1450 backfire and timing issues PLEASE help!

[dsmithjr]

Ok I am about to go nuts.LONG POST WARNING. I bought a very clean 1450 with a hydraulic lift,headlights and a 50" deck two weeks ago. The PO had owned this tractor the last 15 years. 12 years ago He rebuilt the engine and used it very little and it mostly sat in the garage after he moved to a smaller yard. Before putting it up for sale he got it out and mowed with it several times. While up for sale it began to miss and run rough until it finally would only backfire out of the carb. He had messed with the carb and points until he gave up and reduced the price. I purchased it and all it would do is backfire out of the carb. I rebuilt the carb and installed a fuel filter because it didnt have one. Bought new factory Kohler points and used the static timing method to set them. The engine initially fired up but appeared to be flooding and only ran about 45sec to 1 minute. After that it ran less and less until it began backfiring out of the carb again to the point it blew fire out of the carb. I rolled it out in the dark and observed the points and noticed very intermittent and irregular fire. I went back to check the timing and it was off. I replaced the condenser and went through the process of static timing again but I can not get the same setting more than one time on the points using the static timing method. I am going to have someone more familiar with points check it but I am looking for suggestions from you engine gurus as I am just learning. Thanks Don