Ariens issues

R

Russ Trachte

Well-Known Member
Member
About 5 years ago I started having issues with my Ariens S16H (Kohler K341). It would run and then it wouldn't. Change the spark plug and it would run again. After having a couple other people look at it and messing with it myself, I put it away in the shed.

So last night I dug it out to see what state it was in. No spark. So I got a new plug and it fired up for a few seconds then died. No spark. Checked both spark plugs and the electrodes are shorted to the case.

So what causes this?

I've checked over the wiring and it is in tough shape - but there are no shorts that I could find. The voltage regulator connections look rough but that should only affect battery charging - right?

Short of redoing the wiring harness and replacing the regulator and other switches, I've got nothing. Would appreciate suggestions.
 
Ariens coil? Ariens never made coils... If it came in an Ariens package you overpaid.

When you say that the spark plug electrodes were shorted to ground, which electrode? The outer one IS ground.
Most spark issues I see on those machines are safety switch related. Next would be points and condenser and wiring from the points to the coil.
 
dodge trucker said:
Ariens coil? Ariens never made coils... If it came in an Ariens package you overpaid.

When you say that the spark plug electrodes were shorted to ground, which electrode? The outer one IS ground.
Most spark issues I see on those machines are safety switch related. Next would be points and condenser and wiring from the points to the coil.
Click to expand...
I agreed I overpaid. Learned a lesson on that one.

The one shorted is the center one that the coil wire attaches to. My ohm meter reads connectivity between the coil wire attachment and the screw threads.

There are no safety switches on this machine anymore - they were removed long before I got it.

As far as points and coil, I could see where intermittent spark or no spark would be a result of either, but since I have spark wtih a new plug and plugs are destroyed I'm confused.
 
The engine was just bored .030 over and new valves were installed by one of the best shops in our area. The motor doesn't smoke, but it doesn't want to start immediately either. Engine seems to flood before I can get it going.
 
I actually have two thoughts on this. The first, the problem is the first letter on your spark plugs.
my other thought would be better answered with a picture. Can you take a picture of the business end of the spark plug? Up in where the electrode is.
 
I assume it is running rich. Can't figure any other reason it would be so black as there's no oil smoke at all.

What do you think about the plug first letter?
 

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Russ Trachte said:
I assume it is running rich. Can't figure any other reason it would be so black as there's no oil smoke at all.

What do you think about the plug first letter?
Click to expand...
I don't trust Champion plugs any further than I can throw them. AnYtHiNg else before them with one exception... The old.flat head continental engines love them
 
Easy test for the condenser, just temporarily disconnect it and see if you get spark then. If you do the condenser is bad. To test the coil disconnect the wire from the negative(-) post on the coil, with 12v to the coil positve(+) and a short jumper wire connected to the coil neg post and a known good spark plug on the spark plug wire laying on the head. Now tap the jumper wire on a good, clean surface of the head or block. If you get spark at the plug coil is good. If all these tests are positive then the problem can only be in the wire from the coil to the points or in the points themselves.
Mike
 
What about adjustment on the governor? That could contribute to running too rich and starting hard.
 
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