coil versus magneto

[joeyoder1]

I have 16 horse toro/wheel horse riding mower I had given to me. It had been settin outside for a couple years. After cleaning it up and general tuneup it started with fresh gas. I used it for maybe 15 minutes and it stops. So i start it again. and same thing only sooner. After a couple rounds of this and checking and or replacing a lot of things it gets to where it won't start if it is hot. With the spark being very weak i have come to the conclusion that it needs a new coil/magneto. Well I called it a magneto and m friend calls it a coil. any suggestions and is this somethng you would ship to michigan. Do you take credit card?
   Thanks for your time and God Bless

[Superiorpower]

This does sound like it may be the ignition coil.  And yes, I would be willing to ship it to Michigan.  I'll get you a price on it but for now, could I get the following information from you regarding the engine: Model (like 402400), type/code (like 0123 A1), and serial # (should consistent of approximately 7-9 characters).  The rest of the details we'll work out.

Now, regarding Coil VS. Magneto, here is the basic jest of it as I understand it.  There may be a different definition of it somewhere else on the internet, but again, this is my take.  Coil generally refers to a component of the ignition system.  In today's engines there typically is no more to it than a coil and a flywheel with a magnetic field.  So calling it a coil is both acceptable and proper, however, it is not the only proper name.

Magneto in a broader sense can mean can mean the magneto type of ignition system.  "Magneto" is just one of two types of ignition systems.  The second ignition system is battery/electronic ignition which almost invariably the type of ignition system used on Automotive engines and requires a battery to operate.  The electronic system was used occasionally on some older power equipment with engines made by companies like Kohler. 

It is not uncommon for "old timers" or people who are used to working on older engines to think of a "magneto" as the large wholly self contained, but serviceable, ignition system that was bolted to the side of an engine, was timed to the engine, and contained points condenser, coil, along with the magnetic field system that is used to create spark in conjunction with the rest of the ignition components.  This type of system was seldom used on engines smaller than at least 2 or 4 cylinders.  To my knowledge, one of the primary exceptions to this would be the older large, bulky, cast iron Wisconsin engine series.  So in that context, your part would not be a "magneto".  However, we are almost out of the era when anyone even knows that those exist or how to even work on one.  Magneto is not necessarily the most common name for this particular component, but its also not necessarily improper.

Magneto ignition can be "solid state" (which is the case with this particular system) or it can be points and condenser.  Almost invariably, at least to my knowledge, all the current production ignition systems on lawn mower engines, and other power equipment, will be the solid state magneto type ignition. 

So, a recap; coil is the more common name but other names include magneto, ignition module, ignition coil, etc......