No spark on MEP 018A gen set

[Retiredwarhorses]

Just picked this gen set up, has 3 hrs on it....couldn't get it started, thought it was fuel, was,leaning on fuel pump, till I disconnected the fitting into the carb...plenty of fuel, removed spark plug, soaked...fired with the plug out and no spark. Bad magneto? I thought I had this issue on my Mule years ago and I remember I had to change out all my plugs and wires and it fired right up.

any ideas?

 

[RIrvin]

Might want to check points, rotor and cap inside the magneto first. (TM page attached)
Technical Manuals are available on line if you don't have the set.

 

[jbk]

check the points.

 

[Retiredwarhorses]

did this, all looks good...Looking at previous threads, I think maybe that the Mag is being grounded.
I called Saturn Surplus, he seems to think same. Maybe a bad switch? I am going to remove the wire on the Mag....I also thought a low oil pressure condition as well, but no Motor has Oil pressue on startup, so IMHO it has to be bypassed till engine runs.I hope it aint a Magneto or Coil, Saturn does not have just coils, just new Mags....

 

[jbk]

i might have a used fm mag. you can have, it did fire. i would need to look. the oil preasure safty is bypassed while in the start position.

 

[Retiredwarhorses]

well, she runs, and good at that...not sure what I did....I just cleaned up the points, Dist cap and reassembled. finally got spark. I have 45-50 Psi on Oil pressure and the 120v socket works with a light plugged in. I have not attempted to check output yet, I have the Selector set for 120/240 Single Phase.
Not sure how to set the rest of the dials so set them all at the farthest Counter clockwise position.

Question, in what position is the Governor supposed to be set at, all the way Back or towards the gen Set Engine? the Arrow point towards the engine and I think says start/idle? once started, what position do I leave it in? I played with it but no real affect.
I played with startup and shut down, I noticed the Choke only works when cold and when Hot its manual, starts right up with a little pull on the choke. I do know not to idle this critter so she ran full....loud as ****.

 

[Triple Jim]

Good work getting it running, and not surprising that's all it took. I help a neighbor keep his Ford NAA tractor running. 90% of the time he has trouble, I clean the points and dry the inside of the distributor and it runs fine again.