no spark

angus1 · 07-13-2008, 02:58 AM

I've got a 2005 Craftsman 8.5 HP electric start thrower with no spark. I've only used it for a few hours the first year and then it sat for a year. Last winter - heavy snow - no start. Put it away and pulled it out today to play with it. There is no spark. I know that the kill switch key needs to be in place, the on button has to be on, but I'm not sure if there are other "safety" type switches or limits that I'm not seeing. What are the possible causes of no spark, and what's the best way to troubleshoot the system?
Sure would rather fix it in the summer.
Thanks.

skepticali · 07-14-2008, 07:18 AM

well. I'll jump in with something, I don't know anything about snowblowers, but a riding lawnmower I worked on use to get build up of corrosion between the flywheel and the magneto block, resulted in no spark, that was a briggs and stratten. This happened because the owner would hose the machine off, then put a cover on it without letting it dry. I assume that it's hard to dry a snowblower after use.

I know this might sound silly, is there a bar you have to hold to run it, like the engine brake on a mower, but electronic? or is that the kill switch you mentioned? I only say this because I'm the guy who looks for his keys, when they're in his hand

good luck

**K-B** · 07-15-2008, 08:40 AM

Tecumseh or Briggs engine?
If you pull the engine shroud off, there should be a wire connected to the coil. Pull the wire off, then turn the engine over. If there's still no spark, replace the coil. If there's now a spark, you have a bad switch or bare wire somewhere.

A#1 · 07-19-2008, 09:41 PM

start off with the easy route first...when you say no spark...did you remove the spark plug and ground the hex head to the engine block and crank the engine and observe if the plug arced a spark between the electrode and the ground terminal...if no spark...start cheap...replace the spark plug and test again...

some newer small engines come with an over ride feature that if the engine oil is below a determined safe level the engine will not fire...this prevents failure due to low oil levels

07-13-2008, 02:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
angus1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1 OS: xp	no spark I've got a 2005 Craftsman 8.5 HP electric start thrower with no spark. I've only used it for a few hours the first year and then it sat for a year. Last winter - heavy snow - no start. Put it away and pulled it out today to play with it. There is no spark. I know that the kill switch key needs to be in place, the on button has to be on, but I'm not sure if there are other "safety" type switches or limits that I'm not seeing. What are the possible causes of no spark, and what's the best way to troubleshoot the system? Sure would rather fix it in the summer. Thanks.

07-14-2008, 07:18 AM	#2 (permalink)
skepticali Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lodi, Ca. USA Posts: 28 OS: vista My System	Re: no spark well. I'll jump in with something, I don't know anything about snowblowers, but a riding lawnmower I worked on use to get build up of corrosion between the flywheel and the magneto block, resulted in no spark, that was a briggs and stratten. This happened because the owner would hose the machine off, then put a cover on it without letting it dry. I assume that it's hard to dry a snowblower after use. I know this might sound silly, is there a bar you have to hold to run it, like the engine brake on a mower, but electronic? or is that the kill switch you mentioned? I only say this because I'm the guy who looks for his keys, when they're in his hand good luck

07-15-2008, 08:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
K-B Moderator/Gearhead Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NY Posts: 2,739 OS: Ubuntu 8.04 My System	Re: no spark Tecumseh or Briggs engine? If you pull the engine shroud off, there should be a wire connected to the coil. Pull the wire off, then turn the engine over. If there's still no spark, replace the coil. If there's now a spark, you have a bad switch or bare wire somewhere. __________________ Registered Linux User #435503 Don't let socialists take over this country. Vote Nobama 2008!

07-19-2008, 09:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
A#1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 47 OS: Windows XP Pro Service Pack 2	Re: no spark start off with the easy route first...when you say no spark...did you remove the spark plug and ground the hex head to the engine block and crank the engine and observe if the plug arced a spark between the electrode and the ground terminal...if no spark...start cheap...replace the spark plug and test again... some newer small engines come with an over ride feature that if the engine oil is below a determined safe level the engine will not fire...this prevents failure due to low oil levels