Hello, and thanks for any help. I have a ride on model 2113. It's a 2000 which I have owned for 10 years. It started billowing smoke about a month ago and now will not fire even with starting fluid (I know how everyone hates starting fluid). I replaced the head gasket and bought a new battery and reconditioned the starter (and it cranks the hell out of the lifeless engine), took apart the carb, cleaned thoroughly and replaced gaskets. I checked the plug wire with a multimeter and it seems fine, adjusted/gapped the valves and starter coil to specs. After taking the flywheel off (and that is a pain), I saw the coils as in the attached picture. Some of the material has come off the one in the bottom of the pic. Can this be throwing off the timing or otherwise be causing the problem? I don't want to throw $50 at that just to see. Any help would be appreciated. It's not a safety switch because it turns over and fire is going to the plug. There is no combustion, however. The plug is good, I checked it and even bought a new one just in case. I'm thinking it is bad timing or the carb is bad despite cleaning it thoroughly (soaked in carb fluid, cleaned ports, etc.) Other than buy a new carb and see if that works I don't know what to do at this point.