How to Test a Lawnmower Coil
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ค. 2018
- Kawasaki FH531V
In today's video, I'll be showing you how to properly test a riding lawn mower ignition coil!
The 1st thing you want to do, is remove the black ground wire from the coil, and then turn over your engine to see if there's spark. (This will determine if you have a "Short to Ground" on your shut-off wire, or a Safety Switch issue).
If you disconnect the shut-off wire, and there is still no spark, you need to remove the coil for testing.
Next, before you can do any testing, you'll need the proper SPECIFICATIONS for your coil (Each Coil is Different).
This can be done by typing your ENGINE Model Number, followed by "Service manual" into google.
Example: "FH531V Service Manual" then download the PDF file. I show you how to do this in the video.
Then look for the Electrical Section, and find the proper Resistance.
You'll need a Multi-meter to test for this, and we'll be testing for resistance in Ohms.
With the meter set to 20k (20,000 Ohms) you can begin your tests.
The coil will most likely be labeled;
A (Base)
B (Shut-off Wire)
C (Spark Plug Cap)
You'll connect your meter between those connections, testing resistance.
For this specific application (Kawasaki FH531V) these are the Specs:
C-A = 2-18K Ohms (Spark Plug Cap to Base)
C-B = 10-30K Ohms (Spark Plug Cap to Shut-off Wire)
A-B = 2-18K Ohms (Base to Shut-off Wire)
Coils tested bad, so I replaced both of them with 2 OEM Kawasaki Coils Part Number: 21171-7034
Buy them here: amzn.to/2u1RO8s
Once you test your coil and determine whether or not they test within specification, you can then replace them, or move onto another possible issue.
On the older Kawasaki Engines, they have "Igniter boxes" that will also prevent spark, I mention this in the video.
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Couple people have asked why I tested it if it didn't produce spark when the "kill-wire' was disconnected.
This video is just a guide on how to test your coils (get the proper specs and use a multimeter to test for resistance).
Basically, if you unplug your ground wire on your coil and it doesn't produce spark, simply replace the coil.
However, if the coil produces weak spark, then you can use this video as a guide to test your coil, and determine if the coil is the issue.
I also have a video that shows a coil producing weak spark, due to a spark plug cap that has too much resistance. Once the engine got hot, it would shut down. Watch that video here; th-cam.com/video/ejAX6Bn4WSo/w-d-xo.html
Have you ever run across a coil that tested good and would fire until the engine got hot then shut down and stop firing?
Yes, usually due to excess of grass/dirt build up around the engine and coil pack.
This insulates the engine an causes the coil to stop working, I've seen it happen from mouse nests too!
Could also been a plugged fuel cap as well that's shutting your Engine down after a while. It could be vapour lock, because the cap doesn't let air into the tank so it stops fuel from going into the carburetor.
Once you let it sit for a bit they usually fire back up and run for about 10-15mins.
@@EliminatorPerformance Wow! Vapor lock does not cause the coils to stop firing! Vapor lock is a fuel delivery problem from excessive heat causing the fuel to "vapor lock"... Hence the name!!!
@@timallbritton3716 I wasn't referring to a coil issue when speaking of vapour lock. He said his mower would die after it got hot.
Usually vapour lock causes an engine to shut down after 10-15mins
Finally! If you can't understand this video, take your small engine to a shop. This explained it better than any manual or video I have seen. Thank you!
Thanks for watching!
I watched your video, checked my coil and found out it was a ground issue. Without your help, I would of ordered a new coil when I didn't need it. I do appreciate your video..
You produce the most uninformative videos I have seen your no nonsense professional attitude is great live long go far
You did a very good job on this video. Really helped a lot. The impressive thing was being honest at the end by placing all the old parts in a bag and back to the customer. Again great job.
That's normal practice, prevents the customer from saying they were charged for parts that either weren't replaced, or were replaced with used units
Thanks for showing us all on coil testing. This is something that will make someone smile when the mower fires up to life. Nice work fella too.
