Briggs & stratton I have an older craftsman lawn tractor. 16Hp cast iron sleeves and flywheel, electronic ignition, no points, 24 yrs old. while using it went dead. no spark whatsoever, bought a new coil with electronic internal points, still no spark whatsoever. with coil wire disconected still no spark. sould the magnet in the flywheel be weak causing this issue? I am at a loss, all seems fine but no spark. I can hold the spark plug and get no shock at all.

The Spark timing is fixed. There is a "flywheel key" under the flywheel. If this key is sheared, even partly, your spark will be out of time. Replacing the "shear key" (flywheel key) restores the spark timing. Additionally the Ignition Coil has to be gapped properly.

Valve timing is totally different beast.

bad safty switch or shorting pto if pto replace it but i think one of your safty switches is bad

.003-.005 Intake
.005-.007 Exhaust

How old is the engine? Does it have electronic ignition or points? Check the engine stop wire where it attaches to the throttle control on the engine. Make sure it is not grounding out. Has the magneto been removed? That is the Y shaped part behind the flywheel, where the spak plug wire attaches. If the mag has benn removed, it needs to be re-adjusted. The correct gap is .020 of an inch, about the thickness of a matchbook. This gap is measured between the two legs of the mag and the flywheel. I hope this helps, good luck.

If you have no spark, check magneto, flywheel key, points, condenser.It also could be to much gap between magneto and flywheel.Have you checked to see if you are grounding out some where?

Need to know what model Older engines have points "under" the flywheel. Use a wheel puller to remove after removing the nut in the center of the flywheel. Newer motors have an electronic ignition module. Follow the small wire from the magnetio. If it goes under the flywheel then you have points. If it goes to a small device on side of motor, you have electronic. You can go to http://www.briggsandstratton.com/ and look up your odel number.

What is on the flywheel?
You can wash it off with water spray or clean with soapy water. Let engine cool down before cleaning it. Let it dry before running the engine.

sounds like the stator under the flywheel is bad that is what charges the battery

terry, check for kill line on motor to see if grounded out,you can remove from ground clip.
also you say you checked points??????
check for flywheel to coil pickup clearance .
point type coil to flywheel the airgap should be 25- 1000ths with feeler guage. on electronic ignition coil to flywheel pickup the air gap should be set @ 10-1000ths with feeler guage. hope this solves your problem..........lemmee kno.....chris

I have that manual. If you want, give me a postal address and I'll mail you a copy. Mac