Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): small B&S mower engine wont start, magneto, corrosion

Question
Bot cheapest small WalMart mower for camp last summer ('03). Ran well, sat over winter, now won't start. Not even a burp. Gas is apparently getting to chamber, but no visible spark when I hold wire close to plug terminal and crank. Removed kill wire, still no spark. Magneto looks okay--everything's molded into a single piece. Do these things fail from just sitting? Should I be able to see spark if magneto is working? Help and thank you. What was 'sposed to be cheap is getting costly.

Answer
Did you remove the kill wire from the ignition module?
If you remove the wire from the ignition module and have no spark then the coil is bad.  I would remove the coil and clean an corrosion on the mounting holes...this is the ground for the module.
Let me know what you find.
Eric