How to check for spark

[nctacoma]

Total newbie question,

I have an older 346xp and it was running fine all morning, went to gas it up and now it won't start, doesn't even feel like it is catching at all. How would I check for spark?  It smells like it is flooding so I let it sit, tried again, no luck.
Let it sit some more and took out the plug. It was all carboned up(this isn't good either I believe). Blew out the fuel with my compressor and reinstalled plug and no luck again.

Thoughts, ideas, suggestions?

Thanks

[LeeB]

did you clean the plug?

[dougand3]

Remove plug, re-boot, ground plug threads on cylinder fins, pull cord, look for spark. Helps to have darkened room, another hand to hold plug boot while it's grounded. I've used big wood clamp to hold plug threads on fins before with some success.

[luvmexfood]

I have a piece of wire around 12" long with alligator clips on each end. Use it a lot with my volt meter. I will clip one end on the threads and the other to the fins for my ground. Frees up both hands and works great.

[bandmiller2]

It seems once a plug is wet with the crappy gas we have now their useless, I just put in a new one. Sparks with the new ignitions are very hard to see, not the big blue sparks of old. Frank C.

[LeeB]

I have a screw driver lost out by my shop somewhere from trying to check the spark on my 4 wheeler. Let's just say it had plenty. 

[sawguy21]

 :D If you are not careful a good spark will really grab your undivided attention.

[celliott]

nctacoma, where in Vermont are you located? If you're nearby to me, I'd be willing to help you firsthand.

Otherwise, as others have said, ground plug on the cylinder. Check all the wires, take the recoil cover off and check the wires and ground to the coil. Check the coil gap. Coils do go bad. Wires get rubbed through and ground out on the case.

2-strokes need 3 basic things to run, spark, fuel and compression. Sounds like you got fuel. Maybe do a comp check too. But check the electric things first.

[7sleeper]

As someone in another forum just recently mentioned, just hold your tongue to the plug and let your wife pull the cord....

;)

Naw don't do that.

7

[luvmexfood]

I have a screw driver lost out by my shop somewhere from trying to check the spark on my 4 wheeler. Let's just say it had plenty. 

*LeeB  Guess we could call you Sparky. :D

[LeeB]

I thought surely the plastic handle would be enough.

[JohnG28]

Lee, I would probably have made the same assumption,  except I learned the same on 110v house wiring some years back. Handle doesn't insulate enough I guess.  Good morning!  :D

[trapper]

I melted the tip on a good sized screwdriver trying to discharge a capicator with out unpluging the 36 volt forklift battery :embarassed:

[nctacoma]

Thanks for all the replies. I let it sit for the night, blew everything clean with compressor, jiggled a few wires, put plug back in and it fired up first pull(it never catches on first pull).
So next question,  what would be the proper way to adjust the carb settings. I moved them slightly and want to make sure they are properly adjusted.   The chain now is moving on its own when sitting at idle and I believe that is a low speed adjustment. I want to get this running top notch because I really like the saw when it is actually working well

[dougand3]

The chain moving is probably the Idle / TAS screw too high / too far in. Rotate it out (CCW) 1/8 turn and see, another 1/8 turn and see, etc. The other 2 screws are Low and High mix. If it's running well - I wouldn't alter them. Lots of good videos on tuning on youtube.