Understanding ignition coils (lawnmower)

Factual Questions
1

I’m posting to ask for assistance/knowledge/advice concerning the coil on my lawnmower. In an earlier thread (with more info), I purchased 2, different, new coils for my lawnmower (JohnDeere 130 from the late 1980s). I could not get either of them to work/spark for me. I ultimately put my old coil back on there.

What am I doing wrong that is keeping both/either of the new coils from working?

The coil mounts just outside the perimeter of the cooling-fan/flywheel. There is a small magnet on the perimeter of the cooling fan/flywheel.
Are the coils directional; i.e. do they care which direction the flywheel swings by them?
Are they location sensitive; i.e. do they have to be a specific distance away from the (magnet on the) flywheel?
Is this a magneto-type ignition?
There’s got to be a question that I’m failing to ask. What else am I over-looking?

Thanks in advance!

Informative links:
old coil sparking: https://photos.app.goo.gl/x7WgmDXjkpbDSMbMA
https://partscatalog.deere.com/jdrc/navigation/equipment/83249 (20 ENGINE (130))
https://partscatalog.deere.com/jdrc/sidebyside/equipment/83249/referrer/navigation/pgId/107507 (electrical system parts diagram)
p.s. I am replacing the coil because internet research has led me to conclude that the coil is failing when it gets hot. The mower starts when it’s cold, but won’t after it’s been used. e.g. When I stop to empty the bags or get another beer, the mower will not restart.

2

yes, because that is what controls the ignition timing.

yes, too close and they’ll scrape, too far and you won’t induce enough energy to create a spark. IIRC the rule of thumb is that you want about a business card’s thickness of distance between the flywheel and the pickup coil’s core.

Yep. which one are you changing? The pickup coil or the ignition coil? the pickup coil is at the flywheel, and the ignition coil is what connects to the spark plug.

3

Thank you, jz78817. I’m changing the ignition coil.

Installed, the body of that coil is ~ 1/2 inch away from the flywheel magnet. However, the legs of the metal framework that it’s mounted to sit about a business card’s width away from the magnet. Should I be concerned about the distance to these metal legs instead of the body?

4

The metal legs pick up the magnetic flux from the magnet mounted in the flywheel. They act as the core of a transformer does. Though the device is not actually a transformer of course.