13 hp briggs on my chipper/tiller has run fine used it last weekend never missed a bet, used it yesterday and it ran fine, it snowed about 1/2 inch last nite 1st snow this season, and it was out as i wasnt finished with it, now it gets weird, it started right up and ran fine for about 30 seconds then shut off like the switch was turned off, and it wont fire up even giving it a shot of starting fluid the plug wire shocks the !@#% out of me when cranking, it has a full gas tank, can moisture cause a short to ground other than the plug?
- Thread starter ericlb
- Start date
Yes it very well can short out to ground. It could be anywhere in the system. I NEVER leave small engines out in the weather. Even over night. I have had a heavy dew make trouble. Would have only taken a second to cover the motor with a tarp,tub or anything that would shed water.
I would get it inside and just let it dry out. I am willing to bet that the water is grounding it out in the wiring some where. It started because the snow was not melted. When it ran and heated up the snow turned to water and ran into something and shorted it out.
I would get it inside and just let it dry out. I am willing to bet that the water is grounding it out in the wiring some where. It started because the snow was not melted. When it ran and heated up the snow turned to water and ran into something and shorted it out.
notjustair
Well-known Member
If it was picky and flooded you will crank yourself silly with that plug. Change it out or burn it clean with a torch.
I used to swear by Briggs. That was when they were flathead. I'm no so brand loyal anymore. I have bought NOS flathead engines to use on mowers and they run just like the good old days.
I used to swear by Briggs. That was when they were flathead. I'm no so brand loyal anymore. I have bought NOS flathead engines to use on mowers and they run just like the good old days.
ill let it dry off and see what happens in a few days its been back in the barn since this morning, the weather report here is never right and last nite was clear, go figure, its just odd that this thing has never missed a beat and i use it probably more than most people and all the sudden it just shuts down
Does it have an electric kill switch? My snow blower a few years ago just died when I was using it. Turned out one of the wires to the kill switch rubbed through along the handle bars and grounded out, killing the engine. Made up a new harness while my wife was scolding me and saying she knew it was a bad idea to buy a slightly bigger snowblower. Took all of an hour of tinkering (took a while to wrap the electrical tape on the whole thing) and I was back up and running like nobody's business.
Donovan from Wisconsin
Donovan from Wisconsin
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
Have you pulled it through and felt the compression? As in removing the plug and turning it slowly through with your finger over the plug hole. It could have had a valve train failure.
If the plug wire shocked you, that's a pretty good indication of spark, but I'd check it anyway.
Did you check for water in the gas?
If the plug wire shocked you, that's a pretty good indication of spark, but I'd check it anyway.
Did you check for water in the gas?
ShadetreeRet
Well-known Member
eric, that is the nature of a small engine. With a multi-cylinder engine you may have one or two cylinders give trouble while the others continue to run. But with a single cylinder it is a go or no-go situation. If the plug wire shocked you, you have current to that point, sometimes a spark plug will will just fail. I would try a new plug if you haven't changed it lately.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
People that leave small engines outside seem to experience more problems. A little snow and rain and a little puddle of water in the gas tank will shut it down.
Texasmark1
Well-known Member
Agree on the WD-40. I think the WD stands for Water Displacement. Works on the inside of distributor caps too.
The kill switch is a wire to the magneto coil. It shorts out some of the turns to ground (when you want to kill the engine) which kills the inductance, hence voltage output. Moisture and crud of adequate quantity could affect that wire also but the high voltage circuit would be my first guess also. Don't overlook where the plug wire goes through a sheet metal shield. If the wire is bad or you have an adequate surface creep path, that can kill the spark also.
Mark
The kill switch is a wire to the magneto coil. It shorts out some of the turns to ground (when you want to kill the engine) which kills the inductance, hence voltage output. Moisture and crud of adequate quantity could affect that wire also but the high voltage circuit would be my first guess also. Don't overlook where the plug wire goes through a sheet metal shield. If the wire is bad or you have an adequate surface creep path, that can kill the spark also.
Mark
ha - sounds like my snow blower!
Starts on the first pull on the sunny days - REFUSES to start whenever I need it.
It's so reliably unreliable that it's become a joke with my wife and I.
Every snowstorm - my wife and two kids are out there shoveling while I stand there pulling the )(*#$)*#$ rope over and over again to the point of almost having a heart attack. Cursing up a storm - spraying starter fluid - twisting screws, adjusting the choke, looking for spark, kicking it in frustration.
It WILL NOT start when there's snow on the ground.
I'm thinking the next job for that thing is going to be as a target, a boat anchor, or maybe I'll just beat it to death with a sledgehammer... or maybe all three.
Starts on the first pull on the sunny days - REFUSES to start whenever I need it.
It's so reliably unreliable that it's become a joke with my wife and I.
Every snowstorm - my wife and two kids are out there shoveling while I stand there pulling the )(*#$)*#$ rope over and over again to the point of almost having a heart attack. Cursing up a storm - spraying starter fluid - twisting screws, adjusting the choke, looking for spark, kicking it in frustration.
It WILL NOT start when there's snow on the ground.
I'm thinking the next job for that thing is going to be as a target, a boat anchor, or maybe I'll just beat it to death with a sledgehammer... or maybe all three.
Hay hay hay
Well-known Member
Does it have a low oil level cut off switch? My generator sometimes won't start if it is even a tiny bit low on oil. It should have a red light that flashes when you try to start it.
Texasmark1
Well-known Member
I think the last option would give you the most satisfaction. Sounds like a great idea. Grin
Mark
Mark
Similar threads
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.
Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy