Harbor Freight 800w Generator - No Start - No Spark

10 years ago

This generator uses a 2hp 2-stroke engine, generates 800 watts, 900w peak; Harbor Freight nameplate, but I understand it's a China clone of a Yamaha 650/950 generator. Have had this unit in storage for several years. Tried to get it going yesterday (Fresh gas, 40:1 mixture) 20 pulls, then tried carb cleaner direct into carb, no joy. Removed & cleaned carb, was not flooded, nothing obvious wrong there, still no start.

Today I put a multi-meter between spark plug lead and the plug, no voltage generated by pulling recoil starter. No voltage between plug lead & ground either.

So - NO SPARK.

Have dealt with fuel issues on mowers and trimmers, but never electrical failure. Googling I've found people who replaced Magneto Coil, others said capacitor? Don't want to just throw parts at it. Where do I start with diagnosis?

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Comments (8)

yt125
10 years ago
You'll fry a multimeter doing that. Try unhooking the kill wire from the switch and report back.
cityboyinburbs
Original Author
10 years ago
Disconnected shutoff switch, still no spark.

Here is a photo. Magneto coil?? at center, ignition coil is under wraps near pull start....
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Florencio Jimenez
5 years ago
Kindly advice with no Spark so no start problem with Chicago 800/900 Electric generator.

I cannot disassemble the magneto wheel. to see why it givse no Electricity .. I heard some click for each turn of the magneto wheel , manually by hand.. Please advice the status of this problem report!!!!
Florencio Jimenez
5 years ago
Please advise me how to disassemble the magneto flywhee l cannot remove it after removing the special nut by pulling it with my pulling wrench , Kindly help me!!!! Can Harvor freight help me with this problem???
ssewalk1
5 years ago
Drive some hardwood wedges under the flywheel , loosen the fly wheel nut 1 turn and give the nut a smack with a hammer , should loosen the flywheel if you do not have a proper puller !
cityboyinburbs
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Pulling the flywheel is pointless (Literally). Ignition system has no points, it's transistorized. Flywheel turns, magnets pass near magneto, and produce an electric field, presto SPARK.

Or in your case, no spark. If no spark, unless the magnets inset in flywheel have been de-magnitized, the problem is in the

(a) Magneto,

(b) spark plug,

(c) spark plug wire from magneto,

(d) Shut off switch.

Check YouTube for testing LawnMower magneto, plug, and various wires and switches.

Mower motor highly similar to generator motor.

Ditto for installing and setting the magneto in right spot.

Good Luck

(I traded my H.Freight generator for a mess of pottage, or maybe it was a bag of chips)
Jerry Putter
4 years ago
Smart
Bobby Brown
4 years ago
I'm having trouble as well with my tail gator, if I unhook the on/off switch I get for but if it's hooked up and in on position, it won't fire