Nice videos buddy! Truly you are changing peoples life’s by sharing your knowledge. Thank you
I just found you on You Tube. Your teaching skills through detail description with video is awesome..Thank you, I enjoyed learning.
Thanks for watching!
It really amazes me that backyard mechanics still don't know how to use a voltmeter. I have a very close friend he's very good at fixing things but you give him a voltmeter you would have thought you just asked him to cure cancer. After buying my first one back in the '80s I had good friends of mine that were mechanics and they showed me how to use it. I also fortunate that has a brother-in-law who's a electrician and he had showed me things that my mechanic friends did not know.
Now you go to today I have voltmeters all over my house. Every time for the longest if I saw a good deal on one that did something different than the ones I had I went right out and picked it up.
I enjoyed watching you diagnose these coils. I have watched several of your videos and enjoyed them all.
Thanks for watching!
I liked this demonstration. Got right to it and explained it in detail. Now I can go check mine out. I think this is my problem too.
Thanks for watching!
I've found that as You mentioned, all small engine Coils test out this way, even little 2 Stroke Weed Eater Motors, great Video for the DIY Guys, thanks for sharing! 👍🤠
Well done. I am pleased you showed us the test procedure. Thanks
Thanks for watching!
Very well explained. Keep the videos coming
Clear and crisp presentation ! 👍
This dude's videos kick azz... great stuff.
Thank you!
Precise info., easy to understand, thank you!
Thankyou, for this very valuable lesson.
Great explanation, many thanks from across the pond 👍
Thanks for watching!
Thats what you get into letting goid stuff setting in a field good job
GREAT VIDEO!!!!! I LEARNED SOMETHING TODAY! Thanks!!!!!!
Thank you i had same problem , solved by watching your video. very nicely explained.
Super opis sprawdzenia cewki. Pozdrowienia z Polski!!!
Great video, this one is a keeper
Tank you Sir for your information , professionalism and the lack of buckteeth and stupidity. You are Greatly appreciated. Sincerely
Russell
Very well executed EP! I know this is an older video, but the information is invaluable to the home DIY'er. Cheers! Zip~
Thanks for watching!
I've watched dozens of coil testing videos over the past two days. all promising to show details on coil testing and none of them were informative... Until THIS ONE!!!! Thank you!!!
thanks great info helped one person with his mower and now I am over run with mowers and garden tillers
I hear ya on that Steve, thanks for watching!
Great video with easy to understand info. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching Steven!
@4:20 Good comment about the plug connector. I just had that very problem on my weed wacker. I was happy when I found out I didn't have to buy a coil, which may not have been worth it for my old Echo.
Wow man great informative video - thanks
Thank you!
Very good video; informative and appreciated
Thanks for watching David!
Thanks for sharing important information.
Another great video by EP ..very knowledgeable easy to understand. Jake breaks it down so easy. EP has got me through some big jobs. Thanks again.
Thanks for watching!
@@EliminatorPerformance Hello do the coils have to be off the engine? Or can they be tested with them on. Thanks
Unplug the kill wire and turn over the engine, if it has spark, than it's not your coils!
@@EliminatorPerformance ohh ok. Well before I got you response I tested my “right” coil and it had the same results as your did on your “Left” one. From the “Kill” to the “Base”
Excellent video. Thank you so much. Keep up the great job!
Thanks for watching!
Great video
Easy to understand, good video.
Thanks for watching!
you made a great video, you showed the setting and what the reading should be on the om meter a lot of them dont
Thanks for watching!
Very good explanation
Dude! y our the man! I followed your instructions and bam! Exactly that.... thanks
Thanks for watching!
Great video buddy! Thanks for the great information especially how to find the resistance in on the internet super helpful to the point very well explained you got a new subscriber buddy God bless you and yours!
Thanks for watching Mark!
Subscribed, excellent video!
Thank you for helping me get my mower going, my yard looks like hell but not for long.
Thanks for watching!
The first 5 min is the best video on TH-cam. No one said hey just unplug the coil to test it.
Yeah usually when there's no spark it's just a bad safety switch and people spend all kinds of money replacing coils for nothing!
