Makita DCS520i Ignition Coil Help Needed Please

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fritzhund

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Hello Everyone,

:msp_sad:

My Makita DCS520i developed a problem yesterday. All of a sudden it would not start. I had gas, so much that it was leaking out of the muffler, spark, and air. It still would not run even after I changed the spark plug. This morning I had no spark. I measured the resistance on the coil and determined that it is bad. I have 8000 ohms between the frame and the spark plug wire, but only 1 ohm between the frame and the connector that goes to the kill switch. Seems to be shorted to ground always. This coil must have been flaking out and finally died.

My big problem is that this coil was made by Ducati and is very expensive. I don't have a lot of money and I really need this saw. I have 10 oak and maple trees that need to be cut up and split, but for now, no saw.

Does anyone have a DCS520i or a DCS5200i that they are parting out or an aftermarket source for a replacement coil?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I accidentally posted this thread in the wood cutting equipment forum so if you see this thread twice that is why. I thought that I would get more responses in the chainsaw forum so I am posting here too. Thanks for understanding.

Thanks, Mark
 
Hello Everyone,

:msp_sad:

My Makita DCS520i developed a problem yesterday. All of a sudden it would not start. I had gas, so much that it was leaking out of the muffler, spark, and air. It still would not run even after I changed the spark plug. This morning I had no spark. I measured the resistance on the coil and determined that it is bad. I have 8000 ohms between the frame and the spark plug wire, but only 1 ohm between the frame and the connector that goes to the kill switch. Seems to be shorted to ground always. This coil must have been flaking out and finally died.

My big problem is that this coil was made by Ducati and is very expensive. I don't have a lot of money and I really need this saw. I have 10 oak and maple trees that need to be cut up and split, but for now, no saw.

Does anyone have a DCS520i or a DCS5200i that they are parting out or an aftermarket source for a replacement coil?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I accidentally posted this thread in the wood cutting equipment forum so if you see this thread twice that is why. I thought that I would get more responses in the chainsaw forum so I am posting here too. Thanks for understanding.

Thanks, Mark

Have you checked ebay or other websites for used parts? Might expand your horizons by looking for a Dolmar 111i ignition coil. In the short time I've been on here, and looking for 520i parts recently, the 111/i parts seem a little easier and plentiful to find. Have you been to this site?: Chainsawr Dolmar

I haven't looked it over for an IG coil, but you might want to.........if you haven't. Good luck!

Edit: Oh, and the 520 and/or 111 coils may be the same as for the "i" models. I'm not really sure, honestly. I know the carb's are different, but that's all I know.

Matthew
 
Last edited:
Hello Everyone,

:msp_sad:

My Makita DCS520i developed a problem yesterday. All of a sudden it would not start. I had gas, so much that it was leaking out of the muffler, spark, and air. It still would not run even after I changed the spark plug. This morning I had no spark. I measured the resistance on the coil and determined that it is bad. I have 8000 ohms between the frame and the spark plug wire, but only 1 ohm between the frame and the connector that goes to the kill switch. Seems to be shorted to ground always. This coil must have been flaking out and finally died.

My big problem is that this coil was made by Ducati and is very expensive. I don't have a lot of money and I really need this saw. I have 10 oak and maple trees that need to be cut up and split, but for now, no saw.

Does anyone have a DCS520i or a DCS5200i that they are parting out or an aftermarket source for a replacement coil?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I accidentally posted this thread in the wood cutting equipment forum so if you see this thread twice that is why. I thought that I would get more responses in the chainsaw forum so I am posting here too. Thanks for understanding.

Thanks, Mark

Flaking out eh! The 8k ohms sounds good for the secondary resistance. Make sure that both the primary and secondary are isolated from the laminated core.Try your resistance test again with the kill switch wire disconnected from the ignition module. Then reverse the test leads and see if resistance is the same. What caused gas to run out of the muffler ?
 
Thook,
I have looked everywhere. They are available, but the cost is half the price of a new saw. I did check that website, but they are out of stock.

