Help! Can't get any spark!

[supamitch]

I have a Briggs and Stratton 8hp on my off-road kart. I can't get any spark even after I unhooked the killswitch from the coil. It has the electric start hooked up, but no battery. Would this affect the pull start not giving it spark?

 

[Pellethuntr2]

Did you change the plug??? might be bad wired in the plug cord too...

 

[THE HUNTER]

has it needed the battery before?
if there isnt a connection between the battery and the coil, then it should be fine w/o it.

partially sheared key? that killed the spark on a Briggs i have
adjust/clean the points if you have them on your engine.
adjust armature air gap.

 

[anderkart]

It has the electric start hooked up, but no battery. Would this affect the pull start not giving it spark?

I dont know but you could do a quick easy experiment to find out if this is your only problem by hooking some jumper cables between your karts battery terminals and any good car/truck 12 volt battery. Just make absolutly sure the karts positive cable end (and the + jumper cable clamp) doesn't accidentally touch ground anywhere on your kart during the test.

 

[Affair_driven]

partially sheared key? that killed the spark on a Briggs

Shouldn't.

 

[oscaryu1]

Yup. It'll still have sparks, irregullarly, but will still spark.

 

[THE HUNTER]

it was a little over half-sheared.
was enough for the little bit of spark that was there to not even hurt (could barely feel it) it couldn't even make the engine pop. dead in my book. or maybe it was in a coma? idk lol.
(this was a 1950 6S, prob a little different then the modern ignition though lol)
replaced the flywheel key, and the spark was nice and blue and regular again. then replaced the spark plug wire for good measure, it was pretty old lol

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

If it has points and the key shears than wouldnt it also kill spark? makes sense to me...

 

[Affair_driven]

If it has points and the key shears than wouldnt it also kill spark?

If that were true...then aftermarket offset keys (for advancing spark) would not work either.
Of course if flywheel went out by say 180°, then would be impossible to start.
Usually when key shears, it only goes out a few degrees.
A partial shear might be only about 1 or 2° advanced at the most.
It's rare that a sheared key will produce a retarded spark.