Stihl FS-55R weed wacker

[Urshurak776]

Hi all. Couldn't get it started today. Been having start problems a little while now. Took it apart. Cleaned carburetor, changed little air filter piece, changed fuel
Filter in tank. New spark plug too. It's just spinning. Not even trying to start. Checked on/off switch. It is good. Only thing not sure of is coil. I can't tell if I'm getting spark or not. Usually it's easy to tell, but with this the plug is recessed and very difficult to pull boot on and off. Plus connection is way under rubber piece, so can't even shock myself.

Is there a way to test this? I measure 3K from plug connection tip to coil. Not sure if that means anything or not.

Anybody ever deal with Stihl brand?

 

[old1]

Don't know if there is a way to test with a meter. Since you have it taken apart to take the coil off, I would put it back on and don't put the covers on, and put in the plug, and ground the plug, and spin the flywheel as fast as you can wit your hand, preferably with a glove on.

 

[Urshurak776]

Thanks Old1. You are right. I should have tried that first.....

 

[maxdustington]

Spark plug testers are cheap as dirt from Aliexpress and make troubleshooting small engines easy. It's one of those tools that you wonder what took you so long to buy.

 

[Dave9]

Or make sure the flywheel nut is on good and tight, then spin it with a drill, impact driver/wrench, etc.

While you have it spinning, you might try spraying some carb cleaner in to see if it ignites (plug reinstalled of course), but be careful and don't spin it too long because if you have a fuel delivery problem then you may have an oil delivery problem too, with the carb cleaner flushing out any oil residue that was there.

 

[Urshurak776]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I'll definitely get one of those spark plug testers. The weed eater is 13 years old, so may just put a new carb and coil on it, but going to try and fix it first.