Easy Hack To Eliminate Breaker Points & Upgrade To Electronic Ignition -Episode 5 of 7 Tiller Series

Breaker points on old Briggs engines are a yearly nightmare! I show you in this video how to permanently by-pass and eliminate that system forever! Super easy and inexpensive, if not FREE...

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If you choose to try one of the suggestions made in this video, you do so at your own risk. No information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any kind. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from the improper use of tools, equipment or information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the viewer and not Steve’s Small Engine Saloon Inc. Please ensure that you take all proper recommended safety measures before attempting any project. Steve’s Small Engine Saloon Inc. assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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[StevesSmallEngineSaloon]

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[RichardDykowski]

It was every bit as easy as you said. $15 and 15 minutes from non-running to running snowblower. Terrific hack! Thanks.

[springwoodcottage]

Thank you so much for mentioning that ignition units have to be the right way round. I fought an Honda GCV135, none start, none spark for a very long time, trying all manner of things. The strange thing was that occasionally it would spark and run for a little. Then I saw your video, flipped the ignition unit and it started on the first pull and didn't stop till I shut it down. I didn't know if I should laugh or weep, the relief was so powerful. Thank you for sharing!

[miker]

The process seems straight forward the difficult part is understanding a replacement at the store. The parts guys want to give you original points coil. How do you find a conversion part. Websites don’t give you this info either. Just original parts.

[oxyfee]

Best thing I ever did subbing to this channel, don’t tell my wife.Stay safe, and thanks for the advice, really appreciate your videos.

[Tazo]

You could mention that the electronic ignition coil has an exciter coil. It's the small iron circular object. Attached to it is a darlington transistor that energizes the coil and spark plug.

[rongollonik]

Steve, about 30 (?) years ago I put electronic ignition on an old lawnmower that was left when I bought my house. It gave new life to an old mower. After the handles broke and I replaced them with an old set someone had thrown out, and the mower kept on cutting. Thanks for the memories.

[diamondcat]

I have a Briggs & Stratton 11 Hp Model 253707 Engine that's used on my homemade log splitter. I had to remove the engine's tin shroud and saw a huge mouse nest that filled the entire cavity. When I removed the nest I saw the spark plug wire was completely stripped of insulation. Amazingly the engine did run like that and luckily didn't catch on fire! I ordered a new coil and installed it but it wouldn't run. It was this video that made me flip the coil over and now it is up and running and I'm splitting wood again. The coil had no markings as to which way to position it. I love all of your videos and they are a great help for us DIY. Thanks for the info!

[BritishBeachcomber]

Hi Steve. I've not worked on an engine that old for 30+ years. It was a Briggs that my dad bought in 1965 and still going strong.

[tonymayhew]

This is definitely the best way to get around taking the flywheel off and dealing with the points and condenser. Those are referred to as pedestals that the coil bolts to and it is a good idea to run a Q-tip down inside of them with isopropyl alcohol before installing the coil. The coil grounds itself through these pedestals so it is a good idea to make sure that the bolts are wire brushed under side of the head and threads as well! I own a chainsaw collection of around 70 saws, And I have seen it before where the coil is nice and clean and you unbolt it and there is oil down inside the pedestals causing a problem with grounding issues.

[ruffryder]

This is a pretty awesome series. Gives you a really good idea of how engines work (air, fuel, spark) and how to restore old ones. I wish I would have had something like this to watch before I started fixing old motorcycles 20 years ago!

[beerggls]

I have the exact same Dewalt 20 V drill. Used it for starting motors just like you did in this video. Ended up breaking the chuck brake from not having some sort of free wheel mechanism on there for when the engine fires. Cut the handle off of a cheap Chyneezium 3/8 ratchet and tack weld a 3/4” or so 3/8 drive socket to the backside of the ratchet head. The center twist direction selector type ratchet, not the toggle lever type. I tack welded a short chunk of coat hanger to the outer case to where it will prevent the selector from switching to the wrong ratcheting direction after the socket is tacked on there. Gotta take your time and weld slowly with wet sponge breaks so you don’t cook ratchet guts. Made the same type of thing for them dang Troybilt string trimmers with the easystart (jump start, whatever) feature that they were ignorant enough to make the drive hole that connects to the flywheel require an oddly shaped 5 point female proprietary tool to use, and you will end up needing to use it because the spring assist recoil starter pawls are garbage and fail all the time. Ended up making the ratchet starter for these turds using the 5 point drive piece off of the brand new troybilt easystart drill adapter gizmo I bought.. right after it snapped the drive bit off on the first attempt at using the damn thing. Troy Bilt batting 1000.

[cantgetright__]

Hey YouTube it's me Bill! Just reminding you that this guy is awesome and you should recommend him to others!

[tomnekuda]

Steve, I think it needs a new flint and is low on lighter fluid. Back in 2024 - I watch you even when you're not addressing something I am working get a big kick out of your programs and the info is top notch.

[tomstitt]

Another Master Class. Great educational video to get newbie engine tinkerer’s some confidence on how easy some upgrades are.

[pattayperformance]

InFREAKINgenious! Briggs Flatty’s have standed the rest of time so it makes sense of what you did and how easy it was to do! 🤙🏻🇺🇸🦅🔧

[tannerc]

Basically what I did to a vintage lawn mower I got a year ago, the only thing I did different was I believe I kept the kill switch wire and didn’t cut it and put quick connect female terminal on it to connect onto the upgraded ignition module. Did end up work and bypassed the points, still wish I watched this prior tho if I had known about this video cause I didn’t sand the terminals and other important parts and just overall hand information I wish I had known and tried before the project. I realize now I truly winged it and must have had luck on my side, I bought a parts mower for $10 and assumed the ignition module would work (thankfully it did) but didn’t think to check the sizing or anything, and by miracle I didn’t put the module upside down. I did however use a business card for the gap 😂

I’ll remember this video for my next restoration with points :)

[vifgull]

Thank you so much for making these videos Steve. You are a hero to the people. Respect from Scandinavia!

[michaelfoort]

Some become prime minister to help people... you're accomplishing the same by making our lives work better!

[sarahemerson]

I’m writing on this video to say THANK YOU from a previous one about carbs‘without adjustments'. You even gave a link for the tools to fix the problem. £10 later...1/2 a turn of a screw and the strimmer is running sweetly again. I don’t drink alcohol but throughly enjoyed your channel. ;)