Honda lawnmower repair - faulty coil?

[6ply]

I'm repairing another Honda lawnmower, not the same one I picked up last week as that one is now fixed. This looks to be an older model HR194.

There is no spark and the coil appears to be faulty. I have ruled out the spark plug and kill switch and there's no low-oil cutout.

Resistance on the primary and secondary coils measure 1.5k and 18k respectively.

According to a YouTube video, the Honda service handbook states the primary should measure 0.7k to 0.9k and secondary 6.3k to 7.7k.

Is that correct and does anyone know where I can download a copy for future reference? It is worth having?

 

[angellonewolf]

all ways the first point is fuel in the spark plug see if it starts or cough(tryes to start a bit of smoke if not pull the wire off the coiladd fuel down the spark plug hole and try again

by doing this normaly apart from a few things means if it starts it means a elecrtic or fuel problem and worth getting in to for a quicker fix

 

[zzr1200]

Order one and be done with it....

Pardon our interruption...

 

[mike 109444]

Weak magnet on the flywheel ?

 

[JOEPRO]

Order one and be done with it....

Pardon our interruption...

Aftermarket coils are all terrible- better with good used original one every time

 

[zzr1200]

I've fitted OEM parts that haven't worked out of the box, and even a lot of OEM parts are brought in/re-branded parts from outside suppliers, so it's a risk we all take...

And being as a fair selection of the small engine parts are made in the far east, it's still a lottery....

It's a bit like buying a Lambo, and finding out the side indicators repeaters come from a Ford Focus....

 

[6ply]

Weak magnet on the flywheel ?

Seemed strong to me, but I'm no expert.

 

[6ply]

Order one and be done with it....

Pardon our interruption...

That was my plan (a cheap one) but I was hoping for confirmation regarding the resistances.

 

[6ply]

Aftermarket coils are all terrible- better with good used original one every time

Problem is, good used and eBay don't always coincide.

 

[JOEPRO]

Problem is, good used and eBay don't always coincide.

You will have 100% chance of a bad aftermarket coil. But hey, only trying to help buy what you like

 

[MattF]

You will have 100% chance of a bad aftermarket coil.

That seems unlikely.

 

[angellonewolf]

is there any evdance of it had hit a stump or rock ?could have just sheard the keyway its rare but does happen ive had a couple

 

[zzr1200]

You will have 100% chance of a bad aftermarket coil. But hey, only trying to help buy what you like

So what your saying is, that all the cheap aftermarket ignition coils that I have purchased have all failed to work on first fitment, which isn't the case.

I've fitted about 15 coil units in the passed 35+ years, a couple have failed to work, but I'd say it was more down to parts sitting on the shelf for years being knocked about/dropped more than them be far eastern copies.

 

[Dilkris]

Have you checked the kill/safety switch circuit?
Other than the above - keep working at it and save it - its a HONDA !!!
Save at all costs - they are stopping making them.

 

[JOEPRO]

So what your saying is, that all the cheap aftermarket ignition coils that I have purchased have all failed to work on first fitment, which isn't the case.

I've fitted about 15 coil units in the passed 35+ years, a couple have failed to work, but I'd say it was more down to parts sitting on the shelf for years being knocked about/dropped more than them be far eastern copies.

They work but not very well. Usually timing is off and they cause other issues such as poor running and performance. They can also cause intermittent starting issues.

I am glad you have had good success.

I have not. Having tried around 6 aftermarket ignition coils on small engines in the last couple of years all of them were bad. Engine would start and run but stall at idle or never male full power. Or more often than not the aftermarket coils had no rev limiters either so quite dangerous for an engine not tuned correctly.

Hence I avoid all aftermarket coils and carbs as its one less thing to second guess. That money saving also ends up costing you more in the end as it goes in the bin then a second genuine part needs bought.

Engine starting doesn't mean an aftermarket coils works properly.

 

[zzr1200]

That was my plan (a cheap one) but I was hoping for confirmation regarding the resistances.

If the small wire that goes to the coil kill switch is disconnected/cut from the coil or switch (depending on the design), the wires sole purpose is to ground out the coil to stop the spark, the coil will spark if it's working, therefore no spark equals a dead coil unit .

Even if the flywheel key/keyway has been damaged and the flywheel has moved on the crankshaft, due the design of the engine there will still be a spark if the coil is working, the spark may not be at the correct point in the engines cycle to run, but being as the pull cord works directly on the flywheel and the flywheel magnet are passing the coil there will be a spark if the coil is ok, just not in the right place.

The only other problem will be a damaged low tension lead for the coil grounding out, causing no spark or a fault kill switch, both for which are eliminated by disconnecting the low tension wire from the coil.

 

[zzr1200]

They work but not very well. Usually timing is off and they cause other issues such as poor running and performance. They can also cause intermittent starting issues.

I am glad you have had good success.

I have not. Having tried around 6 aftermarket ignition coils on small engines in the last couple of years all of them were bad. Engine would start and run but stall at idle or never male full power. Or more often than not the aftermarket coils had no rev limiters either so quite dangerous for an engine not tuned correctly.

Hence I avoid all aftermarket coils and carbs as its one less thing to second guess. That money saving also ends up costing you more in the end as it goes in the bin then a second genuine part needs bought.

Engine starting doesn't mean an aftermarket coils works properly.

For some items I tend to use uk based companies that supply pattern parts, I agree Ebay can be a minefield, but if you chose your supplier correctly you can always return a faulty product if need be. Another firm I often use for small parts is...

Chainsaw Parts Online LTD

Chainsaw Parts Online is an online retailer of the chainsaw bar chain UK, Chainsaw spares parts UK, mini chainsaw, blades, chainsaw bars, accessories, chainsaw safety equipment’s and brush cutter spare parts for very affordable prices.

chainsawpartsonline.co.uk

My last purchase from the above supplier, was a Highway pop-up piston for my personal 357xp porting job.. ..

...................................................................................................
Plus a couple of others I have used:-

https://www.lsengineers.co.uk/shop-by-brand.html
Excellent supplier

Shop by Brands | GHS

Full Range of spares for all brands of garden machinery Forestry and small plant . Take a look at our brand offering.

www.gardenhirespares.co.uk

I've never had a problem

SpareToolParts | The UK’s Fastest Growing Spare Parts Site

SpareToolParts.co.uk is one of the fastest growing Powertool spare parts website in the UK. We have an excellent range of products, from all the top manufacturers such as Bosch, Makita, Panasonic, Ryobi

www.sparetoolparts.co.uk

Only used them once but no problem.

 

[MattF]

Hence I avoid all aftermarket coils and carbs

The aftermarket carb I fitted to my Makita backback blower works a damn sight better than the two OEM carbs did, for the short time they actually worked at all.

Just because you've had bad luck does not mean all aftermarket spares/parts are crap.

 

[JOEPRO]

Alot of the time original carbs can be repaired if the individual knows how to correctly clean and adjust them which I do. But alas, agree - buy any carb members believe works for them

 

[mike 109444]

How are you "gapping" the coil to flywheel clearence ? a business card ? That's how i've seen it done