how can I test & fix the apark problem on my homelite trimmer?

SEVERAL THINGS CAN KEEP A BRUSH CUTTER FROM
FIRING. (1) BAD MODULE (2) THE SHUT OFF SWITCH
COULD BE GROUNDING ALL THE TIME KEEPING THE
EQUIPMENT FROM RUNNING.
(1ST) PULL THE SPARK PLUG AND PUT THE SPARK
PLUG WIRE BACK ON THE PLUG.
(2ND)MAKE SURE THE WEED CUTTER IS IN THE START
RUN POSITION ON THE HANDLE. NOT TURNED TO THE
STOP POSITION WHICH WOULD GROUND IT AND KILL
THE ENGINE. BASICALLY SET THE THING UP TO START
(3RD)HOLD THE SPARK PLUG RUBBER BOOT WITH THE
PLUG ATTACHED AND PRESS THE PLUG AGAINST THE
METAL ON THE WEED CUTTER CYLINDER AND KEEP IT
PRESSED TIGHTLY TO THE METAL TO ACHIEVE GROUND
(4TH) PULL THE STARTER ROPE BRISKLY AND LOOK FOR
A SPARK. THE SPARK PLUG MUST BE GROUNDED TO THE ENGINE CYLINDER TO SEE THE SPARK IF IT IS FIRING. MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO LOOK IN THE SHADE OR
AT NIGHT RATHER THAN IN THE BRIGHT SUNLIGHT.
(5) IMPORTANT..IMPORTANT...KEEP THE PLUG AWAY
FROM THE SPARK PLUG HOLE OR LAY A RAG ACROSS
THE HOLE. THE FUMES COULD FLAME OUT. SOME UNITS LIKE STIHL HAVE A CONNECTOR ON THE COIL-
MODULE UNIT WHICH CAN BE DISCONNECTED TO TAKE THE HANDLE GROUND OUT OF SYSTEM, SO IF THE HANDLE SHUT OFF IS GROUNDING ALL THE TIME, THE THING WILL RUN WHEN IT IS CUT OUT OF THE SYSTEM
(6) SPARKPLUG COULD BE BAD. A VOLTMETER CHECK
WILL TELL IF IT IS TOTAL RUINED. ONE WIRE TO THE
TOP OF THE PLUG. THE SECOND WIRE ON THE CENTER
ELECTRODE AT THE BOTTOM OF PLUG TO SEE IF ANY
READING SHOWS UP. SET THE VOLTMETER TO READ OHMS FOR THIS TEST. NO READING AT ALL, THE RESISTOR IS BURNT IN HALF. AS FAR AS THE GAP ON
THE MAGNETO, LOOSEN MODULE AND GET IT AS CLOSE
TO MAGNETO AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT IT HITTING ANY
MAGNETS. MAKE SURE OF THIS. TURN FLYWHEEL WITH
THE KILL/OFF SWITCH OFF AND SEE IF ANYTHING THING IS TOUCHING. IF SO MOVE COIL OUT SOME. THIS WILL WORK TILL YOU GET THE RIGHT GAP.
IF YOU HAVE DONE THE ABOVE AND NO SPARK, REPLACE THE COIL MODULE UNIT. BEST OF LUCK.

CV MEACHAM
September 2009