My sa200 won't start! No fire! ?????

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1978 SA200 not startingI've replaced points and condescer, gas, on n off switch. Checked continuity thru the plug wires and wire to and from mag. 😤! Still not getting fire.
Reply:Will it attempt to start? Start by checking power at the starter, should be 1 constant hot.
Reply:It turns over but won't fire up
Reply:When you checked continuity did you confirm there was spark?
Reply:Originally Posted by tompit91978 SA200 not startingI've replaced points and condescer, gas, on n off switch. Checked continuity thru the plug wires and wire to and from mag. 😤! Still not getting fire.
Reply:take a spare spark plug and put in plug boot and ground against chassis to see if you are getting spark to the plug...and go from there.if no spark( electrical issue)..if your getting spark, shoot alittle carb cleaner through air cleaner and see if she shows signs of life, you can rule out fuel or electrical problem with these 2 tests....Of all the things I lost I miss my mind the most...I know just enough about everything to be dangerous......You cant cure stupid..only kill it...
Reply:No spark that I can get
Reply:Try your ignition switch in OFF or disconnect it from the mag. It sounds like your Mag is grounded.
Reply:Will try it and get back to ya
Reply:if he did disconnect the switch from the Mag and left the end hanging there and the machine did fire up,,, do you just touch the wire to the bolt on the Mag to shut it down or would you turn off the gas in thst situation?just curious
Reply:Originally Posted by then3wguyif he did disconnect the switch from the Mag and left the end hanging there and the machine did fire up,,, do you just touch the wire to the bolt on the Mag to shut it down or would you turn off the gas in thst situation?just curious
Reply:Does your machine have the Continental F163 Engine in it?After doing a little reaserch, the magneto uses a fiber drive gear. My guess is this thing just died on you and wont start. first thing i would do is check and see if the mag is turning with the engine.Last edited by Burnt Glove; 01-11-2015 at 01:30 PM.
Reply:Haven't had time to get out today and try anything. The gears in the the mag turns properly. The fiber gear is fine. All checked prior to this post.
Reply:Can you tell us edsackery what happened the last time it ran till the next time you tied to start it please.Measure with a micrometre, mark with chalk,  cut with a torch.Never force anything...just get a bigger hammer.RoyOld Airco buzz box approx 1974Lincoln mig pack 15Lincoln 175 square wave1954 9" south bend lathe
Reply:Can you hear the impulse coupler snap
Reply:Originally Posted by then3wguyif he did disconnect the switch from the Mag and left the end hanging there and the machine did fire up,,, do you just touch the wire to the bolt on the Mag to shut it down or would you turn off the gas in thst situation?just curious
Reply:i am just wondering, how did this problem start?
Reply:machine won't start with the ground wire removed. Still no spark
Reply:1st post you said you replaced points & condenser. Are you actually getting fire at the points? What is the gap set at for your points break? .025 would be correct.Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.                                         -Cree Indian ProverbSA 200 LincolnVictor Torches
Reply:I will double check. Thought I had they set at .030
Reply:OK, got a phone cal I had to take & didn't finish what I wanted to say. If you're getting fire at your points & it's not getting to your plugs look at the rotor, caps etc. There is a carbon brush & spring in the center of the cap to your rotor, look at it for light spring tension & functional brush. Cracked caps etc. No fire at the points? Look for grounding to the magneto body. The condenser, points & kill switch wire all connect to the same point in the mag. If any of the three wire forks are touching the  body of the mag you have a ground. If you're by yourself, remove the caps & crank your machine over in the dark to watch for a hot blue spark at the points.Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.                                         -Cree Indian ProverbSA 200 LincolnVictor Torches
Reply:Ive had grounding thru the mag at the kill switch terminal because the insulating washers were dirty and shorting at all times. A mechanic told me its possible to remove the terminal (4-40?) and run a wire thru the hole to ground the points for a kill switch on the inside of mag instead of outside. I was able to clean the insulators and save them tho.What Gizzard said about grounding can be tested by using a continuity test.  Check for continuity from ground to the kill terminal on mag with kill sw wire removed. If there is continuity then your mag is shorted. If no continuity then no short and I would then check the points again.
Reply:I took the cap and rotor and checked for spark at the points and I have nadda
Reply:I wasn't going to ask... But now I will. Did you do any "maintenance" before it wouldn't start, or did it just do it on its own"
Reply:B&W Parts has a you tube video on how to rebuild a mag and several other videos on SA 200.  It is easier for me to learn from watching someone than them telling me how to do it. This video my help you.stopped working on its own.
