Here we go. I just posted on another thread about my electrical problem & the great service PD gave me.

Well, I got another problem that I discovered after I got my new wire put in. This came up after hours this evening, & PD was closed. I guess they don't forward their phones to the house. JK-I'd never expect them to do that.

Anyway, my motor cranks & idles fine. As I give it gas, it begins to sputter & backfire badly back thru the carb. The tach is off as well. It shows me idling at 2200 & when it finally sputters up to WOT, I'm reading 8000 rpms. This makes me think that the problem is electrical.

When I let off the gas, it settles down & idles great. I pulled the plugs & they are both firing.

I'm gonna call PD first thing in the AM. Just wonderin' what ideas y'all might have.

Well, your tach is controlled by one of your plug wires. May have a bad plug wire or possibly a bad coil.

dont ever listen to what I say about mm and engines

ur diode or diode wire goin to ur coil is fubarred on da side with da tach on da plug wire.....

put ur tach on da other plug wire and just hold da ground on da block, it'll show correct rpm's

change out the diode & wire on dat side or da complete harness for both sides and it'll run fine.

I don't have da part # on hand, but the diode wire kit from a 16 hp B&S is da same diodes..... and u can just cut da wires and splice 'em in place of ur old ones. I prefer to solder all connection & then use electrical tape generously.

I just replaced that wiring harness myself. I ordered it from a local B&S dealer and they had it the next day. It costed $20 something...
And for all the dumbarses out there like me... that black and yellow wire going to the ignition switch is shorted to ground when the key is off, and open when the motor is running. Dont ever put 12v on it or you will smoke those diodes!

Peck said the same thing as Stumpy. He's's shippin me a diode kit today & I should get it tomorrow.

If I can get this thing back together, I'm headin up to Caddo!!

Crews just stop by mines office and we was lookin' over this thread. I don't know that much 'bout the electronics to these or any engine fo that matr' .... but I do know that them DawgGone diodes are cheap and can give you the blues !!!! From runnin' ragged to not runnin' at all ..... diodes have you coverd !!!!

Ur right Brooks. I don't understand everything I know bout diodes. I just know that they work magic when they workin right, and cause you grief when they ain't.


Btw, anybody know what size torx screws are on the top mesh cover? I got a cheapo set of torx wrenches, & the it seems to fall between the t-30 & t-40. I'm gonna pick up a better set 2day. Hope that does the trick.

out of all da times I've pulled dat thing off I don't think I ever put a torx to it. Channel locks or vice grips get it every time for me. lol

When u get it off do urself a favor and throw it in da trash, then yank dem big, heavy stand-off studs out too and replace 'em with sum cap screws (8mm I think, can't remember exactly.)

Will do, thanx Ben.

Well, parts came yesterday evenin, but I didn't get home til 10. Got on it bout 6 this mornin, & she's runnin like a top now.


We headin to Caddo. See y'all there.