QuestionQUESTION: I have a jd 180 with a Kawasaki fc540v engine. It quit while idling in hot weather. Poured some gas in the carb, no response. Confirmed no spark at the plug. Unplugged the
single white wire at the coil that goes to the heat sink on the side of the block & up toward the console. still no spark. Replaced the coil. set gap @ .020". still no spark.
Thanks in advance.
ANSWER: To find out for sure whether the problem is tractor or engine related you have to go back to the 3 prong plug/wire by the starter. Unplug there.
The "heat sink" on the side of the block is the ignitor. You will never have spark if it is not attached to the coil. The micro chip in the ignitor is one of the things that make a Kawi such a bad ass engine. It does the job of points and condensor and provides spark advance when needed. It's the reason your little 17 HP engine never bogs done or really ever come onto the governor even when pulling a 48" deck. If the tractor had a Briggs it would be a 21+HP twin to have the same usable power. It also would have been dead 10 years ago.
The ignitor was probably your problem in the first place. My dealership stocks 8 ignitors, 0 coils.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: So after unplugging the 3-wire connector containing the igniter wire & the stator wires, going to the console. I still have no spark I need an ignitor correct? Has the ignitor also been related to hard starting, worse when engine is cold?
AnswerYes you need an ignitor. The hard start problem is most likely a choke adjustment. Pull the air cleaner and check the choke out. Is it closing fully? If it hasn't been adjusted in the last 2 years it won't be closing all the way. Turn the screw on the back of the governor lever to adjust the choke.
Want to get a good laugh. Check out my,Myspace blog, for the idiot of the week.
