Have a old Bolens rideamatic which will not start. Tried three different coils which all seem good. Will light a test light and zap you if you hold the wire. No spark at points. The points are new. Seems to me something is grounded or could it be the condenser. This is a rope start 6 horse kohler.

What type spark do you expect at the points? They are after all supplying ground to the primary side of the coil.
If the condenser, (capacitor), is shorted it is continuously placing ground and thus will not work. KennyV