Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): 1971 B & S engine, briggs and stratton, old briggs

Question
Hey there! I'm helping out a father of a friend who has some small projects dealing with engines and such.

He has this old Briggs and Stratton engine that we are trying to get running. I think it's a 1971 tiller engine, but i can't find out. Model F30902, Type 0178 02, Code 7103177. I've got some mechanical experience, studied Honda, Yamaha and BMW motorcycles, but its been a while since I've worked on anything.

It has no spark and I believe its from the ignition system being shot. Lots of the wires behind the ignition coil have broken jackets and such.

I was wondering if its possible to swap out the ignition coil and magnets from another small engine and put it on this one and if there is any way of getting a repair manual for the engine.

Answer
Just use a 1981 or new igntion module that will bolt to the engine.  All 81 and newer Briggs are electronic ignition moduels.  No need to swap the flywheel magnets.

Manuals are availbe all over the place...internet, Ebay, maybe even your local library.

Should only be about 3 wires running behind the flywheel.  One from the coil to the points and another one for the engine shut-off.  Seems I remember 3 wires on a couple of modules but can't think of what the third wire was for...must not have been that important.

FYI, tiller enignes are the hardest to get running if they were used a lot.  Dust and dirt eat the cylinder, piston, rings, valves, valve guides, carb butterfly shafts and the like.  I have spent many hours trying to get some old tillers running tip-top but have had few sucess unless there was a complete overhaul, bore, valve guides, rod and a brand new carb.  Can be very expensive these days.

Eric