I replaced the points and condensor and now I am having trouble starting the motor. To make a long story short I tried the point gap at .020 with no success. I finally tried it at .017 and have spark and engine runs. It runs well at low rpm's but poorly at high rpm's. Can anyone help me out here? Note engine ran fine before I touched it. The engine is a H70 Tecumseh from an Ariens snowblower 1970 :freak: :( :rolleyes:

Did you by chance remove the stator housing the points are mounted in ?

Did you clean the points with a business card sprayed with carb/choke cleaner after installing ?

Had a customer bring me a old Tecumseh a couple weeks ago without spark, I installed a module as below. It really isn't worth the time monkeying around with points anymore.

how exactly do you hook one of those up rob?

we got those from stens also and we got one that was a return and the instructions for hooking it up isn't in it, thought next time I had to do some points I would use it to see how well it worked

Did you by chance remove the stator housing the points are mounted in ?

Did you clean the points with a business card sprayed with carb/choke cleaner after installing ?

Had a customer bring me a old Tecumseh a couple weeks ago without spark, I installed a module as below. It really isn't worth the time monkeying around with points anymore.

How is not worth tinkering with? Usually it's just a bit of goop in the middle! Clean that out, perfect spark... Done that multiple times now.

How is not worth tinkering with? Usually it's just a bit of goop in the middle! Clean that out, perfect spark... Done that multiple times now.

So I was only wondering if anyone could help me remove the flywheel so I could clean the points and condensers? I never had to do this before. I have mostly forgotten my small engine stuff...

So I just jam an screwdriver between the biggest flywheel blade, and whack it?

I've never taken apart a engine...



Well, I guess you got your engine back together although you never followed up on your threads.

Messing with points is time consuming and it's hardly ever just a little goop in the middle. Ignition points are a mechanical system and as such are subject to wear and will require periodic maintenance. The solid state conversion boxes are about the same cost as a set of points and condenser and in some cases less expensive, they are pretty much immune to moisture and wear, there is no gap setting and you probably will never have to mess with the ignition again as it could last the life of the engine. You don't have to remove the flywheel in many applications (not some Tecumseh). The only draw back is you can't use one on a Tecumseh with an alternator.

I am betting this is what he meant by not worth it.....

Searay,
It's also possible that the new points you got may have had some oxidation build up on the contact area. Point systems are dated ignition components and are no longer a fast moving part. The point set you purchased may have been in someones inventory for several years and may require some light polishing to have good contact. If you did remove the entire mag assembly then your timing may be off as restrorob suggested in his post. If all is set up properly then it should run properly at .020" point gap. :thumbsup:

how exactly do you hook one of those up rob?


One wire goes to the coil where the points hooked up and the other to any good ground. Now, It states in the instructions if you still don't have spark to swap the two spade connectors on the module.

If you want to add a kill switch you can install it between the module to ground or the module to coil to break either one.




I am betting this is what he meant by not worth it.....



Well 30yT,

You hit that nail square on the head, Throwing one of those on is much easier and faster so I can get on to bigger better jobs. :thumbsup:

30yeartech. I did not touch the mag that's the thing. I have never replaced points before but how hard could it be. So I replaced the points, set the cam at the high lobe and set gap with feeler gauge at .020. After that no spark and after much fiddeling and cleaning contacts I got spark at .017 and it fired right up. However runs poorly at a higher rpm.
If you think the module is better and is easy to install I should probally go with one of them. Where can I get one of those?

did you replace the condensor as well?

I did at first but after a lot of fiddeling I did notice the flywheel must of been rubbing on the wire and chaffed the outer coating and exposed the wire. So I put the original condensor back on and ran the wire better.

I did at first but after a lot of fiddeling I did notice the flywheel must of been rubbing on the wire and chaffed the outer coating and exposed the wire. So I put the original condensor back on and ran the wire better.
Thats a common problem, particularly if the condenser is put on upside down with the wire pointing up towards the flywheel or if the wire is not routed behind the clip that holds the cover over the points down. :thumbsup:

Where can I get one of those?

Check with your local repair shops for one that carries Rotary or Stens aftermarket parts.

It's Rotary part# 8786 or Stens # 440-065 ;)

I am sorry for posting here, but i can't find how to create my own thread. I have a Ariens st 2+2 snow blower that starts right up but when you try and take off the choke it sounds like it is going to run great and then it dies unless you put the choke back on. If anyone has any suggestions, or can point me in the right direction to make a propper post or just exactly where i can find some sort of a trouble shooting guide, it would be greatly appreciated.

I am sorry for posting here, but i can't find how to create my own thread. I have a Ariens st 2+2 snow blower that starts right up but when you try and take off the choke it sounds like it is going to run great and then it dies unless you put the choke back on. If anyone has any suggestions, or can point me in the right direction to make a propper post or just exactly where i can find some sort of a trouble shooting guide, it would be greatly appreciated.
Go to 4-cycle forum, click on "New Topic" on left side down from top.
Include engine hp, model and spec so's we know what engine you're having problem with.
thanks,