Greetings all,


Just purchased a used 824 powershift, serial 4900705, model 38540, tecumseh 8hp. Previous owner put a brand new carb on it a month ago. When I picked it up, it started on first pull. I brought it home, started on first pull, drove it in the garage. It sat for two weeks, and now it won't start. I have tried:
Drain and replace gas
Checked oil, it's fresh and full

Double checked key, it's turned to on (no Griswold moments yet)
Replaced spark plug
Checked ignition coil/plug with in-line spark tester, I clearly have a spark
I tried adding a half-teaspoon of gas into the spark plug hole, nothing happened, which surprised me

I tried spraying starter fluid into the hole, it would not even pop, now am really scratching my head
I have messed with carb adjustments a little, made no difference
I tried praying, that hasn't worked yet
I tried talking sweet, no luck
I tried swearing, that's when I turned to the darkest of all places, the internet....

I have spent hours reading forums and watching videos and am now wondering if the issue is compression due to a valve not seating properly (I feel like the starter rope has some decent resistance but I don't know what's normal). Or perhaps even though I see a spark, the coil is crappy because how could the starter fluid not pop...could that be caused by a valve being open?



Any thoughts? If it is a valve job, might be more than I can do, any ballpark guesses on cost to have a small engine pro do the job?


Thanks for any help

Check the switch on the Dash Board.

Thanks for the idea, I will check this when I can, but one question: if the key is turned on and the plug showed sparks when grounded on the engine, and then the inline spark tester also showed sparks when tested with the plug screwed in, doesn't that rule out the switch as an issue?

I appreciate the help.

Reset the spark plug gap to 25 thousandths and try that before you go any further.

Be sure that the piston is near or at top dead center before you try to start it also.

The main reason I suggest this is if the spark plug having been improperly gapped/gapped wrong can cause huge headaches.

If you've got spark and fuel....check the keyway in the flywheel....if sheared, you'll get spark at the wrong time.....

Thanks for the ideas. I have now checked the dashboard switch, it seems fine. I tried with spark plug gap at .025 and piston at TDC. I also checked the flywheel key, which seems to be perfectly healthy with no signs of shearing. Still no luck, and thoroughly dumbfounded. Any ideas where to go next?

I appreciate the help!

Here's a pic of the flywheel key, does that look okay? I thought it looked good but I'm really not exactly sure what I'm looking at.

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If the keyway in the crank is lined up with the keyway slot in the flywheel...then you are good. Hard to tell from the picture, but pull the flywheel and really double check...It looks like it could be sheared to me.

by chance is the gas shutoff valve turned on ?? the throttle off the slow stop?

check your valve clearances, .008 on intake, .012 on exhaust