Father in law has a tractor with a 9 or 10 HP Briggs. originally a coil and points engine, with a 3 leg coil. Coil was supposedly bad when his friend rebuilt it (friend is VERY good with engines, rebuilds Cushmans, good guy), and since those are no longer available, an electronic system from the dealer was put in.
The engine initially appeared to run. But subsequently would not start, kicked back instead of starting forward, etc. FIL thinks it should not be a wasted spark engine, as it has a pushrod for the points, and presumably works off the camshaft
My understanding is that the electronic ignition HAS TO be a wasted spark system, since it has only the crankshaft as a reference. But if timed right, that should not be an issue, it would spark advanced enough to be in the exhaust stroke.
He's disgusted and doesnlt even want to fiddle with it, and I don't have any good ideas that he hasn't got an answer (right or wrong) for.
Is it possible to put in the electronic unit in such a way as to mess up the timing that badly? Flipped over comes to mind, but they usually have a specific orientation that is pretty clearly explained.
Is it possible for the thing to spark late if the electronic unit has a fault? I'd not think so, but......
Any other good reasion for it to do that?
My one thought is that it may actually not be firing backwards, but might have a sticking valve that causes it to act like a kick back, but I am not sure.
I recall when they installed the motor, I seem to recall having some concerns from looking at the actual install vs the instructions, but as usual "they knew better", and I let them do whatever. It did seem to work initially, until after the friend left.
I'm looking for any idea that makes it worth while to get into the thing.
He wants to put it back to points and coil, but never seems to want to get into it that far, since the pushrod needs work. So if the electronic system can be made to work, that is the best.
The engine initially appeared to run. But subsequently would not start, kicked back instead of starting forward, etc. FIL thinks it should not be a wasted spark engine, as it has a pushrod for the points, and presumably works off the camshaft
My understanding is that the electronic ignition HAS TO be a wasted spark system, since it has only the crankshaft as a reference. But if timed right, that should not be an issue, it would spark advanced enough to be in the exhaust stroke.
He's disgusted and doesnlt even want to fiddle with it, and I don't have any good ideas that he hasn't got an answer (right or wrong) for.
Is it possible to put in the electronic unit in such a way as to mess up the timing that badly? Flipped over comes to mind, but they usually have a specific orientation that is pretty clearly explained.
Is it possible for the thing to spark late if the electronic unit has a fault? I'd not think so, but......
Any other good reasion for it to do that?
My one thought is that it may actually not be firing backwards, but might have a sticking valve that causes it to act like a kick back, but I am not sure.
I recall when they installed the motor, I seem to recall having some concerns from looking at the actual install vs the instructions, but as usual "they knew better", and I let them do whatever. It did seem to work initially, until after the friend left.
I'm looking for any idea that makes it worth while to get into the thing.
He wants to put it back to points and coil, but never seems to want to get into it that far, since the pushrod needs work. So if the electronic system can be made to work, that is the best.