Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): no spark on a homelite vac, fly wheel, air mixture


Question
QUESTION: john i have a homelite vac blower it is only 2 yrs old but i have been having problems since day one starting it, it has been very tough then one day it stopped starting. i checked and found that i get no spark. i checked the stoop switch and it is ok, could the magneto be bad or the points,i started to take it apart but the fly wheel is not as easy to remove as my brigs lawn mower engine.
thank you
Brent


ANSWER: Hello Brent:

If this Unit is Only 2 Years Old, then there is No Point Set Under the Flywheel. All the Newer Engines Use a Solid State Ign Coil or Ign Module. Remove the Cut Off Wire from the Ign Coil/Ign Module. Wrap a Wire Around the Spark Plug Threads and Attatch the Other End of the Wire to the Engine. Check for Spark. If No Spark, then the Ign Coil/Ign Module is Bad and Requires Replacing. If Spark, then the Cut Off Wire or Switch has a Ground in it and Requires Replacing. The Hard Starting May have Been from the Carburetor Air Mixture Screws Needing to be Set. I have Seen this Problem on New Engines All the Time. Send me the Model Numbers Off the Unit, Please. With these I can Locate the Proper Manual and Better Assist you. 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

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi john
thankyou for answering so quickly. the unit is a homelite vac attack II.is there a way of checking the magneto with a volt meter to be sure
thanks Brent

Answer
Hello Brent:

Any Magnet that Passes the Pickups on an Ign Coil, and the Gap is .015in to .025in from the Pickups, then Ign Coil will Fire the Plug if it is Good. There is No Need for a Volt Meter or Coil Tester. All a Coil Tester Does is Spin a Magnet Past the Coil Pickups and Reads the Current Going to the Plug. The Flywheel on your Unit Acts as A Coil Tester. You can View a Breakdown of this Equipment at this Site Addy; http://www.homelite.com/parts/index.htm and Select Parts/Service at left, then Select Go to Homelite Parts Store. Without the Model Numbers I can Locate the Proper Breakdown and Tell you if this has the Ign Module or the Ign Coil. An Example of the Model Numbers is UT08514. 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