TOPIC: No start puzzle

Thanks for the suggestion, Ed.

I was also thinking pickup or exciter coil, both of which are part of the stator. The stator does get hot. Resistance tests on both were within spec, but were performed when cold.

A new stator is $465. Yikes!

I still can't explain why it bump starts, but won't start with the electric starter.

Frank

Frank -
The very first thing I thought of when I saw original post was valves, if the valves are on the tight side they will get tighter when hot causing a hard to start scenario especially when hot. I also considered the pickup coil. When you changed the plug and the problem went away it left me scratching my head. You said resistance was normal when cold, do you have specs that distinguish between hot/cold? The easy bump starting and running fine once fired is throwing me ...

Thanks for the suggestions, Don.

The valves are not tight. I adjusted them a few months ago, and checked them again when this problem cropped up.

Today, I checked the pickup and exciter coils again, this time with a warm engine. The pickup coil resistance was a little higher hot than cold, but still well within the range specified in the factory service manual. The exciter coil was the same hot or cold. The manual does not specify different ranges for hot vs cold.

Still, I have to think that the issue must be with the exciter or pickup coil, since I can't see how it could be anything else.

I'll be looking for a good used stator and pickup coil on ebay.

Frank

I replaced the stator and pickup coil today. Seems to be cured.

Frank

Good to hear it's working again, but it's curious as to why it would bump start, but not start electrically before, and why replacing those fixed the problem....