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Tim Mc 09-13-2012 10:54:43 205.204.248.83 Report to Moderator	I’m new here….Dad just gave the family 430 S to me with one condition; restore it while he"s still around to see it. I"m not a mechanic but I"m willing to jump in with both feet. It was changed to 12V alternator years ago and had not run in 10 years, so I rebuilt the carb, then determined it wasn"t getting spark, replaced the plugs, points, condenser and rotor. It then started right up and ran good (BIG smile on dads face) Drove it, stopped and started it several times, parked it and now it has the same issue, no spark at the points. So I then replaced the resistor, cleaned all connections, still nothing. So here go the rookie questions. Before I buy more parts, what is the obvious that a rookie is not seeing? Could the new condenser have already burned out if there was an issue with the resistor, coil or something? Any tips on testing and troubleshooting this problem? Thanks! [Reply]   [No Email]
Dave H 09-15-2012 04:15:29 66.116.11.11 Report to Moderator	Re: JD 430 S no spark in reply to Tim Mc, 09-13-2012 10:54:43   first thing I woud do is what husker suggested. no use throwing parts at it if the dist is not getting the juice it needs. [Reply]  [No Email]
M-MAN 09-13-2012 21:57:50 74.235.33.113 Report to Moderator	Re: JD 430 S no spark in reply to Tim Mc, 09-13-2012 10:54:43   There is a fuse behind the dash you need to check first. If that's ok check the voltage on both sides of the ballast resistor. If the voltage isn't there it's the switch or wiring coming off it. If that's ok check the coil voltage. If it's there move on to the dist terminal. If it's there the terminal, points or condensor wire is grounded. Drag a folded dollar bill through the points just for fun. No point in buying anything till you've spent a few minutes testing and know what you need. [Reply]  [No Email]
JDG 09-13-2012 18:21:34 71.62.30.30 Report to Moderator	Re: JD 430 S no spark in reply to Tim Mc, 09-13-2012 10:54:43   Try another new condenser sometimes you get a bad one. [Reply]  [No Email]
leon 09-13-2012 13:25:55 173.27.205.97 Report to Moderator	Re: JD 430 S no spark in reply to Tim Mc, 09-13-2012 10:54:43   Corrosion on the terminal ends and sockets of that high-tension lead between the coil and distributor cap has shut my MT down several times. Checked that? [Reply]  [No Email]
Tim Mc 09-13-2012 17:19:14 63.131.220.8 Report to Moderator	Re: JD 430 S no spark in reply to leon, 09-13-2012 13:25:55   Yes, cleaned all of the terminal ends. Starting to wonder if it could be the switch? Lots of guesses but nothing to confirm the problem. Hate to just start buying parts that I may not need. [Reply]  [No Email]
Dodgeit 09-13-2012 12:25:46 65.199.61.227 Report to Moderator	Re: JD 430 S no spark in reply to Mike M, 09-13-2012 10:54:43   You can look at the points to see if they are burned, just by opening the dist. up and speading them apart a bit. First I would physically check to make sure you have gas in the tank. Then I would open the drain cock at the tank and on the carb, and make sure gas is running out. Alot of times the tank will drain into the engine if the shut off valve is not turned of when you are finished with it. It's good practice to close the shut off valve on the tank and let the engine run until it quits on it's own, then shut the ignition off. If you have flow at both places it's like ly a spark or timing issue. When you try to start it, do you have spark at the plugs? Pull them out and with the wires hooked up turn try to start it, with the plugs touching the engine. If you have spark on both plugs, you can rule that out. If not, leave the plugs in the head and pull the wires off the plugs hold them close to the plug. If the spark jumps between the two you need new plugs. If the plugs are black and sooty looking, the carb is set too rich. [Reply]  [No Email]
Tim Mc 09-13-2012 12:54:40 205.204.248.83 Report to Moderator	Re: JD 430 S no spark in reply to Dodgeit, 09-13-2012 12:25:46   Thanks Dodgeit! I"ve pretty much already tried everything you suggested. Points are brand new so they are not burned. Tank was bone dry and cleaned before I added fresh gas and rebuilt the carb, gas flow is good. It’s for sure a spark issue. There was, but now there is no spark to the new plugs and no spark to dist. It started and ran good several times after replacing plugs, points, condenser and rotor. That’s what has me puzzled and trying to find what happened after shutting it off. When I pull the dist cap and crank, the points open and close but there is no spark. Resistor, coil, wiring?? It seems like it should be something simple, tried testing with a digital meter but I’m not sure I’m going about that correctly, basically not getting any readings anywhere. [Reply]  [No Email]
husker44a 09-13-2012 18:16:02 63.172.255.242 Report to Moderator	Re: JD 430 S no spark JohnT Help !!!! in reply to Tim Mc, 09-13-2012 12:54:40   Tim....There is a easy way to check voltage at the coil. With your volt meter turn the key to ON position. There should be 12 VOLTS to the COIL with the key ON. IF you have 12 volts to the coil. Check voltage at the POINTS. Red wire on points wire black on the side of the distributor body. There should be a lower voltage reading there like around 8 volts will CRANKING. This step you will need help. We need JohnT here to help also [Reply]  [No Email]