I picked up an older mower from a friend and am having trouble getting it to stay running. If I pull the plug and hit it with some straight gas it will often start and run for 2-3 seconds - so I'm assuming I have adequate spark. I have yet to get it to run using the primer. I'm used to the Lawnboy 2 cycle primer feel and I have no clue if this engine should have that same feel (creating a vacuum feel when you prime the lawnboy). It doesn't have much of any feel at all when I push the primer. Anyways - beyond that I have pulled the head. The piston and valves are moving normally. I have pulled apart the carb and cleaned it. I have pulled the top end off and sandpapered the ignition coil and flywheel. The engine says it's a 143.986700 (model) from 1998. I'm guessing it's a tecumseh engine as I've worked with Briggs engines a little bit and this doesn't look like one (But I'm not certain).

Questions:

What should the ignition coil gap be for this engine?

Any clue of what I should be checking to try to get this guy running? Thanks

Eric