QuestionI have a Briggs 243000 mod engine. It had the points & condenser ignition. The points plunger seal was leaking oil & flooding out points. Was getting no spark. I removed the point & condenser, plugged all the holes & installed a electronic module: part #398811. I rebuilt the carb, which I installed a new upper body on (could get a .002" feeler gauge to slide between the two housings). Started engine, but could only get it to run smooth in idle. I removed blower housing & found that I installed mag backwards. Installed a new mag, set gap at .010". now I get very little spark. Do I have to adjust the armature plate, for the new style mag? I know it has a timing mark to line up to flywheel. But now I have no points to apply a static timing light to find the edge gap. Have any ideas? Also, did I ruin the magnetic field polarities on the flywheel magnet; by installing the first mag backwards? If so, can I readjust the polarities?
Answerwhen you say you get very little spark, what is meaning of this? as a general rule of thumb, if you can get the spark to jump a wide gap on a plug, the spark is sufficient to run the engine.
You do need to adjust the armature air gap between the flywheel and the armature.
You did not do any damage to the flywheel magnets. Double check again and make sure that the mag is not upside down now. I don't believe an engine will run at all if the mag is on upside down.
The mag mounted upside down as you indicated will have nothing to do with the engine idling.
