Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): No spark, john deere 160, kawasaki engine

Question
I have a 2000 John Deere 160 lawn mower. I have no spark to the sparkplug.Coil and excitor have been checked out. I am guessing there is a problem with one of the safety switches. I have checked out the seat-it is working. Can you tell me how many and their location of the remaining switches? This mower is a kawasaki engine. I did unhook the wire from the igniter/exciter still no spark. It is getting gas as the plug is wet. ALSO-is this ignition magneto?

Answer
Hello William:

The Ignition is a Coil and the Igniter is the Ign Module. If you Disconnected the Shut Off Wire and Still had No Spark, then the Problem is Either the Coil or the Igniter. There is No Point Set or Magneto. As the Flywheel Magnets Pass the Coil it Builds Current and the Igniter Loads and Causes the Coil to Fire the Plug. This Happens in a Split Second. Usually on the JD Products the Igniter Goes Bad. Rarely Does the Coil Go Bad. I have Seen and Heard of Only 2 Coils Being Bad in the Past 35 Years. The Latest One was a JD Product and the Question was Polite Enough to Respond in the Rating and Comments Section with a Follow Up About the Coil and Not the Igniter being Bad. You can View a Breakdown/IPL of the Engine and Mower at this Site Addy, http://jdpc.deere.com/jdpc/servlet/com.deere.u90490.partscatalog.view.servlets.H... and Enter the Model Numbers and Click Find. Then Select your Model from the Search Results Area. Then Select the Sectional File. Then Select the Section of the Mower you Wish to View Online. If you Hit a Snag or this Does Not Correct the Problem,  I am Here if You Require More Assistance. Hope this Helps. Let me Know What Happens, Please. May the All Mighty Bless You and Yours. Thanks.

Good Luck

Respectfully

John

PS: I am Allowed to Answer 10 Questions a Day. If you See I am Maxxed Out, then Try Submitting your Question at or Just After 8pm EST (US). My New Day Starts then. Thanks.

Respectfully

John