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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Atco De Luxe - dodgy coil?

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Hello all!

I've just bought this non-running Atco De Luxe as a project. It's got a fair bit wrong with it, but first and most important is it won't produce a spark.

I've cleaned and gapped the points, checked all the wiring and replaced the spark plug. Still nothing. I'm getting a multimeter reading of 10k ohms from where the ht lead plugs into the coil and earth, and I've read this should be lower (3-5K?). Would this be enough to completely kill the spark?

Cheers!

 

Forums

wristpin Thu, 14/05/2020

Quite possibly. Has the stator got a separate condenser or is it encapsulated within the coil?

You havn't mentioned the plug cap - to be safe, remove it and check for a spark off the end of the HT lead.

Uncut grass Fri, 15/05/2020

No spark off the HT lead either. I believe the condenser is integral. This is what I've got (ignore all the crud, that's all been cleaned since).

Thanks!

 

 

wristpin Fri, 15/05/2020

So long as the points are truly clean and all fixings and grounds are tight  I think that you are fairly safe in assuming that it’s the coil.

Darren - FAC Sun, 17/05/2020

I'm also a fan of the Atco De Luxe, having bought two projects last year ... a 14" and a 17". I'm gradually restoring them. With the 17", I wasn't getting a spark, which with the help of members here I pinned down to being a coil/condenser issue (I have the same type as yours). Once changed (and replacing the points for good measure, as they are not expensive), mine now roars into life with a good, strong spark. 

Best wishes,

Darren