This is an older JC Penny rototiller. It has an 8hp gas motor and I think it's a briggs & stratton.
There is no spark. It has a magneto. Does this mean it doesn't have points? I read a book that said I have to pull the flywheel off to get to the points. A guy that works at a small enging repair place told me that if it has a magneto, it would not have points. I have not been able to get the on way pull start attachment off of the shaft so I can try to pull the flywheel.
any ideas?
thanks,
Brian

Brian, October 2009

Take off the starter cover and sand the rust off the magnet, check the gap on the magneto it shoud be 0.01 or ten thousands, spark plug should be 0.30 or 30 thousands. If that doesn't work replace the magnetic they have new electronic type -vs- points type for the same price.

Rod, June 2011

If your Briggs motor is very old then it will indeed have contact breaker points, beneath the flywheel. The recoil driving dog serves as a flywheel nut, undo it the normal way to allow you to work on the flywheel. A large adjustable spanner will do this or you can tap the lugs round with a hammer. The flywheel may have 1/4 unc threaded holes to allow you to fit a puller to. When you get the flywheel off, the points are opened by a peg driven by a cam. Replace the points and condenser and set the gap at 15 thou.

John, October 2009