The Old Briggs

[Kent]

Well I got the old Briggs model 302431 back from the rebuilder, put it all back together and dropped it in the old Simplicity. Got it running, BUT not worth a #$%#. Was told by my brother that he thinks the timing is off. Seems they put a Magatron ignition system on it. Now I have been told before this won't work on the old cast iron engines but was told by someone else this rebuilder has done it several times before. Short of pulling it back out and taking it back to him, does anybody have any ideas or segestions on this? Is there something I'm overlooking here or what gives??? Thanks, Todder

[Les]

When I rebuilt the Briggs in my B-210, the same thing happened to me. The key on the flywheel partially sheared which threw the timing off a little bit.

[dlcentral]

Sorry to say but if the eng. runs but won't speed up/has no power,etc. the problem is the flywheel.The polarity is probably wrong for the magnetron.Either put the points back in or get the flywheel re-polarized.This used to be done by the Briggs factory for free,the customer paid the shipping both ways.I can't say if they still do that service however as these old engs. are no longer made[in the US that is!] dlc

[stevejj56]

HI TODDER, I HAD SOME TROUBLE WITH A COUPLE OF BRIGGS IGNITIONS, SO I CHANGED THE THEM OVER TO USE A COIL LIKE A KOHLER. THIS CHANGE IS SIMPLE AND YOU DONT HAVE TO PULL THE MOTOR OUT TO CHECK ( THE ARMATURE COIL ) CAUSE IT ISNT BEHIND THE BLOWER HOUSING. UNLESS ITS THE FLYWHEEL KEY. A KOHLER ENGINE WOULD SOLVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS, MY OPPINION OF COURSE. STEVE

[yeoman]

This does work, Steve, but then you must worry about leaving the key on. It is much more better to fix the old ignition. You can get parts cheap at any NAPA store.

[JCS]

AH HA!!!! I got the exact same problem!!!! I took a cast iron 16 hp to get fixed and the shop said I could put a MAGETRON on it and eliminate the points & condenser so I went for it. Well they got it to run but it was worthless so they tore it apart again and said the camshaft was bad and they wanted $300.00 for camshaft & labor. I brought it home in 3 boxes and cried awhile. In the spring I took it to another shop and they said the FLYWHEEL POLIRITY needed changed so they sent it to B & S (B&S does it for free as a customer service) and I paid $40.00 shipping round trip. I painted the engine and put it in the tractor and stil no go.... I hauled the entire tractor back to them and they said the bracket that holds and MAGETRON on was bent??? So they fixed that and now it runs but very eratic and shakes the whole tractor so bak to the shop again....... I don't know what they will say next???