OK guys, it's my time to complain.
i checked the beast and realized (after posting something I was not totally sure of) "The Beast" ...my 124, wasn't wired correctly.
Tonight, I switched the wires to the coil per manual.
Harness to pos+, points and condenser to neg -.
I can get it to fire when holding my hand over the carb....runs for a few, then shuts off.
Tried starting at normal start (I do 1.25 out for both screws) and it just wont start with or without choke. I kept adjusting the carb settings out more and more and tried everything.
it would only fire when the throttle was closed.
It would start, run alittle, then die. Puffing dark smoke the whole time.
So, i put it in the old computer... blacksmoke= too much fuel.
Very strange considering all I did was change the polarity of the coil. (I think that is the proper terminology).
I'm not looking for comments, just some clarity on the function/workings of why the coil worked for three years wired wrong, and wired correctly needs a full reset on everything.