Reply:Here are the magneto videos he referred to above, from B&W.Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.                                         -Cree Indian ProverbSA 200 LincolnVictor Torches
Reply:and while we're at it here are some of the threads I've saved for working on your machine. There are several welder parts stores listed below http://hybriweld.com/?SID=7e0c524648...77c8e046faf61chttp://weldmart.com/http://www.bwequipmentrepair.com/http://billswelderrepair.com/SA-200.htmlThese are threads that contain valuable information about rebuilding or maintaining the SA 200.SA 200 Dis-assemblyhttp://www.aws.org/cgi-bin/mwf/topic_show.pl?tid=19023Digital Multi Meter & Ohming Coilshttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=178071 Shunt Coil Changehttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=49665 http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=168831 Removing the Exciterhttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=140751 HYPERLINK "http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=140751&highlight=exciter+armature "& HYPERLINK "http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=140751&highlight=exciter+armature "highlight=exciter+armature Operation & OCV http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=265341 (you tube video)http://www.aws.org/cgi-bin/mwf/topic_show.pl?tid=27707 Front Main Seal & Speedy Sleevehttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=117031 HYPERLINK "http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=117031&highlight=200+front+seal"& HYPERLINK "http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=117031&highlight=200+front+seal"h ighlight=200+front+seal 1 Wire Alternator & Wiringpage 2 starting post # 44http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=117031 HYPERLINK "http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=117031&highlight=200+front+seal"& HYPERLINK "http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=117031&highlight=200+front+seal"h ighlight=200+front+seal PC Board Differencespost # 31http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=38816 HYPERLINK "http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=38816&highlight=200+ocv"& HYPERLINK "http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=38816&highlight=200+ocv"highlight =200+ocv Worn Armature Commentator http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=152841 HYPERLINK "http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=152841&highlight=200+ocv"& HYPERLINK "http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=152841&highlight=200+ocv"highligh t=200+ocvGovernor Linkage Adjustmenthttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=172341 Pierce Governor Tear Down & Rebuildhttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=136081 HYPERLINK "http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=136081&highlight=governor+rebuild "& HYPERLINK "http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=136081&highlight=governor+rebuild "highlight=governor+rebuild Hoof Governor Tear Down & Rebuildhttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=136581 R-57 Idler Wiringhttp://www.aws.org/cgi-bin/mwf/topic_show.pl?tid=29002 R-57 Idler Maintenancehttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=167491 http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=183781 Grind Eze Wiringhttp://www.aws.org/cgi-bin/mwf/topic_show.pl?tid=30413 Remote Rheostat Wiringhttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=301571 http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=35225 HYPERLINK "http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=35225&highlight=sa200+remote+rheo stat"& HYPERLINK "http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=35225&highlight=sa200+remote+rheo stat"highlight=sa200+remote+rheostatWater Seating Brusheshttp://www.aws.org/cgi-bin/mwf/topic...ting%20brushesF-162 & 163 Thermostat Installationhttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=83131Water pump Rebuildhttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=32321 HYPERLINK "http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=32321&highlight=water+pump"& HYPERLINK "http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=32321&highlight=water+pump"highli ght=water+pumpExhaust Manifold Stud Removal/Replacementhttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=97111Replacing Rope Oil Sealhttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=268641Lead Reelshttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=48478 HYPERLINK "http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=48478&highlight=lead+reel"& HYPERLINK "http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=48478&highlight=lead+reel"highlig ht=lead+reel http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=208341 Short Hood Radiator Cap Part #shttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=84991 Marvel Carburetor Teardown & Cleaninghttp://www.johnsoldiron.com/M_S_TSX_Carb_part_2.htmlB&W Parts SA 200 Maintenance Videoshttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUL...LNfMqmA/videosOnly when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.                                         -Cree Indian ProverbSA 200 LincolnVictor Torches
Reply:lol, ok I got lit up by the the coil.
Reply:Look on the bright side....you got spark.Measure with a micrometre, mark with chalk,  cut with a torch.Never force anything...just get a bigger hammer.RoyOld Airco buzz box approx 1974Lincoln mig pack 15Lincoln 175 square wave1954 9" south bend lathe
Reply:Sounds like the MAG is working  bet you wont do that again.I checked three mags recently using the continuity test I described. The problem with my test is; continuity fires thru the coil to ground so unless you have a sensitive meter and know the coil resistance, the test fails. I hope I didnt waste your timeNow that you have spark, is it running?
Reply:No sir, still nothing
Reply:Where did you get spark in above post after videos?  The coil... Deep inside the mag?
Reply:I got shocked at the coil when I was grounded to the mag
Reply:".025 would be correct." I read my previous post & saw this, That's a typo  & should read .015. Also, if your coil is making fire & your points are not then your points are grounded somewhere.Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.                                         -Cree Indian ProverbSA 200 LincolnVictor Torches