417-a wont start

[Larry Chamberlain 22]

I acquired the 417-a last year guy said just needed a set a point cause he robbed them for his other 417 I said thats fine installed new ones last year I finally got the new dorman 4 post switch installed I have power to the coil and to the points but no spark turns over just fine 

[lynnmor 8,170]

Points opening and closing with the correct gap?  Is there resistance across the points?  Condenser shorted?  Does the coil have the correct ohm readings?  Everything else is just basic wiring.

[Larry Chamberlain 22]

I set the points last year and they are opeing and closing i dont have a ohm meter i will check out the condenser i do have another one of those 

[wallfish 18,719]

2 hours ago, Larry Chamberlain said:

I have power to the coil and to the points

What do mean by having power "to the points" The points are on the ground side of the ignition circuit.

Also, new points out of the box need to have the contact surfaces cleaned as they are coated from the factory so they don't oxidize in the package. Make sure those surfaces are clean. 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,804]

You should have battery voltage at the points when they are open.

You should have 0 volts at the points when they are closed.

If you do not get the 0 volts the points are not making contact when closed. Clean the contacts.

[953 nut 62,750]

With the transmission in neutral, parking brake set, key in the off position, and the points cleaned disconnect the condenser. Now turn the ignition to the start position and check for spark. If the coil and points are good you should have spark. If you now have spark the condenser was the culprit.

[lynnmor 8,170]

Download the Kohler manual here, see pages 29-33.  Harbor Freight is 19 miles from you, buy a multimeter that will read in the ranges stated in the manual.

[Larry Chamberlain 22]

So im testing stuff with a multimeter and when the key is in the on position i have 12v to both side of the coil 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,804]

Remove the spark plugs so the engine is easier to turn over slowly by hand.

Hook your meter to the coil (-) terminal with the key in the run position.

Rotate the engine and when the points open the voltage should go to 12 volts.

When the points close the voltage should go to 0 volts. If it does not go to 0 volts the point contacts are either not closing or they are not making electrical contact when closed.

It is that switching of voltage that causes the coil to fire the plugs.

 

[Larry Chamberlain 22]

I unhooked the points all together I have 12v on the + and the - with the key in the on position not the start

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,804]

That is what you should have with the point wire disconnected.

If you ground that wire going to the points the (-) coil terminal will go to 0 volts. That is what the points do for you if working correctly.

[Handy Don 14,957]

27 minutes ago, Larry Chamberlain said:

I unhooked the points all together I have 12v on the + and the - with the key in the on position not the start

This is correct when the points are not installed and closed. It should remain true with the ignition in START while the points are not installed.

 

It can be confusing, instinct might suggest that it is the closing of the points that creates the spark. Actually, it is the opening of the points (i.e. breaking the electrical circuit running from the “+" terminal, through the coil, out the “-" terminal, and through the points to ground) that causes the spark!

Edited 1 hour ago by Handy Don