Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Old B and S lawnmower, briggs and stratton, recoil starter

Question
Dear george, I have recently acquired a quite old (could be any thing from 10-25 years old)2HP Briggs and Stratton lawnmower,the Engine type and product number of which have been sadly lost' for the purposes of repairing it as a project.(when restored it will be later used as in go cart) When I got it it was in pretty bad shape, rusted, out of oil and full of stale gas and rotted grass. After remedying these problems I can now find no problems with the cylinder(it is 4 stroke) or the valves and the intake and exhaust are working properly. it is not seized up and all the motive parts move freely. However the spark plug fails to ignite. The spark plug looks new and undamaged so i fear that the device which provides the electricity for the spark is broken. As i know nothing about this part of the engine and cant seem to get at it(it appears to be sealed up and stuck down) I would appreciate any help you could give. My thanks if you could get back to me,
yours sincerely,
Fionntan Conway  

Answer
MR. CONWAY, TO GET TO THE IGNITION POINTS.  YOU MUST REMOVE THE FLYWHEEL.  REMOVE THE RECOIL STARTER ASSEMBLY IF IT HAS ONE AND SET ASIDE REMOVE THE LOCKING DEVICE IN THE CENTER.
NOW, USING TWO LARGE FLAT BLADE SCREW DRIVERS OR PY BARS
180 DEGREES APART FROM EACH OTHER PRY THE FLYWHEEL OFF THE SHAFT.  THE SHAFT IS TAPERED AND KEYED, BE CAREFUL SO AS
NOT TO DAMAGE THE FLYWHEEL.  NOW, WITH THE FLYWHEEL OFF YOU WILL SEE TWO 1/4" HEX HEAD MACHINE SCREWS REMOVE THESE AND REMOVE THE COVER THIS WILL REVEAL THE POINTS AND CONDENSOR
FOR THIS ENGINE.  REPLACEMENT PARTS CAN BE FOUND AT LOWE'S
WAL-MART OR HOME DEPOT.

A SIMPLE EMERY CLOTH CLEANING OF THE POINTS MAY DO THE TRICK FOR YOU THOUGH AS DIRT MIGHT HAVE BUILT UP ON THE SURFACES OVER THE YEARS.

I HOPE THIS HELPS,
GEORGE