Just trying to help!
@@EliminatorPerformance Good point!
Been there and done that. Seat Safety Interlock sent me on a wild goose chase.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge very informative, it
inspired me to focus more making electrical video
Thanks for watching!
This is very useful video....Appreciate your video😊
Very clear thank you for your video
Good information. It's an easy test to do.
Thanks for watching!
New subscriber here ,very thorough and very informative video thank you for your time in posting your knowledge.
Thanks for watching Mark!
@@EliminatorPerformance no problem I've got two machines that don't run and if I go through your video's I'm thinking they will be ,thanks again
nice job,clear explanation!
Thanks for watching!
At least Kawasaki is very good about giving you full specs on everything in their service manuals, including resistance readings on all relevant electrical components. Onan was also good about giving good specs in the service manual too. Tecumseh was probably the worst about giving you all the needed info.
We downloaded a Tecumseh technicians manual on line that gives us just about everything we need to know about specifications on Techumseh engines.
That was a great video!!
Thanks for watching!
Good information
great video thanks man
Excellent! I wish more TH-camrs would be as concise and to the point as you are. I just subscribed. :)
A note: It appears that some of the aftermarket coils, and in fact the coils on my John Deere (Kawasaki) mower have the kill switch terminal connected internally to the primary, rather than the secondary. This results in an Open Loop (infinite resistance, or 0.L. on the meter screen)... yet the coil is good.
Grounding the primary or the secondary will kill the spark, so either side can be used by the manufacturer. If the secondary is connected to the kill terminal, you'll get the same reading you get when you read from the plug wire to frame ground. The plug wire will have no, or very low resistance when you check ohms to the kill terminal. But again, if they made the coil such that the kill lug grounds the primary, there will be no connection at all (open loop) to the frame or the plug wire.
Normally only one coil fails and the Right coil was obviously bad. So... it's possible that these coils had primary connected kill switches, and the Left one was okay. B to C or B to A should be totally open on a primary kill switch lug... they're making these things both ways... It's best to change both of them anyway, so it's good the customer got a fresh set of coils. :)
another way to rip us off
Thanks for th vid, rally well explained, not full of tec terms, like it, cheers
Thanks for watching!
Great video. Thank you very much!!!
Thanks for video keep people from getting rip off
Thanks for the info! Keep it up.
Thanks for watching!
audio is always a pluss
Great video thanks🤠👍
Great diagnosis. It’s always a good idea to test the meter and leads before testing the component first though. By just touching the leads together first you should get 0 ohms. Just in case you have selected the wrong range or have a faulty lead on the meter or have one of the leads plugged into the wrong socket of the meter.
A very good point tony thanks.
How often do tje coils go bad
excellent vid. very helpful
Thanks for watching!
Helpful, thanks. 👍
Thanks for watching!
Great video - thanks.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for your help!
Thanks for watching Paul!
Well done. No chatter. Right to the point. I was wondering if the tolerance is pretty much standard for engines of a certain hp. If they are, you don't have to look around for the manual every time you're working, say,on a Briggs 17 to 24 hp. For example, if you're setting valve gaps, after a while you realize that if. you're dealing with an ordinary engine type, you don't have to look up the settings every time. You sort of know.
It is ok to use this tolerance as a guide but if it is available it is always good to check it to the manufacturers specifications.
awesome video
Thanks for watching Jim!
had a no start on a similar motor. This wasnt my problem but removing the kill wire to test was a good tip. I think my issue was rust on the coils. I removed them, cleaned, and reset the gap to the flywheel and got spark. Thanks
Cheers 🍻 from Connecticut.
Cheers from Ontario!
When measuring the coil off an engine that dies when it warms up, I use a heat gun to see if things change as the coil gets hot. I have found a number of coils on mowers, chainsaws and weedeaters that will open up after they warm up. When in doubt, replace the coil. They are responsible for many intermittent problems after a few years of operation.
Yea heatsoak is a strange issue, and effects coils differently. That's a very good point, thanks for sharing!
How about cold weather?
