"When the engine would shut do
"When the engine would shut down, would it start back up immediately or did it need to sit awhile to cool down?
What is the compression on each individual cylinder? Standing in back of the engine, facing it, the cylinders are numbered as follows:
2....1
4....3
With the spark plugs removed, the spark should jump a 7/16" gap with a strong blue lightning like flame.... a real SNAP! Does it? A spark tester can be made as follows:
Spark Tester - Home Made
(J. Reeves)
A spark tester can be made with a piece of 1x4 or 1x6, drive a couple nails through it, then bend the pointed ends at a right angle. You can then adjust the gap by simply twisting the nail(s). Solder a spark plug wire to one which you can connect to the spark plug boots, and a ground wire of some kind to the other to connect to the powerhead somewhere.
Using the above, one could easily build a spark tester whereas they could connect 2, 4, 6, or 8 cylinders all at one time. The ground nail being straight up, the others being bent, aimed at the ground nail. A typical 4 cylinder tester follows:
..........X1..........X2
.................X..(grd)
..........X3..........X4
Look under the flywheel to check the stator. If there is a sticky substance dripping down from the stator upon the timer base and/or powerhead, that would cause a voltage drop to the powerpack.
The ignition switch can set up a intermitent short at times. To test for this type problem, simply remove the black/yellow wire from the ignition switch. If the problem ceases to be, replace the switch. NOte that it will be impossible to shut the engine down via the ignition switch with that black/yellow wire removed.
Let us know what you find pertaining to all of the above."
