ok I looked at the READ THIS sticky, so... WHAT IS THE EQUIPMENT snowblower NAME BRAND OF YOUR EQUIPMENT MTD 317-181-000 NAME BRAND OF YOUR ENGINE no idea, trying to find this out WHAT MODEL NUMBER IS YOUR ENGINE no idea, trying to find this out CLEAR DESCRIPTION OF WHAT IT IS DOING, WHAT IT DID PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM, AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO TROUBLESHOOT IT SO FAR. ok, this part I have in detail. carb is missing an air cleaner, carb bowl leaks, dries out, get crud in it. cannot find info about the engine to determine what parts to get. following info I have been able to find model date 317-181-000 J036B MTD snowblower engine on shroud 1627M 6268 (google shows nothing) stamped on the carbuerator body 1064 J6T (google shows nothing) stamped on carburetor bowl: lauson power products (website found, apears to be a tecumseh only supplier) grafton, wis made in usa Lauson power website has no contact info to confirm this is a tecumseh engine. mostly links to tecumseh site. tecumseh site is about as bad. THIS is what happens when you fire the high paid website developer and get the teen who thinks he knows HTML. sheesh. MTD parts diagram lists "ENGINE" without any reference numbers. big help. only source that seems to be of any help is this forum. so I signed up and posted here.

I have a 25 year old Mighty Mac chipper with a 5 hp Briggs & Stratton small engine. I believe it has the Magnatron ignition, because I don't see any points. Can't get plug to spark. I have tried 3 new plugs, so not the plug. When I connect a spark plug tester light in line (without spark plug attached and grounded to engine), it lights up nice and bright, leading me to believe coil is fine. Take it off and connect spark plug wire directly to plug, no spark, either when grounded or installed. Lastly, when I connect tester light between spark plug wire and spark plug, and then ground the plug, tester does not light up, like it does if the spark plug is not attached. Any thoughts anyone? Many thanks in advance!