Scottr,
It is for sure shorted. I measured another chainsaw coil and the resistance in the low side was 200 ohms, so 1 ohm on mine is a short. The gas coming out of the muffler was from repeatedly trying to start it. Like I said I did have spark yesterday when I had the plug out and connected the body to the cylinder head. Pleanty of spark. That is why I think that this coil was intermittent and going bad.

I would be happy if I could find someone parting out either a Dolmar 111 or a Makita DCS 520 or a 5200. I did see an aftermarket one on eBay but I don't trust non OEM parts very much.

This sucks. I have no way to cut up all of these trees from hurricane Irene and I heat my home and garage with wood. I'm bummed that an expensive saw like this had an electronic part crap out.

Thanks for helping out. I am still hoping that someone comes through with a used one.

Thanks, Mark
 
Thook,
I have looked everywhere. They are available, but the cost is half the price of a new saw. I did check that website, but they are out of stock.

Scottr,
It is for sure shorted. I measured another chainsaw coil and the resistance in the low side was 200 ohms, so 1 ohm on mine is a short. The gas coming out of the muffler was from repeatedly trying to start it. Like I said I did have spark yesterday when I had the plug out and connected the body to the cylinder head. Pleanty of spark. That is why I think that this coil was intermittent and going bad.

I would be happy if I could find someone parting out either a Dolmar 111 or a Makita DCS 520 or a 5200. I did see an aftermarket one on eBay but I don't trust non OEM parts very much.

This sucks. I have no way to cut up all of these trees from hurricane Irene and I heat my home and garage with wood. I'm bummed that an expensive saw like this had an electronic part crap out.

Thanks for helping out. I am still hoping that someone comes through with a used one.

Thanks, Mark

Was the 1 ohm with the kill switch wire and switch connected ?
 
I bought a new VEC coil for my Dolmar 111i from Northwood Saw. I found it with Google. $50

The coil was as much like the original as it could be. Fit perfect.

Saw started right up and has worked ever since.

index.php
 
Thook,
I have looked everywhere. They are available, but the cost is half the price of a new saw. I did check that website, but they are out of stock.

There's a couple of IG modules on ebay right now....both for the 111.....and, both OEM. Atleast one is going for $20, at the moment. The other is somewhere around $50 or less. Like I said, don't know if the module is the same as for the "i" models, though. Someone confirm or correct, if you would.....please.....:tongue2:
 
w8ye,

I can't see the photo.

Thanks all for the prompt replies, but the ones that are cheaper are not in stock as I checkout. I would be ok with an OEM replacement in the $60.00 range, just don't want to use an aftermarket part.

I am not able to find the eBay one that was $20.00. Can you shoot me a link?

Not a happy guy as I have literally tons of wood to cut and haul. I wish I had the money to grab an original Makita coil. Oh well, I'll figure this out.

Thanks again, Mark
 
w8ye,

I can't see the photo.

Thanks all for the prompt replies, but the ones that are cheaper are not in stock as I checkout. I would be ok with an OEM replacement in the $60.00 range, just don't want to use an aftermarket part.

I am not able to find the eBay one that was $20.00. Can you shoot me a link?

Not a happy guy as I have literally tons of wood to cut and haul. I wish I had the money to grab an original Makita coil. Oh well, I'll figure this out.

Thanks again, Mark

Well, golly.....between the time I'd posted and now, that $20 listing ended. And, now the ad for the other is not shown anymore. It was an associated auction. I didn't actually go to the auction page for it.

Sorry, dude. Now I feel a bit silly.
 
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!:msp_angry:

This part looks like it should be worth about twenty bucks but it is driving me nuts.

I wish I had the money to just go out to my local Stihl dealer and buy a new saw. After I get this running I will probably sell it and do just that. So here I sit stuck. This was a good running saw but getting parts for it has become an all consuming project, and the worst part of it is that I no longer trust it to be reliable............

Thanks again, Mark
 
Good idea there Pard, Stihls NEVER break.

That's a bit of an overstatement, I'd say. This forum is full of Stihl threads.:msp_rolleyes:

The Makita's a good saw, man. Plenty reliable and just needs repair like any saw does from time to time. But, if you just need an excuse to get a different saw, I can certainly appreciate that!

Good luck with whatever......
 

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