John Deere Kawasaki engine no spark, help please.

I have a GX1320X with a FC420v-AS11 engine. It started fine last fall but towards the end would only run until it got hot and then would shut down and not restart until it was cool again.
Now it won't start at all and doesn't have any spark. I have replaced the keyed switch, checked the operator present switch, cleaned the flywheel and ignition coil, they were rusty and even tried disconnecting the white wire from the coil but nothing produces any spark. (I did replace the spark plug and the wire from the coil looks good) There is some switch for the "in-gear" safety but I have no idea where it is, inside somewhere.
I can't find my engine listed on any of the parts sites, does this mean you HAVE to go through John Deere? (Does anyone have a manual or parts list?)
Is there any way to make sure what part is not working before I have to replace something expensive that works?
I appreciate your time!
Thanks.

 

Does the white wire from the coil plug into an igniter on the side of the engine, or does it go straight to the wiring harness? If it goes straight to the harness, and unplugging it from the coil does not allow spark even with a brand new plug with the plug touching ground and the proper air gap, then the coil is bad.

 

I don't know what an igniter is, there is a white wire coming up from underneath the mower deck and it plugs into the side of the coil. There are wires going under the flywheel which seem to be part of the same circuit. There is then a single wire that goes from the coil to the spark plug. These are the only two wires around the coil.
If you have a diagram showing an ignitor I could see if there is one like it on my machine. This is a pull start mower, no battery but it does have a key.
Thanks.

 

Fishdude;
If you will send me a personal message with your email address I can send you the workshop manual that covers your engine. Have a good one. Geo

 

What is the difference in coil numbers. I assume there is one as the prices are different. My engine says that it is a FC420V-AS11. I can't find anything on line in the online stores that gives parts numbers for the AS11. Are they interchangeable?
I did check mine with a meter and it is out of spec. I would liek to order it and an igniter at the same time and be done but I would hate to get the wrong part.
Thanks!

KAWASAKI 21121-022 COIL IGNITION

GENUINE KAWASAKI 21121-022 COIL IGNITION

Internet Price: $56.95




KAWASAKI 21121-025 COIL IGNITION

GENUINE KAWASAKI 21121-025 COIL IGNITION

Internet Price: $43.95




KAWASAKI 21121-029 COIL IGNITION

GENUINE KAWASAKI 21121-029 COIL IGNITION

Internet Price: $31.95




KAWASAKI 21121-030 COIL IGNITION

GENUINE KAWASAKI 21121-030 COIL IGNITION

Internet Price: $56.95




KAWASAKI 21121-031 COIL IGNITION

GENUINE KAWASAKI 21121-031 COIL IGNITION

Internet Price: $56.95




KAWASAKI 21121-032 COIL IGNITION

GENUINE KAWASAKI 21121-032 COIL IGNITION

Internet Price: $122.95




KAWASAKI 21121-037 COIL IGNITION

GENUINE KAWASAKI 21121-037 COIL IGNITION

Internet Price: $37.95




KAWASAKI 21121-039 COIL-IGNITION

GENUINE KAWASAKI 21121-039 COIL-IGNITION

Internet Price: $153.95




KAWASAKI 21121-042 COIL-IGNITION

GENUINE KAWASAKI 21121-042 COIL-IGNITION

Internet Price: $102.95




KAWASAKI 21121-043 COIL-IGNITION

GENUINE KAWASAKI 21121-043 COIL-IGNITION

Internet Price: $120.95

 

Have you tried calling a John Deere dealer and asking for the part numbers and prices? They can look it up and tell you exactly which you need. John Deere parts aren't always the easiest thing to look up online.

 

I think I am a step closer. My brother is a mechanic and I was by his place and he was throwing away a John Deere lawnmower that has an engine almost identical to mine. I immediately saw the ignitor on this engine. Mine doesn;t have one. I then found a site that sells an ignition coil with a built in ignitor. It doesn;t list my engine as being compatable but I sent an emial to the site to ask if it was. I am guessing it is, if not I will grab the other engine off the mower my brother is tossing and see if it works.
Thanks for all the help.

 

Ok, if yours doesn't have the igniter, then unplug the kill wire from the coil and test for spark again. If still no spark, the coil is bad.

 

Aaaarggggg!
I called John Deere, got their coil they said was correct and replaced it and still no spark with the white wire connected or disconnected. I still can't find an igniter.
Any ideas are certainly welcome!
Thanks!

 

If it has no igniter, and the kill wire is unplugged from the coil, and there is still no spark, then either the coil gap is incorrect, the coil is upside down, the flywheel magnets are not strong enough (never seen this before), the engine is turning too slowly, the plug is bad, or the testing procedure is bad. Are you grounding the plug when checking for spark?

 

I have it set on top of the engine contacting metal but it is manual start so I don't have a lot of pressure on it. I am going to get an inline spark plug tester tomorrow.
How do you know which side is up? I don't think you can install it upside down, the wire coming off it is pointing the same direction as the one I replaced.
It could be I am pulling too slow as I was trying to watch at the same time I pull, I guess I'll have to wait till I get the tester, I will regap the coil too, I just used a business card, it was hard to pull out once tighteded (on both sides). Is that too tight?
Thanks for your help!

 

Yep, that is too tight. It should not contact the flywheel at all.

 

YouTube - Lawn Mower Repair Ignition Coil Test

 

Hello, would you mind sending me the workshop manual too? I just acquired a John Deere 14HP Commercial Mower and it to doesn't have spark. My email address is fpequip@hotmail.com.

Thank you so much!