Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): No Spark, snapper lawn mower, maintenance mechanic

Question
My girlfriend has an older Snapper lawn mower that is getting no spark to the spark plug. I am a maintenance mechanic, but I am not a two cycle small engine repair mech. So I need your help in what to look for and what else to check for why the plug has no spark.

Answer
Depending on the age of the mower, it may have a points and condensor ignition.  If so, it's likely they need to be replaced.  If it is electronic ignition (newer than 1980), you need to remove all of the shutoff leads to the engine and check for spark again.  If you now have spark, there may be an issue with one of the safety switches (seat) or the key switch.  If you still have no spark, you need to verify there is a 0.010" gap between the module and the flywheel magnets.  If you still have no spark, the ignition module will need to be replaced.  Unfortunately, the electronic ignition module cannot be tested like a regular coil.  Hope this helps.