How to replace a lawn mower ignition coil on a flathead engine

Wear work gloves to protect your hands.

Disconnect the spark wire so there's no chance that the mower could accidentally start.

Remove the starter rope from the rope guide. If the rope won't slip past the guide and the handle, loosen the guide.

Remove the screws securing the engine cover to the engine. Slide the rope through the hole in the engine cover. 

Remove the screws that secure the fuel tank to the engine. Lift the tank off, being careful to keep the fuel tank upright so it doesn't not leak.

Remove the screw that secures the dipstick tube to the housing. Remove the dipstick from the engine and plug the hole with a paper towel to keep debris from falling into the engine. 

Remove the bolts securing the blower housing to the engine and remove the housing from the engine. 

Turn the flywheel so the magnet is pointing away from the ignition coil.

Remove the screws from the ignition coil.

Lift the ignition coil up and disconnect the kill wire. 

Connect the kill wire to the new ignition coil.

Place the new ignition coil onto the engine. Install the two bolts leaving them loose. Pull the coil away from the engine.

While holding the feeler gauge in between the coil and flywheel, allow the magnet to pull the coil against the feeler gauge. Tighten the mounting screws.  

Position the engine blower housing on the engine and bolt it into place.

Remove the paper towel from the dipstick opening, slide the dipstick into the engine and secure it with the screw.

Feed the starter rope handle through the engine cover up to the rope guide.

Reinstall the fuel tank.

Position the engine cover on the engine and screw it into place. 

Attach the spark plug wire and make sure the mower works properly.