Reply To: Correcting fixed ignition timing

[sidevalve5]

I had the opposite problem with a Barrowmix mixer that had a small Briggs and Stratton engine on it. I bought the mixer for the drum, as mine had started to rot away (tip, if you are going to store a mixer, do not leave any water in it). Thought I would get the engine going as it seemed like it had not had much work. Could get it to pop and bang, then run for a bit, but no power or even revs. Thought I would check the flywheel key, it is a soft alloy and designed to shear if the engine’s machine came to a sudden stop. It had a step in it which was similar to the 0.035” you moved the timing by. But in this case it prevented the engine from running correctly. Think someone had overloaded the mixer and the key partially sheared. Which was my good fortune as I didn’t pay much for it and now the engine runs as sweet as a nut.

Someone gave me a Villiers armature plate and flywheel with the crank sheared right off. It came from a water pump, the user did not fit a strainer to the suction hose. It pulled up a stone, stopped the impeller and with a steel key the flywheel’s momentum sheared about a 7/8” shaft as clean as a whistle. Have a Villiers Mk25c on a Clifford roteo, when I replaced the coil I only gave the flywheel nut a few light taps to tighten it up and glad I did. I hit a big stone, the engine stopped dead, but the flywheel moved on the taper, so no harm was done.

Yes, there is a little plunger rod on the Kohler that operates the exterior points and when it kicks back it is really vicious. Looking at the manual it appears that fine tuning the timing can be done by adjusting the points gap. But have not done this before, have always set the gap to the manual’s recommendations. Would be good if anyone has had a similar experience to me with Kohler engines and subsequently have got the ignition set up spot on to get them to start better. Am going to dig the Condor from the back of the shed this weekend and have a look. Don’t need a mower at the moment though. In the Vale of Evesham we have not had any significant rain since the end of Feb. The grass is not growing and feel for those who make a living from the land.