SA200 Lincoln Welder: WHAT TO DO IF YOUR ENGINE WON'T START.
- Larry Gruner
- Sep 22, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 24, 2025
“I am, as I've said, merely competent. But in an age of incompetence, that makes me extraordinary: Billy Joel
Engine Won’t Start? Start Here.
Step 1: Do You Have Fuel and Spark?
For the engine to run, you must have fuel and an ignition spark.
Step 2: Check the Battery
Before we begin, you need a good, hot battery. We'll check voltage later, if it spins the engine fast, so much the better.
If you have any doubts about your battery, jump it to another good one:(positive to positive/negative to negative). You should have plenty of power for now.
QUICK TEST:
Turn the ignition switch OFF.
Spin the starter for 30 seconds.
The starter should not slow down or bog down.
Feel the starter — it should be warm, not hot.
If it’s hot, it’s weak and/or dying. Not enough spin = no start.
(The #1 cause of starter failure is weak batteries.) REPLACE IT!
Cheap and easy ignition check.
1. Remove the air cleaner.
2. Ensure your ignition switch is in the "ON" position.
3. Spray a short burst of starter fluid into the carburetor intake. Less is better!
4. Spin the starter; if the motor "hits" and tries to start. You have a good spark. You need to address the fuel/carburetor condition.
A Cheap and Dirty Way to Confirm Good Spark & Simple and Easy
Remove all your spark plugs. (It takes the stress off your starter)
Are they wet or smell like gasoline? If so you are getting fuel into the cylinders.
If the plugs are dry, STOP it's time to look at the fuel system
Clean a spot on the exhaust manifold using a wire brush to make a shiny metal surface.
Lay the plugs in the order you removed them so that you can replace them correctly.
Insert a #6 Phillips screwdriver into each spark plug wire — one at a time.
Have someone spin the engine while you hold the screwdriver shaft near the cleaned spot on the manifold.
You should see a bright blue spark (not white, yellow, or green) jump to the metal, with a sharp popping sound.
No spark or weak spark?You have a failure. Stop here until you fix your ignition problem.
Plug wires—if they are corroded, replace them; your time is more valuable.
Magnetos; Open it up,
Spark is Good — Now What?
Reinstall the spark plugs.(If you're unsure about their condition, replace them. They’re cheap and not worth gambling on.)
Check for fuel leaks:
Is there gasoline in the tank?
Look at the fuel sediment bowl the glass
should clear with no debris. Any doubt open it up
and clean it out. Open the valve and make sure
you have a stedy stree of gasoline
flowing from the tank.
Remove the fuel line and make sure you have gasoline flowing out
the line.
Is gasoline leaking out of the intake side of the carburetor?
You may need to remove the air cleaner to inspect.
Turn off the fuel at the tank.
Remove the fuel line going into the carburetor.
Run about a pint of gasoline into a glass jar.
It should be clear — not murky.
If you have doubts about the fuel:
Drain the tank.
Refill with fresh gasoline.
Clean the bottom of the tank using a clean cloth.
Leave a little gas in and reach in (or have someone with a smaller arm) through the filler neck to wipe it out.
Don’t be surprised by what you find.
Once you’ve confirmed clean and consistent fuel flow to the carburetor, it’s time to check the carb itself.
Is It a Carburetor Problem?
Does gasoline spurt out the intake when the engine spins?→ If so, replace the carburetor.
I don’t rebuild most carbs. It’s too labor-intensive, parts are expensive (if you can even find them). Just buy a new one with a warranty.
Still want to rebuild it?→ Wait until you have a replacement in hand first.
Comments