Did you change the gas cap? They're usually vented and being clogged up will cause the engine to shut off

 

I tried running it with the cap cracked open and there was no difference. The tank has a small vent on it as well (independent of the cap).

 

When you say it runs for a while, 10 seconds or ten minutes ?

You need to check for spark when it dies. If it has spark after it dies, then it's likely it's not the coil. No spark, then it's the coil....

Plenty of vids on the tube on how to check for spark......

 

When you say it runs for a while, 10 seconds or ten minutes ?

You need to check for spark when it dies. If it has spark after it dies, then it's likely it's not the coil. No spark, then it's the coil....

Plenty of vids on the tube on how to check for spark......

It's about 5 minutes before it dies. And it does not restart until it "cools" for half an hour or more.

Will perform a spark check next time it happens.

Thanks.

 

I would...




That, and check the valve adjustments:
Too tight... heats up and holds valve open...motor dies...slightly open valve...no vacuum...no vac...no gas...plug stays dry...cools down...valve seats...motor starts...and cycle repeats !

 

I would...

That, and check the valve adjustments:
Too tight... heats up and holds valve open...motor dies...slightly open valve...no vacuum...no vac...no gas...plug stays dry...cools down...valve seats...motor starts...and cycle repeats !

Will do. I believe I did a valve adjustment at the beginning of the season on this one, but I can't recall.

 

Rebuilt carb and it started like it always has - one pull with choke on, one pull with choke at half. Put choke off after about 15 sec of running.

Ran for about 4 minutes and then just stopped again. Dead stop, not a weakening or slowdown. I felt a couple of hesitations while it was running.

Pulled the plug to check for spark and I'm not seeing any. I'm going to let it cool to see if I can see a spark then.

Thinking it's coil at this point. Not sure if it's worth replacement at $50-60, may just get a new inexpensive hand-held. I got a good run out of the machine, it's probably 16+ years old at this point.

 

One last thought...

Any chance a plug could be bad, stopping spark when it heats up? I have not changed out the plug yet.

 

You could try a new one occasionally could be something off thats not visible

If process of elimination leaves coil as only possibility its more likely a bad coil

 

if u need a cheap ignition coil shop ebay. they sell lots of good cheap parts.

 

Thanks. I've put the Shindaiwa aside for now in favor of a new handheld since the cost I saw for ignition coil was relatively high ($60). For what I use this for, I didn't think it was necessarily worth replacement when a new Husq handheld cost me $125. I may tinker with it over the cooler months if I can find an inexpensive coil replacement.

 

Plugsare cheap, start there.

 

I thought I had it with a new plug. Previously it was running for about 5 minutes before shutting off. Got all the way to 20 minutes or more and then just stopped dead. Assuming it's not the plug, likely the coil...

 

Just replace coil and be done with it. How old of machine is it. As they get older and ran hard the cylinder wears I've had weed eaters that would do the same thing. But you said when it died and you checked you had no spark I would suspect coil. Unless you have a bear wire somewhere. But it sounds pretty concise ant with run time when it shuts down