No Spark on Stihl

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Jim Bozdog

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Working on a Stihl 015AV and installed a Universal Chainsaw Ignition Module. Also, disconnected the kill switch, set air gap at .010. Still no spark. Purchased a used/good condition replacement coil off eBay which I think may be bad as my old one. The seller voice mail box is full and he is not returning my email. Before I purchase a second one is there anything else that could be the problem?
 
Working on a Stihl 015AV and installed a Universal Chainsaw Ignition Module. Also, disconnected the kill switch, set air gap at .010. Still no spark. Purchased a used/good condition replacement coil off eBay which I think may be bad as my old one. The seller voice mail box is full and he is not returning my email. Before I purchase a second one is there anything else that could be the problem?

Which coil? (picture please)

There are coil testers out there, you'd have to find a very good old school small engine mechanic (probably)

Who did you buy from? "custom chainsaw parts" by any chance? ... he's a good guy, but overwhelmed with account activity.

I haven't used a universal electronic module for many years, last one was on an 020av, and it worked fine.

One thing about Stihl coils on big saws ... they used different flywheels on the same models like 064 (not sure about 051), where the firing point is different than other flywheels. This can be a beotch to figure out.

I had an old style 045 super with that coil under the cover, a new one is about $200 with zero guarantees ... I finally gave up and sold the saw off in batches of parts to people more determined than I am ;)
 
Which coil? (picture please)

There are coil testers out there, you'd have to find a very good old school small engine mechanic (probably)

Who did you buy from? "custom chainsaw parts" by any chance? ... he's a good guy, but overwhelmed with account activity.

I haven't used a universal electronic module for many years, last one was on an 020av, and it worked fine.

One thing about Stihl coils on big saws ... they used different flywheels on the same models like 064 (not sure about 051), where the firing point is different than other flywheels. This can be a beotch to figure out.

I had an old style 045 super with that coil under the cover, a new one is about $200 with zero guarantees ... I finally gave up and sold the saw off in batches of parts to people more determined than I am ;)
Coil 1116 404 3200
 

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Coil 1116 404 3200

OK, that's what I needed to see, it's a standard external coil
Here's the thing ... lots of those coils from the 90s had a defect from Stihl, the epoxy sealer was defective and cracked.
A coil can work, test as good, and still fail when it gets hot, that's the typical symptom of these coils when they go bad.

Your problem is that you're going from points to a universal module, the firing point is very important on this, and I don't know how these new modules work, but you need to investigate that possibility.

Of course check wiring for ground faults and all that.

The thing with the coil is, you need to establish if it will work at all quickly and if it is bad, you need to send the seller a message through ebay asking for a refund immediately, if no response, file a claim and you'll get your money back, but you have to send the coil back.

My advice is to first find out about the compatibility of this module ... that could be your whole problem.
Second test the coil if possible ... should be able to do that without the module and manually.
Third, don't buy used coils generally unless you know the coil, I'd look for a new one and pay the extra money.

You may also find that points are not a bad thing ... the 041 was relatively good with points, the problematic ones were saws like the 030 series where the bar oil fill was on the side, inevitably oil spills and gets under the cover into the points.

Keep me apprised ... and maybe there's someone here who can give you better advice on the module than me.

Try contacting the module seller and ask if point of fire is an issue with the modules.
 
OK, that's what I needed to see, it's a standard external coil
Here's the thing ... lots of those coils from the 90s had a defect from Stihl, the epoxy sealer was defective and cracked.
A coil can work, test as good, and still fail when it gets hot, that's the typical symptom of these coils when they go bad.

Your problem is that you're going from points to a universal module, the firing point is very important on this, and I don't know how these new modules work, but you need to investigate that possibility.

Of course check wiring for ground faults and all that.

The thing with the coil is, you need to establish if it will work at all quickly and if it is bad, you need to send the seller a message through ebay asking for a refund immediately, if no response, file a claim and you'll get your money back, but you have to send the coil back.

My advice is to first find out about the compatibility of this module ... that could be your whole problem.
Second test the coil if possible ... should be able to do that without the module and manually.
Third, don't buy used coils generally unless you know the coil, I'd look for a new one and pay the extra money.

You may also find that points are not a bad thing ... the 041 was relatively good with points, the problematic ones were saws like the 030 series where the bar oil fill was on the side, inevitably oil spills and gets under the cover into the points.

Keep me apprised ... and maybe there's someone here who can give you better advice on the module than me.

Try contacting the module seller and ask if point of fire is an issue with the modules.
Thanks, purchased a parts saw with a good coil and got spark with the module.
 
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