Cylinder and points questions

[FLtractor 56]

Evening, 

While I currently as working on the fuel system, I’d like to learn about the points and cylinder more to better understand, my neighbor who was a Sears lawn mower mechanic for 35 years told me something along the lines of having to know where top dead center is in relation to the cylinder and Points systems? Can someone explain this to me in a simple to understand way or video.. also is it costly or difficult to repair and accurately time and fix? Thank you 

[ebinmaine 73,134]

1 hour ago, FLtractor said:

costly or difficult

 

No. 

And

No. 

 

Whilst your neighbor is "technically correct" they are also looking too deeply at an issue that likely plagued Sears...  which didn't use anywhere near as many Kohler engines.  They were using Briggs and Tecumseh.  

 

Your points need to be set at .018 to .020. 

Unless there's a catastrophic issue in the engine that'll be a close enough timing setting. 

 

 

[953 nut 60,523]

When the keyway on the crankshaft is at top dead center your piston is also at top dead center.

Regarding the points setting just do a YouTube search for STATIC TIMING KOHLER 

[FLtractor 56]

3 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

No. 

And

No. 

 

Whilst your neighbor is "technically correct" they are also looking too deeply at an issue that likely plagued Sears...  which didn't use anywhere near as many Kohler engines.  They were using Briggs and Tecumseh.  

 

Your points need to be set at .018 to .020. 

Unless there's a catastrophic issue in the engine that'll be a close enough timing setting. 

 

 

Thank you. Good to know it’s simple and the Kohler had less of this issue 

[FLtractor 56]

3 hours ago, 953 nut said:

When the keyway on the crankshaft is at top dead center your piston is also at top dead center.

Regarding the points setting just do a YouTube search for STATIC TIMING KOHLER 

Thank you. I will look up those videos 

[RED-Z06 2,605]

So...theres multiple styles, you have 12v Battery ignition like (most) Kohler K series used, the battery provides 12v to the coil, the coil "charges" wheb the points close and provide a path to ground, when the points open, the built up magnetic field in the coil collapses around the iron core..and produces spark.  The time at which the points open, in relation to the rotation of the crankshaft is your ignition timing, the gap setting is what fine tunes that timing.

 

Tecumseh and Briggs tended to use a magneto, a hoop of laminated steel with a series of windings around it, with magnets on the flywheel..as the magnets pass across the legs of the coil they create an electrical charge, the points (under the flywheel) are what induce the coil to release this energy as a spark.  Flywheel timing is just as critical as point timing on these, so you have to ensure the flywheel is keyed to the crank.  Tecumseh further complicated this by putting the coil under the flywheel as well as the points..on a slotted mount, so if you come across one..dont unbolt that mount unless you are prepared for a fairly complicated retiming process.

Edited August 10 by RED-Z06