I have a 11hp briggs model 252707 and I am getting no spark at the plug. The starter works and spins motor fine but no fire at plug. Is it maybe the alternator or the ignition module coil? How can you test the alternator under the flywheel and how can test the ignition coil with a multimeter if this might be the problem?
briggs and stratton 11hp-no spark
yellowcat
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Which coil is upside down? The new one I show on the photo? I put it the same way the old one was with the kill wire tab facing stud on throttle panel. Anyone ever come across a brand new aftermarket coil that does not put out a spark?
Try flipping the coil over, just for grins and giggles.
That old coil was one of them..conversion coils, with the little plastic trigger added on the side, these new ones are all built in.
That old coil was one of them..conversion coils, with the little plastic trigger added on the side, these new ones are all built in.
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Ok Red..I try flip it over tomorrow as I am about to hit the bed. :thanku:
You sure thats how you took it off...and also had it run, like that? Looking at the legs of the old coil..usually when the coil comes off, the bolt heads will leave a perfect circle impression on them, while the bottom has a faint teardrop pattern of cleanliness..and I dont see the perfect circles facing up, on the old one. Meaning it could have been mounted down, with the plug wire facing up and to the left, kill wire on the bottom.
I wonder if, this whole time...someone had the old coil flipped upside down?
I wonder if, this whole time...someone had the old coil flipped upside down?
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The way the old coil is sitting..it was upside down on that photo. It was running fine before before the coil pooped out. As you said to flip over the new coil and try it....does the magnet spinning on the flywheel have to spin past a certain lamination stack on the coil to fire off a spark? The old coil was never taken off guaranteed..I was original owner of this engine since 1984. I guess they could have put it upside down at the factory?
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No. It won't spark if it's upside down. Not strong enough, anyways. It IS possible that they sold you a bad coil. We see them from time to time. I'd contact the seller and get a new one if flipping it doesn't work.
Usually an upside down coil will look "lopsided" with the flywheel and one side will actually touch the flywheel while the other side will be way off.
Did you actually purchase the coil on ebay, or is that ebay link to a similar coil?
Usually an upside down coil will look "lopsided" with the flywheel and one side will actually touch the flywheel while the other side will be way off.
Did you actually purchase the coil on ebay, or is that ebay link to a similar coil?
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As far as setting a coil up use a business card. Turn the flywheel so the magnets are towards the coil, hold the card over the magnet and install the coil so it is against the card. Tighten your mounting screws and rotate the flywheel and remove the card. The closer the coil is to your flywheel (without hitting it) the stronger the spark will be. Just FYI..
I went out to the shop and looked at a few briggs that Ive got apart, or at least..had apart, and they all show the coil wire exiting the top of the coil, with the protrusion on the windings, on the right side, and they have the words THIS SIDE UP, facing up. One was a 12hp flathead, and one was a 4.5hp flathead. I can only remember working on briggs engines that were arranged like this...
Id install it the other way. Also, im still kinda confused over the 2 wires it came with, normally I dont see them with 2 wires, just the one wire that is stripped on the end. Might try grounding that loop connector to the coil mount screw.
![Image]()
Id install it the other way. Also, im still kinda confused over the 2 wires it came with, normally I dont see them with 2 wires, just the one wire that is stripped on the end. Might try grounding that loop connector to the coil mount screw.
Actually, not entirely true. You cannot install a coil on a briggs so far away it will not spark. As long as its not touching the flywheel, it should spark normally. Too faraway may result in a less than optimally timed spark...but thats all.
And thats from the briggs website...
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Here are the instructions out of an OEM Briggs 398811 Armature box.
![Image]()
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OK I had always heard that the closer you get the coil to the magnet/ aka flywheel, the stronger the spark.. That's all..:dunno:
I recall, some years ago i had some conversion coils, from points to solid state, that I had to ground a wire, i dont think you have to do that any longer, at least..im not...but he could have gotten one of those coils. I think, if the wire with the loop on it is pretty short...vs being like a foot long.Here are the instructions out of an OEM Briggs 398811 Armature box.
![Image]()
Aint no problem man, mower ignitions are filled with mystery, myths, old wives tales. Some people say set it as close as possible, some say 2 business card thicknesses, some say to sand it all bare, some say it doesnt matter. briggs slots their mounting holes so there can be some adjustment in installation, but even if slid all the way out, it should still spark normally, just not optimally timed. Best bet, 1 business card thickness...
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If he ordered the one on that ebay link he posted, he either received a Stens 440-417 or a briggs 398811.
The briggs coil comes with the two wires that he mentioned and that the picture references. The Stens coil, I do not have in stock. I don't know what wires, if any, that it comes with to ground it. I do have the Rotary equivalent, 7286, in stock and it does not provide any ground wires, you have to use the originals.
The briggs coil comes with the two wires that he mentioned and that the picture references. The Stens coil, I do not have in stock. I don't know what wires, if any, that it comes with to ground it. I do have the Rotary equivalent, 7286, in stock and it does not provide any ground wires, you have to use the originals.
One of the downsides of using aftermarket coils vs oem briggs. With briggs it says UP vs DOWN, and you know what wires it has. I try to only sell oem coils, but their prices have gotten a little high for some customers, especially when they are gambling on a bad coil being their problem.
Stens doesnt show any extra wires being included with their 440-417 coil.
I looked at the pictures again, and that wire should definitely nOT be grounded, its too long and it would certainly kill spark, so its one of those kinds that you can use either one to connect to the engine kill apparatus, be it a slide, or a switch, or part of the harness.
Coil still looks upside down...
I looked at the pictures again, and that wire should definitely nOT be grounded, its too long and it would certainly kill spark, so its one of those kinds that you can use either one to connect to the engine kill apparatus, be it a slide, or a switch, or part of the harness.
Coil still looks upside down...
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According to the OEM Briggs coil, the spark plug wire should be on top and the ground terminal on bottom.
Its hard to read, but it says "THIS SIDE OUT" on the coil on this one
![Image]()
On this one the coil reads "CYL SIDE"
![Image]()
Its hard to read, but it says "THIS SIDE OUT" on the coil on this one
On this one the coil reads "CYL SIDE"
yep, just like mine.According to the OEM Briggs coil, the spark plug wire should be on top and the ground terminal on bottom.
Its hard to read, but it says "THIS SIDE OUT" on the coil on this one
![Image]()
On this one the coil reads "CYL SIDE"
![Image]()
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exactly. So that means, definitely flip the coil, and try again. If the problem persists. Than you may have a faulty coil.
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I am going out to the shop now to flip the oil over. As for the picture I took of the old coil and posted it here..I need to make myself more clear I think. The way I took this photo it was just taken off the engine and set upside down on the engine to take a photo of it. But the coil was on the engine correctly....flipped over or opposite direction as the way shown on Picture post. As for the aftermarket coil I bought from Ebay....I asked the guy was it an aftermarket by Stens...he really didnt reply with a definate answer. He just stated it was an aftermarket. For I all I know it might be a really cheap offbrand made in China that was built so fast it is defective right out of the box. Maybe it is why I paid only $18.50? One guy said he had another brand in his store...could he post a reply or pm me and tell me the price...Heck I might buy it from him if a quality item.
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