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do you no how to fix small engines ?

should i replace the hole electric system on my 5 hp. briggs and sraton, there is no spark, i held the wire and pulled i felt nothing, the thing is very old,but its been stored in a barn, i no i should replace the points and condenser as part of a tune up,but what about the coil, some thing tells me replace it. just to be safe, they cant cost that much, and what about the magneto that spins around do those things where out ? when should a magneto be replaced ? i no they use these moters for cart racing what kind of parts do they use ?

Public Comments

1. try another condenser, if it does not start ,test coil
2. replace the coil. My dad works on small engines. I think the last one he bought was some where right around 30-40 bucks, maybe. As for the magneto, if you will take a wire brush and knock the rust off of the edges where the coil makes contact you should be alright. Hope this helps!
3. use sandpaper on the flywheel and coil.
4. I work on these things as a side job. First, replace the coil, replacement coils are now made where points and condensor are no longer needed. The 5 hp briggs does not have a magneto, it just has the magnet in the flywheel that creates a spark when it passes across the coil legs, just rub the magnet surface with some fine grade sandpaper and wipe off. Be sure you have the correct air gap between the coil legs and the flywheel, which can be achieved by using a peice of the box your new coil comes in, just place it between the coil and magnet on the flywheel, with the coil loose, the magnet will pull the coil to it, then tighten the coil. remove the paper, and the air gap is set. VERY IMPORTANT, be sure the soft metal key between the flywheel and crankshaft is not sheared. If it is, even it is sheared slightly, replace it. DO NOT use a steel key, only replace it with a new briggs and stratton flywheel key.
5. test the magneto/flywheel for magnetism....it should have a pretty strong pull if it does then it is ok just sand the rust off and you should be good.......I would definitely replace the condenser and points...the coil really doesn't fail very often on the briggs motors so you should be ok just clleaning that up.....put a new spark plug on it and make sure the cut off switch is working and it should fire right up......A 5HP briggs is a tough motor to kill!!!!!
6. if it is that old, it will not have a set of points and condenser, but it will have a magneto, can give you just as much of a headache if not more. you just have to shop around for the parts.