350 thru 750 Series Spark Tester

[lesorubcheek]

Do ya have a 350/360, 450, 550, 650 or 750 with its 2 piece CD ignition system and ever wonder how the heck to check for a spark Well, here's a simple solution straight from the Homelite manual. All you'll need are a few pieces of insulated wire, a few alligator clips and a few simple electical connectors. Here's a pic of what an assembly I made up looks like.



Had to "tweak" the clips just a bit to get them to attach properly, but nothing really hard to do.

To test the spark, simply remove the transformer and the spark plug and connect the wires as shown below.



Here's a pic showing a little better at the transformer end. Stick the plug into the transformer so it contacts the internal spring. One of the alligator clips that's connected to ground needs to clamp onto the spark plug metal base.




Here shows a little closeup of the connection at the saw. Be careful not to let any uninsulated pieces short on each other.



Again, had to be just a bit creative with the alligator clip here to get it to attach and stay on the receptacle, but it works fine.

Turn on the ignition switch and pull away. If ya see spark on the plug then there's a good chance the module and transformer are A-OK.

Dan

[RBW]

Dan thats awesome!!!!



I will get good use out of this as Im often being asked how to test these saws for spark and while I know what I do, its sometimes hard to relate my ideas to others.


Thanks for posting this!!!



.

[topgut]

Thanks for the post Dan. I recently picked up a Homelite part that does the same thing without the wires.

I would like to post a picture but I don't know how to make the picture show on the site other than an attachment. Any suggestions on how to have the pic show up when signed on?

[chainsawwhisperer]

Topgut, To post a pic, click 'Browse' which is right below the
emoticons (smilies). Go to 'my pics' or where ever you have your pics on your computer. Double click on the chosen pic, you will then be back at the 'reply' board, with the picture URL in the 'browse' window which is to the left of the 'browse' button.
On the right of the 'browse' button is the ' Host It' button, click that.
The Image Shack Upload window will appear, wait for the pic to load. When the pic is done loading an 'Upload Successful' window will appear.
Click the dot to the left of the top URL (full image URL).
Scroll down to the bottom of that window, on the left side there is an "Add to Post' button, click that.
You will then be back to the 'reply' board, with your pic URL in your post. That URL should open automatically when the post is viewed.
One word of caution, The pic will be inserted where the cursor stopped, Beginning of the post, mid sentence, Etc.
With one pic it isn't a big deal to cut and paste the pic were you want it, with multiple pics they run together and it's hard to separate them (confusing)
Most of the time I hit the enter key once to ensure that the proper spacing is maintained. Good luck! CSW

[lesorubcheek]

When I post pics, I first size 'em using photoshop. If its inside a small post, I might do like a 4x6. If the desire is to have a larger pic for people to see, then it may be 8x10 or so. Usually, I then upload to photobucket, copy the tagged link for the image and then paste it into the post where it should be.

Dan

[topgut]

Thanks guys I'll give it a try when I have more time

[jimmyjack63]

I do not know what I am doing to post a message but, I give it a shot here. I have a 360 which I bought new. It died from lack of spark and I installed a transformer from another saw I had laying around. The saw came to life and ran very well for about a half dozen times and gave up once again. I found a place wich offered "good used and tested" transformers and a coil. However I tested for spark as you also show but, there is no spark. Is ther a way to us a multimeter to check out the coils? Also the transformers? I now have 4 transformers and two coils on hand that seem to be usless. My saw is in good condition other than no spark.
Also, would it be possible to install a Atom ignition setup in the saw? I know the parts needed are sky high if, they can be found.

[lesorubcheek]

Hi jimmyjack and welcome!
The transformer (part covering the plug on the outside of the saw) can be checked out with a meter, but don't know a way to test the module (attached next to the flywheel) other than with a known good transformer connected with it. There's also a Homelite tester that connects to the module in place of the transformer, but if you don't have one, they're hard to find. Somewhere either here on HoH or over at Arboristsite, I've posted some pics showing a typical meter reading of one of these transformers. Try a little searching and if you can't find 'em let me know and I'll repost 'em here.

You may want to try to eliminate the kill switch as a possible cause also by disconnecting it. If it or a wire is shorted to ground, it'll kill the spark.

Another thing is to make sure there's a good ground for the transformer. The receptacle where the transformer screws in has two metal tabs. One of the tabs (I think its the left one as you're facing from the rear of the saw) is a ground. The other is the pulse from the trigger module. The ground side simply touches the metal on the backplate for its grounding. You may need to pull out the receptacle and clean the contact faces well on the plate and the receptacle to get a good ground.

Dan

[925fetish]

I skip all that and use a 11.00 dollar inductive spark tester

[leec12]

Does anyone know where the 35sl comes in the 350-360 saw range. Ie first middle , or last in production. I understand that the 35 has a one piece coil unlike the 350s and 360s. Size is the same and most parts are the same.

Thanks,

Lee

[lesorubcheek]

Not sure Lee, but think they were later in production. Reason is the ignition module is pretty much the same one used on 330s. Since 330s came out at the end of 360s lifetime, figure maybe Homelite tried to reduce the number of different parts between similar models. Actually, there aren't too many similarities between a 330 and a 360, but they are close in size. Again, just speculation since I've seen very little info on the 35SL.

Dan

[strtjoints]

I made a tester & it works great, Thanks

[buzz]

i hate photobucket it blocks out all the good pics.

[5terrysupersaws]

Dec 29, 2008 21:43:28 GMT -5 lesorubcheek said:

Do ya have a 350/360, 450, 550, 650 or 750 with its 2 piece CD ignition system and ever wonder how the heck to check for a spark Well, here's a simple solution straight from the Homelite manual. All you'll need are a few pieces of insulated wire, a few alligator clips and a few simple electical connectors. Here's a pic of what an assembly I made up looks like.



Had to "tweak" the clips just a bit to get them to attach properly, but nothing really hard to do.

To test the spark, simply remove the transformer and the spark plug and connect the wires as shown below.



Here's a pic showing a little better at the transformer end. Stick the plug into the transformer so it contacts the internal spring. One of the alligator clips that's connected to ground needs to clamp onto the spark plug metal base.




Here shows a little closeup of the connection at the saw. Be careful not to let any uninsulated pieces short on each other.



Again, had to be just a bit creative with the alligator clip here to get it to attach and stay on the receptacle, but it works fine.

Turn on the ignition switch and pull away. If ya see spark on the plug then there's a good chance the module and transformer are A-OK.

Dan

Found this on how to check for spark on a 360 without a C-D Test Lamp.