***RESOLVED*** replaced dead battery, now engine doesn't turn over.

If you have an inline checker, or a plug, stick it directly into the coil tower, and ground the other end with a clip lead or scrap of wire.

If all you have is a spare plug, you can bend the gap "way open, and find a scrap of "anything" that will make up the distance down into the coil. A scrap of small gauge wire wrapped around the plug connector, just stick it down into the tower so the wire makes contact, then ground the plug shell

"All" of us at one time have probably checked spark by just holding the coil wire close to ground. This is "OK" if you know what you are up against. But if the wire is resisor (suppressor) it will color the spark and look weaker and yellow. Also, if it has a bad / open spot, it can send you in the wrong direction