Re: Mcculloch 4hp no start

[amuller]

I just skimmed through this thread and can understand your frustration. Chances are it’s something simple that you’re too close to easily see. Can you get somebody else to take a look at it with you? In general go back to fundamentals–if you have fuel, spark, and compression it should at least pop. Have you used an in line spark tester? It’s possible to have a bad plug wire or coil such that there is spark in one position but not in the installed position. Thinking spark because if you are priming it through the spark plug hole it should pop regardless of carb status. Also it seems that the carb was messed with previously to your getting it, suggesting perhaps a longstanding problem. Have you checked coil primary and secondary resistance with a meter? Checked point resistance? Checked for good grounding of stationary point> The plugs fire when the points open, which should be just a bit before top dead center with the lever in start position. This ignition is very similar to that used on Tecumseh/Sears lawn mower engines of pre-solid-state times. I’m not certain, but you might be able to harvest parts off an old lawn mower. (Timing will be fixed on a mower but coil, condenser, and points might fit.) If you are feeding it many doses of starting fluid, etc, make sure to give it shots of oil so as not to wash off the oil and score things. Good luck!