Hello all, I'm needing to know a bit more about ignition coils and spark. Have this Homelite Timberman 45cc saw that I recently acquired that is giving me some problems.
When I first got it, I could see that the piston was shot. First thing I did was get a new piston and cylinder, also replaced the crank seals while I was at it. Pressure tested crank case when done and a compression test, both good.
Cleaned the carb out & started it up. Didn't run like new but after some adjusting it was decently good. Then just the other day I used it for a day of cutting. It wasn't bad, but seemed to need to be pulled a lot if I shut it off on the first day, it did idle fairly well though, and then on the 2nd day it just didn't seem to want to start much at all and would not idle. I had to set the idle really high to keep it going. (Re-checked piston to be sure it wasn't going too lean, didn't seem to really get hotter than normal though and piston still looks fine). Was checking it today to see if I could figure out why it's not really starting now even after pulling the crap out of it. Seems like a spark issue maybe? And hence my question, at first I thought the coil was totally bad, but I just wasn't turning it fast enough I guess, but it only sparks when the flywheel is turning really fast, like quite a bit faster than I like to have them idling, more at about 1/4 to half throttle. I was turning the flywheel with a drill.
My main question is, is this a common sign of coils going bad and do most coils have to be moving at a certain RPM to provide any spark at all?
*(Also another related question aside from the spark, with my little old Echo 302S, when I remove the plug and crank it, I can tell it gets plenty of gas and it sprays mist out the plug hole, with this Homelite though it's not doing that?)
I have already tried removing the switch and jumping the two leads with a piece of wire, didn't make a difference. I have also cleaned all the contacts of the coil and where it mounts to the cylinder, and also inspected all the wires & plug boots, also tried different brand new spark plug. All same as before, needs high speed to make spark or it will not spark at all.
Already put a lot of time and effort into this saw, even though I guess some would consider it a pos/junk I was liking it for the weight & power good enough for me, and the price was right, $12 at a yard sale and $20 for the piston/jug so far. $32 all in and it was running pretty good for a minute there, would like to get it nice again but before I tried buying another ignition coil I wanted to make sure it would actually make a difference.
When I first got it, I could see that the piston was shot. First thing I did was get a new piston and cylinder, also replaced the crank seals while I was at it. Pressure tested crank case when done and a compression test, both good.
Cleaned the carb out & started it up. Didn't run like new but after some adjusting it was decently good. Then just the other day I used it for a day of cutting. It wasn't bad, but seemed to need to be pulled a lot if I shut it off on the first day, it did idle fairly well though, and then on the 2nd day it just didn't seem to want to start much at all and would not idle. I had to set the idle really high to keep it going. (Re-checked piston to be sure it wasn't going too lean, didn't seem to really get hotter than normal though and piston still looks fine). Was checking it today to see if I could figure out why it's not really starting now even after pulling the crap out of it. Seems like a spark issue maybe? And hence my question, at first I thought the coil was totally bad, but I just wasn't turning it fast enough I guess, but it only sparks when the flywheel is turning really fast, like quite a bit faster than I like to have them idling, more at about 1/4 to half throttle. I was turning the flywheel with a drill.
My main question is, is this a common sign of coils going bad and do most coils have to be moving at a certain RPM to provide any spark at all?
*(Also another related question aside from the spark, with my little old Echo 302S, when I remove the plug and crank it, I can tell it gets plenty of gas and it sprays mist out the plug hole, with this Homelite though it's not doing that?)
I have already tried removing the switch and jumping the two leads with a piece of wire, didn't make a difference. I have also cleaned all the contacts of the coil and where it mounts to the cylinder, and also inspected all the wires & plug boots, also tried different brand new spark plug. All same as before, needs high speed to make spark or it will not spark at all.
Already put a lot of time and effort into this saw, even though I guess some would consider it a pos/junk I was liking it for the weight & power good enough for me, and the price was right, $12 at a yard sale and $20 for the piston/jug so far. $32 all in and it was running pretty good for a minute there, would like to get it nice again but before I tried buying another ignition coil I wanted to make sure it would actually make a difference.