Super awesome, thank you
Thanks for watching Gregory!
Thank you great information.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for sharing. Only thing I would add for your viewers that the positive red tester lead always used for the spark plug connectors.
Thanks for watching!
Very cool 😎 👌🏻 👍🏼
Do it once, do it right. Good job!!!
Thanks for watching!
Nothing better than the sound of an engine starting after working on it. Nice work!
Great video well done.... I loved 🤗
Thanks for watching!
@@EliminatorPerformance Thanks for the Teaching!!👍❤✌
great channel
Thanks for watching!
FREE! Repair manual, Nice...
Thanks for watching!
Great video 📹thanks, simply the best, great guy clear and concise. 👍👌📹👌👌👌👌👌👌Liam kilkee clare ireland 🍀. Muchas gracias amigo.
Super pomoc jak sprawdzić cewkę.
Dzięki za obejrzenie filmu!
A true part changer
Dam good info, Thanks.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks that is very good information. Thank you very much.
Thanks for watching!
I have two of those solenoids sitting in my yard on an older mower... I'd better go pull them off and hold on to them 😁
Nice info! Thanks. That looks like the Kawasaki on the John Deere LX series.
I have the same engine Kawasaki in a Husqvarna tractor mower. My first diagnosis was no spark. But I was wrong. I took a test light n placed it in spark plug cap and other end on spark plug(still in engine). Turned over engine and when I looked at plug there was a spark while holding it close to plug. Then with engine switched on I heard a small noise( sizzle). Realized sound was coming from bottom of carbaretor. Then cleaned plug in on solenoid. Still heard noise. Then tapped it gently with screwdriver and heard a click. Engine cranked up. I cut grass with mower for an hour. No issues. Just be sure there is actually no spark b4 buying a coil. I have been told they rarely go bad in pairs. Usually just one goes bad. Great video but I’m certainly a novice on a volt meter. Both mine checked bad but obviously my skills are not where they should be on the volt meter.
Thanks for taking the time to make the video and sharing the knowledge with others. Very informative and to the point. Liked and following.
Also curious how much everything wound up costing the customer after ordering parts and labor?
Thanks for watching, and I forget, I think it was like $320 Canadian. But he's still using the mower to this day, without issues!
excellent
It might be more helpful to call B "Base" the "ground". Since it is electrically grounded to the engine. Likewise the "kill wire" is actually the primary coil lead.
Thanks
the best way to check a lawn mower spark is to remove spark plug ask someone to hold the spark plug while it is plugged into the coil and then crank , the higher the jump and the louder your laugh the better your coil works
+roger white
- GREAT IDEA!!! Next time I test a Coil, I'm gonna ask you to hold it! LOL
Hahahahahaha
Yea my20 year son let me know b€£*h we got spark hahahaha
My Wife Did NOT Think That Was Funny !!!
Don't Ask Me To Go Into Detail Concerning Why !! LMAO !! 😂
Lol!
Brilliant video so easy to follow, thank you.
Thanks for watching!
thank you!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you
Thanks for watching Sam!
i worked on atv's years ago and never could get one coil to read within specks according to their manual but they all worked. so i am not setting much stock in testing a coil this way.
yes great thank you
Hi again and thanks for the video/replies. MY BAD! I retested using a bolt in the spark plug cap, which I put close to the block and I could see spark. Apparently I wasn't making contact in the spark plug cap with my test light. There was spark with and without the kill wire.
Basically coil is good then
My ride-on has the same FH531V v-twin. It still runs but it's been progressively running rougher on each use and I found the spark is intermittent on both plugs. What would you know, it's got the same issue where both ignition coils are out of spec! I've used the mower every single year since purchase and so it would seem they've just gone bad with age.
Thanks for the test numbers for the coils. Had been a lot of years since i had to. Test a coil. Very helpful. One thing to note is that a coil wire to base and the primary winding that is infinite is the some MTD mowers have a built in resistor in the spark plug end of the secondary wire. Mine had a open in that resistor. Eliminated it and the mower runs. Thanks again.