18hp briggs twin cylinder opposed power problems. PLEASE HELP!!!

Stretch44875 wrote:

Just a note, I've had these twin wire coil's go bad, and the engine still kinda of ran/started, just really poorly.

The carb is the first place to start. However, I have seen situations where a high tension coil wire breaks internally with no evidence on the outside. There are repair kits available for breaks mid wire, but breaks at the coil itself require more work. This is a common issue on old bikes.
I've seen vids of guys that have gouged out the epoxy from around the wire, and soldered on new leads, then re epoxied the hole.

Chopperhed wrote:

Stretch44875 wrote:

Just a note, I've had these twin wire coil's go bad, and the engine still kinda of ran/started, just really poorly.

The carb is the first place to start. However, I have seen situations where a high tension coil wire breaks internally with no evidence on the outside. There are repair kits available for breaks mid wire, but breaks at the coil itself require more work. This is a common issue on old bikes.
I've seen vids of guys that have gouged out the epoxy from around the wire, and soldered on new leads, then re epoxied the hole.

yes you could do that but i wouldnt recommend it just for safety reasons

Nothing unsafe about it. Just takes time and patience,
Remember, we do this on old street bikes that run on highways, I've never heard of an issue.

All you have to remember is that a coil is basically a transformer.

Many many winds of copper wire around a iron core. usually covered in plastic or bakelight as an insulator and tamper preventer. its just generally easier and cheaper to buy new rather than rebuild old.

Chopperhed wrote:

Nothing unsafe about it. Just takes time and patience,
Remember, we do this on old street bikes that run on highways, I've never heard of an issue.

All you have to remember is that a coil is basically a transformer.

Many many winds of copper wire around a iron core. usually covered in plastic or bakelight as an insulator and tamper preventer. its just generally easier and cheaper to buy new rather than rebuild old.

well i see it as unsafe because my buddy did it to his 16.5 OHV and the coil caught on fire then it caught the shroud on fire (it was plastic :l) then the fuel line and next thing ya know the mower was a roman candle

Jay_Rod wrote:

Chopperhed wrote:

Nothing unsafe about it. Just takes time and patience,
Remember, we do this on old street bikes that run on highways, I've never heard of an issue.

All you have to remember is that a coil is basically a transformer.

Many many winds of copper wire around a iron core. usually covered in plastic or bakelight as an insulator and tamper preventer. its just generally easier and cheaper to buy new rather than rebuild old.

well i see it as unsafe because my buddy did it to his 16.5 OHV and the coil caught on fire then it caught the shroud on fire (it was plastic :l) then the fuel line and next thing ya know the mower was a roman candle

Obviously did something wrong.

Short circuits cause sparks, sparks cause fires.

I know guys that have done this on 40 year old coils with no issues.

I've spliced high tension leads myself. I do it regularly at work.

Chopperhed wrote:

Jay_Rod wrote:

Chopperhed wrote:

Nothing unsafe about it. Just takes time and patience,
Remember, we do this on old street bikes that run on highways, I've never heard of an issue.

All you have to remember is that a coil is basically a transformer.

Many many winds of copper wire around a iron core. usually covered in plastic or bakelight as an insulator and tamper preventer. its just generally easier and cheaper to buy new rather than rebuild old.

well i see it as unsafe because my buddy did it to his 16.5 OHV and the coil caught on fire then it caught the shroud on fire (it was plastic :l) then the fuel line and next thing ya know the mower was a roman candle

Obviously did something wrong.

Short circuits cause sparks, sparks cause fires.

I know guys that have done this on 40 year old coils with no issues.

I've spliced high tension leads myself. I do it regularly at work.

yea i dont know what he did wrong lol

I can't even begin to guess, either. Musta mucked something up good. Maybe compounded by a fuel leak or something. You can have the insulation on a coil or plug wire go bad, arc all over the place, and still end up with nothing to roast your weenies on.

HEY EVERYONE PROBLEM SOLVED!!!!!!!

Gah... I hate suspense! What was it?

Good on ya though, glad you got it sorted out.

Glad to hear that you got this fixed, but when you get a little money saved up, I'd highly recommend doing a tune-up. Put some new fuel lines in and a new fuel filter. Lines deteriorate over time. Also a fuel shutoff is a good idea but not necessary. Two new spark plugs, usually they are RJ19LM's, but check the number on your plugs to be sure. Those and a new air filter, and you should be good to go for a long time. If you shop smart and use the internet as much as much as you can, you should be able to get all that for around $30.

Good luck
Nick
ODOTB

fletch6393 wrote:

HEY EVERYONE PROBLEM SOLVED!!!!!!!

what was the problem

Operator error!

Stretch44875 wrote:

Operator error!

lol do what?

Wow is been forever well what it was apparently someone has crashed it at one point because the air filter / carberator mounting plate was cracked in a manner consistent with a frontal collision

Woah, Stretch44875 was right on the money lol

redlinemotorsportts wrote:

Woah, Stretch44875 was right on the money lol

This time!

Stretch44875 wrote:

redlinemotorsportts wrote:

Woah, Stretch44875 was right on the money lol

This time!  

Congrats Stretch! Like we say in the shop: "You got a bad connection between the seat and the steering wheel". Customers never get it lol...    

Like someone already said you may only be on one cyl but you could be experiencing electrical problems. My stock motor on my 717 had electrical problems and did the same thing. You probably have a carb problem like a jet is not working correctly or something. If I were you I would get a new carb or rebuild kit