[1811woody]

This is a update to an older post but it will give the people who are interested some background. I finally got the time and ambition to tear into the i872 earlier this winter to figure out what was going on with the spark. What I found amazed me that the m18 was running at all and the old girl wasn't spitting parts as she ran. My first findings were there was only one engine bolt holding the engine to the engine plate, The drive shaft was worn on both ends and of course the bearings were both shot. I preceded to pull the motor, I removed the engine shrouds and found one of the head bolts were backed out and there were enough loose head bolts that I was surprised there was not a blown head gasket. On to the fly wheel cover, I removed it and there was the problem plain as day. The gap for the ignition module was at least 1/8 to 1/4 inch gap on one side and 1/2 to 3/4 inch on the other. What was even more puzzling was the fact the bolts were tight and there no signs the module had been hit and forced to that position who knows how it ended up that way. I reset the gap, checked the spark it was a good blue. I did some degreasing in the engine bay made a couple of notches on the engine mounting plate to get around a few tight spots I then set the motor in. I ordered a new drive shaft and bearings, new rag joints, new center lock nuts put her back together. I greased all grease zerts and lubricated all the moving linkages and reinstalled the oem fuel pump and the new engine shrouds. Wala she starts and runs like a new tractor. It sometime surprises me I just tap the key and she fires up what a good ol girl.