Overhauling an old mower. Petrol supply fine but there appears to be no spark. Have cleaned plug and tested with plug lying on top of engine?

Don Jones, July 2009

Thanks for the flywheel removal tip. I put a coin behind the assembly and retightened it then tapped the rim of the flywheel and it popped off.

Les F, April 2013

Great help I would like to update the ignition system on my Sufolk Punch Classic Petrol35c if any one can tell or advise me where to obtain the parts I would apreciate .great site

JohnB, June 2012

0.18 points gap

Fixin me own!, September 2010

Easey way to get flywheel off......
Remove the fitting that the recoil starter engages in ( 2 screws ), remove left hand thread flywheel nut, then... ( here comes the crafty bit ) RE-FIT the bit that you have just removed that the recoil starter engages in, BUT with a 2p piece behind it !!!! ( any thicker coin will foul ). TORQUE those screws HARD, & it will put a pressure against the end of the crank, a slight tap from behind the flywheel with a screwdriver & hammer & it will pop itself !
Ive grown up with a 1965 Suffolk from new ( Im 46 now ), had it hard as a kid trying to fix it for my ( now sadly late ) mum, but learned as I went. I didb=nt crack this trick until I was 18. Suffolk engine have SUPERB blocks/cranks, let down by maintenance intensive ignitions, but that was 1960 technology. These days you can get a little module, strip out the points & condensor, fit the module, & never worry for years ! Make a good engine superb.

John the mower geek, May 2010

Finally, I successfully made the plate and extracted the flywheel. Cleaned up all the muck on the magnets etc., fitted a new plug and reset the points and wow! the engine started. Many thanks to you all.

Don Jones, August 2009

You can either make a puller from a piece of steel plate.
You can do one in about 10 mins if you have the kit or if you know any mechanics that can lend you a universal puller set, you can get one round the outside of the flywheel.
The other option is to give the flywheel a smack with a hammer. Just be carefull not to damage the fins but they are on a taper shaft so they can come off quite easily.

Jimmy, July 2009

Thanks John I have unscrewed the L/h screw on the flywheel but need to extract it get to replace the condenser etc. In the meantime I looking forward to completely restoring the mower, hopefully.

don, July 2009

It is possible to obtain a solid state unit that replaces the points and condenser. No more adjusting and better starting and running.

Groundsman, July 2009

Maybe this is well out of date Don but the points gap is 15 thou and the flywheel nut is a left hand thread. There are threaded holes in the flywheel that you screw bolts in to extract it.

John, July 2009

that is not always the best way to test to see if you have a spark at the plug. try to have the plug touch one of the head bolts when you turn the engine over. if that doesn't work then maybe the plug is no good. or maybe the magneto's kill wire is touching somewhere. or it may be bad.

Mickey-G, July 2009

Thanks chaps I have located the points, attempting to remove 'flywheel' to get to condenser etc., probably need a puller. I will replace plug as well. What gaps should they be? Many thanks.

Don, July 2009

Check points opening/closing and gap. If ok change condenser.

mhanan, July 2009

Thats the way to do it...is your mower the type with the grey engine, and red cover? If it is, it has contact breaker points. Post back?

John, July 2009