"Just curious what is damaged on your stator-and how did it get damaged?"
I'm not sure what happened to it! Parked it last Dec for the winter and took the battery out, as it was needing replacement. This April I got a new battery, put it in and hit the starter...spun over great, but wouldn't start. Did all the usual carb things, then checked the plug. Looked fine, but had no spark! Replaced plug anyway but no change. Went thru the troubleshooting chart in the service manual and came up with the stator being bad. I didn't trust my electrical know-how enough to rush out and buy a $300.00+ part, so I took it to one of our local mechanics. Had him go thru it, without telling him what I thought it was and he came up with the same thing. He said it had a dead short in the winding, I think. Kind of weird, but possible.
Thanks for the info on the other options, I will check with them later today!!!