So, I think I finally have a decent spark. The problem was that the coil mounts on two bolts into the engine. Even with the correct thickness feeler gauge between the flywheel and the coil, when tightening one bolt before the other, the coil moves in the adjustment slots so the gap at one end of the coil is too wide and the gap at the other is too narrow, resulting in no spark or, in my case, a weak one. With that resolved, I moved on the adjusting the valves per hammermechanic man's suggestion.
I found the valves to be a little loose and had to close the gap a little to the 0.005" specs. Unfortunately, the engine still won't start. While turning the flywheel slowly by hand, I noticed some clicking noises in the engine that seemed unusual. I have done nothing that I know of to mess with the timing and think it's still ok but it is acting like it is out of timing. The "S" on the flywheel magnet is at the right side of the coil at the top of the compression stroke and both valves are closed. On the power stroke, the exhaust valve starts to open just before 6:00 o'clock at the bottom of the stroke but the intake valve opens slightly starting at about 4:00 but closes again a little after 6:00. It seems strange that the intake valve would open at all during the power stroke as that would blow back through the carb.
On the exhaust stroke, the exhaust valve starts to close at 10:00 with a noticeable "click" sound and the intake valve is fully closed.
On the intake stroke, the intake valve starts to open at 12:00 TDC but the exhaust valve is not fully closed until 2:00. Just before 6:00 or at the bottom of the stroke, the intake valve starts to close but also with a noticeable "click".
On the compression stroke, the intake valve is fully closed at 9:00 but the exhaust valve opens slightly starting at about 9:00 and closes again at 11:00 with a "click". Why would the exhaust valve open at all during the compression stroke. Is this a designed unloader to reduce compression to more easily start the engine?
At those spots where the intake and exhaust valves open momentarily, if I hand turn the flywheel back and forth, the clicking gets louder and if I press down on the rocker arm while doing that, it feels like the pushrod is falling into a depression or a small raised bump on the cam, I can't tell which. Also, at those spots, sometimes but not always, as I slowly move the flywheel, the valve will slam shut with a more pronounced "clack" sound.
All these internal noises concern me but they may be normal if they are from the compression unloading mechanism. And, the opening of the intake and exhaust valves seem to overlap each other. But that would be in the design of the cam and not anything you could adjust. More importantly, the engine will not start. I'm anxious for some reply with suggestions on how to proceed from here to get this blower running. Anyone with ideas, please let me know.
Thanks..........Glen