No Spark On A JD 317

KCTractors

Member
Location
Central Wi
A friend just bought a JD 317 with a 2 cylinder Kohler engine in it. The tractor was laying outside of a business for a few years. He is trying to start it but has no spark by the points or plugs. I don't know anything about the small engines. Where should he start? I told him that I will dig a hole with the backhoe and bury it for him!
 

Does it have 12 volt going to the coil and then to the points? If so then make sure the points are making good contact I spray some carb cleaner on them it generally will clean the contacts if the points are making contact then its possibly the coil that engine uses a dual coil that is expensive
 
This is a "Kettering" (battery-powered) ignition system, have you checked for 12 Volt battery power at the (+) terminal on the coil?

Battery power takes a long path from the ignition switch though the PTO and seat switches to the coil and there's lots of things to go wrong, including the ignition switch itself doing "bad" or the terminals at the back of the switch and the mating connector.

If no power to the (+) terminal on the coil you can temporarily jumper battery power there and see if you get spark, then make repairs as needed once it's verified the engine will start.
 
Dave Kirk at KIRK ENGINES sells better quality coils for Kohler and Onan TWIN CYL engines. Everything's listed on his website, KIRKENGINES.COM
 

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