Re: old 55 hp wont fire
If it is battery ignition with alternator and coils on the side of the engine, then the blue wires (on the engine terminal board) connect to the positive terminals on the coils. You do not put power directly through the points. Negative coil terminals connect to their respective point set. While the points are closed, power flows through the respective coil, through the point set and to ground. A magnetic field builds up in the primary coil winding and passes through the secondary winding. When the points open, power stops flowing and the magnetic field rapidly collapses through the coil secondary windings. This generates about 10-14,000 volts in the secondary windings which is enough to jump the spark plug gap.
The condensers control the stopping of power and prevent arcing at the points. Shorted condensers will prevent spark.
The blue wire in the cable must connect to the blue terminal on the engine and the "I" terminal on the ignition switch.
Points should be set to .020 open at the high point of the cam.
If it is magneto ignition, with the coils under the flywheel, then the ignition is self contained and no power is applied to any ignition component. The two brown or black wires are the stop circuit and each is connected to an "M" terminal on the ignition switch.
