Stihl MS181 ignition coil

[spandit]

Chainsaw wouldn't run today (quite often have trouble starting it) and eventually concluded that I wasn't getting a spark (took the recoil starter off and spun the flywheel with a drill - getting nothing from the spark plug (and tried with a car spark plug). Is the coil pack a common failure? I checked it had earth continuity and the cut off wire was disconnected.

 

Anyone know if the coil from the MS180 will fit?

Edited May 17, 2017 by spandit

[EricBradley]

Coils on these 171 181 and 211 are all the same and they do suffer from failure more than any other series of saw I know of. MS180 coil wont fit.

[bmp01]

MS180 coil part no. 1130 400 1302

 

MS181 coil part no. 1139 400 1307

 

according to L and S engineering

 

That will explain why the freebie box of bits MS171 came to me with 2 coils in the box then.

 

bmp01

[bmp01]

Coils on these 171 181 and 211 are all the same and they do suffer from failure more than any other series of saw I know of. MS180 coil wont fit.

 

Anything to do with the PITA smaller spark plug do you think? Resistance measures different (from new) compared to the old faithful plugs, can't remember which way, just different.

 

bmp01

[spandit]

Coils on these 171 181 and 211 are all the same and they do suffer from failure more than any other series of saw I know of. MS180 coil wont fit.

 

Thanks for that. I'll order the specific model then (shame - they're more expensive)

[bmp01]

Presume you've checked the coil air gap. ...

[spandit]

It's not adjustable from what I can see

[bmp01]

Sure it is, but no promises it'll help...

Loosen the 2 coil screws, the holes in the coil are slotted, so now the coil can be moved closer / further from the flywheel. Gap should be set to approx 10 thou at the magnet, that will be where the coil gets sucked onto the flywheel. A business card is the typical tool of choice....

probably make no difference but worth trying for the effort it takes.

[spandit]

B*gger. Bought a replacement coil and it doesn't fit.

[spandit]

The original has a plastic spacer, much like the MS180 coil (the decal on the side of the saw definitely says MS181) and the part number printed on the side of the original coil doesn't seem to exist (1139 1302 A MC1139 LF013 X). Good job I paid with PayPal as I should get my money back but it doesn't get my chainsaw working again...