Question on craftman riding mower

Ken are you getting any spark at the plugs ?
If not remove air housing to expose fly wheel and spark coil there is a ground wire going to coil, unplug it to see if you get spark now if not you need a new spark coil.

the small wire that goes to the coil is the kill switch wire grounding terminal kills the engine if you remove that wire and you get spark the problem is the wiring if still no spark replace the coil

i can keep up with all the coils some need to be grounded out to get spark

sounds like you might have a bad coil

Does the mower have spark to the plug? Remove the spark plug & reinstall into spark plug wire. Next you will need to get spark plug electrode next to a metal object on the mower engine & pull the cord & see if there is a spark-(do not hold onto the plug with your hand when doing this as you will get a jolt if there is a spark)-if there is no spark then chances are that your flywheel is rusted where coil gets its signal from or you have a bad coil itself. If there is spark are you getting gas to engine? Try a small amount of starting fluid sprayed into carb filter & see if it will run, if so could be a blockage in screw that holds carb bowl on-(has a small hole in the very bottom)-and bowl probably has sediment in it also. Be careful when removing carb bowl & in most cases seal can be re-used.

The condensor and negative coil wire both attach to the contact points. When the points are closed the ignition coil charges ( sota speak) and when the points open, the coil discharges a spark to the spark plug. The condensor is an electrical "shock absorber", it smooths out electrical spikes.
Good luck, make sure the point gap is correct.
Regards,

Not so many reasons she won't start. 4-Strokes are Simple!

Here they are:

Motor:
Fuel Tank-> Fuel Line-> Fuel Filter-> Carb-> Intake (Valve)-> Piston-> Exhaust (Valve)-> Muffler

Carb (Old Style):
Fuel Side:
Fuel Bowl-> Float-> Needle Seat-> Fuel Ports (Venturi)
Air Side:
Air Filter-> Carb Air Intake-> Butterflies (2)
(Clean 'em ALL!)

Hardware (Motor):
Rotor (Magnets)-> Magneto (Ignition Coil)-> Spark Plug Wire-> Spark Plug-> Cylinder Head (Spark Plug Ground)

Ignition:
Kill Switches (Seat, Clutch, etc.)-> Spark Plug/Ignition Coil-> Ground
Key Ignition-> Battery->Starter/Generator

If one of those fail.......= Non-Starting 4-Stroke!

Fixes-
Fuel:
You are either getting too much, or too little. Too much = Carb.
Too little = Carb. Therefore, tear down the Carb (COMPLETELY-Careful!) and clean it up.

Electrical:
Grounding out the System (Kill Switches)
Battery-> Ignition-> Starter.
Magneto->Plug Wire->Plug (Check 'em all!)

Hello Momtexas1:

>>Remove the Spark Plugs and Wrap the Threaded Section of the Plug with Wire, then Attach the Other End of the Wire to the Engine Block.
>>**First Make Sure the Plastic End that Snaps to the Plug is Allowing Current to the Plug. Use a Test Light or Multimeter and Check for Fire Behind this Connector (through the Large Rubber like Coil Lead to Plug) for Fire to the Plug whenever there is No Fire to the Plug.**
>>Once you are Sure the Coil Lead and Ends to the Plug are Not the Reason for No Fire to the Plug, then with the Plug Still Wired to the Engine and the Coil Lead Attached to the Plug; Remove the Coil Shut Off Wire at the Shut Off Switch.
>>Check for Fire. If No Fire, then Remove the Cut Off Wire from the Coil (removal of the blower housing required) and Check for Fire.
>>If the Spark Plugs are Firing with the Plugs Out and Properly Grounded to the Engine, then Replace the Plugs and Start the Engine.
>>Using an Insulated Plug Wire Puller, Pull the Plug Wire from 1 Cylinder. If the Engine Continuse to Run, then Replace the Plug Wire and Disconnect the Other Plug Wire. If the Engine Quits, then Replace the Other Cylinders Coil.
Send me the Model and Type or Spec Numbers Off the Engine and the Mower Model Numbers, Please. With these I can Locate the Proper Manual and Better Assist you. The Engine Model Numbers May be Stamped Into the Blower Housing (metal engine cover) Above the Spark Plug. The Mower Model Numbers are Usually Located Under the Seat on a Sticker on the Body of the Mower.
>>Thanks.

Respectfully

John

Unplug all wires to the coil if no spark it is a bad coil . the wire is used to ground out and kill eng.
coil part # 398811 $41.55
No voltage goes to coil .and it will kill if it does .
good luck