What do you think? Not grounded?

[Whtbread]

I have been trying to start a blaster that always ran fine last year. Now, I am trying to get it started and it never even sputtered. I pulled one plug out and held it close to the exhaust manifold to see if I got a spark. I got a spark, but it also started running on the one cylinder. When I pulled the lanyard on the start/stop switch, it kept running.

Do you think I have a bad ground or a problem with the wiring on the start/stop switch?
Thanks

 

[Matt_E]

I would check the two connections for the stop switch (black/white)
Unplug them, see if it starts without trouble.
If they don't have a good connection (or if the switch is bad) you can have trouble starting (and stopping)

 

[Whtbread]

thanks matt

 

[Whtbread]

no difference.

 

[Matt_E]

Does it not start, or not stop?

 

[Whtbread]

will not start. Does not even try to start

 

[Matt_E]

Is it cranking but not firing?

 

[Whtbread]

yep

 

[Whtbread]

but fired right up with the one plug out and arcing to the exhaust manifold.

 

[Matt_E]

Try it with the other plug out and make sure you get spark on both plugs.

 

[Whtbread]

good idea

 

[Whtbread]

I took the back plug out, got spark, but did not want to start. Kicked over, but no sign of wanting to start.

I had the front plug out before when it started.

 

[Matt_E]

Now put the reverse the plug wires and see if it starts on that cylinder.

 

[Whtbread]

do you want me to reverse the plug wires or just switch the plugs from one wire to the next?

 

[Matt_E]

Reverse wires.
I am thinking that your wires may need to be cut back.

 

[Whtbread]

I switched the plugs so that now I had the plug that was originally in the front cyl in the rear plug wire and arcing it. It started right up

 

[Matt_E]

On both cylinders?

 

[Whtbread]

no, it was running on the front one with the rear plug out, arcing

 

[Whtbread]

I have tried new plugs so I don't think it is them. It only wants to start with a plug out and arcing to the engine

 

[Matt_E]

So same as before then.

Right?

If you can, try a different coil. Or, cut back the wires a little.
Sounds like the coil isn't strong enough to support both plugs.