at the + terminal of the coil and ground on the - post when points are closed?

[TIGman 2,006]

20 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

Have you got 12 volts at the + terminal of the coil and ground on the - post when points are closed?

Yes I do have 12 volts at the + side of the coil.  Will check - in a few minutes,

just got I house to cool off..... Hot! out there.

29 minutes ago, scotty said:

On the post of my coil when i put a new one on i put a washer between the points and condenser wires and i lost spark. I took the washer out and it started to get spark.

Thanks for the info. No washer between points/condenser connection on mine.

[TIGman 2,006]

1 hour ago, 953 nut said:

Have you got 12 volts at the + terminal of the coil and ground on the - post when points are closed?

Just checked, have ground on - side of coil with points open or closed.... Now really baffled.... 

Recently picked up a 3 position ignition switch to replace the 4  position switch the guy had on there. 

It is a basic OFF, ON ,START switch.

[pfrederi 18,103]

disconnect the condenser and try ( I know its new but they can be bad out of the box)

[TIGman 2,006]

51 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

disconnect the condenser and try ( I know its new but they can be bad out of the box)

Will give that a try.  I know I checked out the"Brand New" AC spark plug the guy gave me at the parts store and that was bad..... 

[squonk 41,795]

With ground on the wire going to the points open or closed you won't have any spark no matter what. You need the primary circuit to stop flowing to induce the voltage in the secondary windings. Look for a pinched wire to the points broken insulator on the points ect. Do you have and analog volt meter?  You can check continuity of that wire to ground. then try and open the points and see if the ground goes away.

Edited June 19, 2016 by squonk

[TIGman 2,006]

1 hour ago, squonk said:

With ground on the wire going to the points open or closed you won't have any spark no matter what. You need the primary circuit to stop flowing to induce the voltage in the secondary windings. Look for a pinched wire to the points broken insulator on the points ect. Do you have and analog volt meter?  You can check continuity of that wire to ground. then try and open the points and see if the ground goes away.

I do have a volt meter and I will do some checking tomorrow, just got all my tools (toys) picked up. lol

Even with the switch taken off and condenser unhooked,points open or closed, + and - side of coil show continuity to ground....  Even my oldest son said the "new" points might be suspicious. I Thank you!! for your input guys. 

 

Here's the ignition switch I'm using I picked up from Advance Auto.

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,168]

The M on the switch is for magneto ignition. As a rule the switches for battery ignition use the letter I (eye) for the ignition.

 

Garry

[squonk 41,795]

Yup, that's the wrong switch 

[TIGman 2,006]

Well guess I'll be looking for another switch, an actual replacement for the original WC switch. 

The guy that had this 875 had a 4 post ?switch installed, must be the original had gone bad.

[wallfish 17,149]

Battery ignition switch

 

 

[Achto 28,106]

26 minutes ago, TIGman said:

Well guess I'll be looking for another switch, an actual replacement for the original WC switch

Some one please correct me if I'm wrong but shouldn't an 875 have a Cole Hersey switch with the Dog ear key. I know 1966 & 67 had this switch but I'm not sure about 1965 models. If I am correct check this sight www.partdeal.com .They offer a 4 prong switch but you don't need to use all 4. I believe one prong is for a ground which would only be used with a magneto ignition.

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,168]

Original ignition switch 4988 (5/8"-32 threads) replaced by 7263 (9/16"-24 threads)

 

If you add a starter solenoid you can use a more economical switch like Wallfish posted but only use the B, I and S terminals. There is also a plastic 5-wire connector available that fits this style of switch.

A solenoid used with the original style of switch will greatly increase the life of the switch.

 

Garry

[TIGman 2,006]

I really appreciate all the input and help.

You guys are Awesome!! 

Never owned anything with a Kohler engine on it, always Briggs Statton or Tecumseh so this is all new ground for me.

Again, Thank you!! Red Square members. l

[953 nut 56,577]

If you want to use a solenoid rather than a high amperage start/ignition switch this diagram may help.

[TIGman 2,006]

1 hour ago, 953 nut said:

If you want to use a solenoid rather than a high amperage start/ignition switch this diagram may help.

Thanks! 953 nut  Might just give that a try.