D4 starting

A cotton sash cord about 8 feet long and 1/4" to 3/8" diameter works nicely.

To check the mag remove a sparkplug and plug it in to the wire again. Give the rope a pull to spin the motor and look for a spark. The spark plug must be touching metal on the motor.

Steal the starter rope off from the neighbor that irritates you the most? 👋
Cut Mom's clothesline? 😆
That rope at the local Hardware store that feels like it would work?

My favorite way to test Magneto spark is to get the same neighbor whose lawnmower rope you took, to come over to have a couple of beers, then talk him into holding the sparkplug to the pony motor while watching for spark. 😈
:jaw: Just plain old Baling Twine works to!

It appears that some cheese heads have somewhat of a mean streak in them!! ROFLMAO

When my Brother was about 7 years old I used him as an "ignition tester" when our lawnmower quit (he was quite a brat way back then). Couldn't ever get him to do it again.:noidea:

I'm laughing! Its all in jest.
Anyways, file the points, then find a condensor that will fit in there to replace when it doesn't spark. Most people way over analyze the Magneto, when all it really needs is the points filed, condensor changed and clean cap connections. Make sure the plug wires are metal core steel/copper, NOT automotive replacement carbon filament core as noise suppression cables are death to a magneto.
Do a SEARCH back about 4 or 5 pages as there is a fellow going thru startup on a D4 with many of the same questions you will have, plus a Clutch/Shift engagement description of operation was posted in that same Thread.
Jeff
PS
I'm not a REAL cheesehead! 😆

The ID above will be banned!!!!!!!

Has been BANNED!

The only problem I can see with the NAPA wire is that it is resistance wire. Great for new coil ignitions, but bad for mags. NAPA does have solid core ignition wire, or you can check with your local HVAC repair person. They use copper core wire for the igniter on oil burners.