Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): briggs electronic ignition, condenser system, radio shack


Question
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Followup To
Question -
Trying to avoid paying $30 to replace ignition on half dozen mower engines I typically resurrect and sell for around $40.  Recall a postage sized module wired into an older Briggs points and condenser system to replace those.  Wonder if that would correct the problem with the electronic system which most likely has something other than the coil wrong with it--condenser, transistor, any idea what?, possibly obtainable from Radio Shack for pennies and jerry  rigged.?  Thanks.   Clem
Answer -
It would probably work, the small transistorized module that you mentioned, but I have no idea how you could connect it to a magnatron electronic ignition.

The ground wire on the Briggs module connects to the primary side of the coil.  This may work...never tried.  Connection an aftermarket module would be easy if the coil wasn't sealed.

How many bad coils do you find?
Let me know.
Eric


About half dozen,-- seems to be a common problem for Briggs.  Since the little bypass module for points/condenser I mentioned from years past  was presumably connected to the coil primary, would assume it would work externally to the magnetron the same way , since I assume the coil windings are not the problem. but rather some cheap condenser, transistor or whatever inside which could be attached externally.    Guess you don't know the specs of the aftermarket  points/condenser substitute I mentioned, or where I could get one. Most likely a 50c part from Radio Shack If I knew what it was. Just as an aside, Interesting what it would cost to build a piece of equipment from scratch from parts vs letting someone sell it to you assembled for 10% of what you'd spend to build it from scratch from your own labor.  Thanks.  Clem

Answer
We usually don't find very many bad modules and I have never tried repairing an electronic module.  I don't have any specs and found very little info about the internal parts other than some modules use a Darlington pair transistor for timing advance.

We have a lot of mowers these days that people just give us because it's too expensive to repair them.  If we do find a bad coil we just replace it with a used one.

Sorry I can't be more helpful.
Eric