So yes, the engine spark is killed with a ground to the ignition coil. So from a ground wire TO the switch to a coil that is internally defective could be the culprit. Do the safety switches shut it down? If not, temp ground the killwire that runs to the coil and see what you get.

"Even with the coil not connected to anything oI get 0 ohms between the small lug on the coil and the ground post on the engine"

If I understand you correctly, this is the "Kill Wire", there should be no resistance. The engine will only run if this terminal is not grounded. Grounding it will kill the engine. Wire should run directly from it to the terminal on the switch which has continuity when the switch is turned OFF. Never mind the safety switches, they are on a different circuit.

Walt Conner

Well actually, depending on which engine you have and you don't say, the "Kill Wire" from the coil goes to a terminal, usually on the side of the engine, then on to the switch. The Safety switches circuit also junctions on that terminal.

Walt Conner

Thanks. For the continuity test I had removed the kill wire so there is currently nothing connected to the coil. i then placed one lead on the small terminal if the coil and the other on the ground post at the base if the engine and thats where i read 0 ohms.

I decided to put it back together and see if maybe it was a bad connection causing the weird results and now it runs fine and shuts off with the key. Thanks for your help.
Mike