Hi Tom,
I'll also join in here with a big welcome to this wonderful forum and rest assured that any info you require will be easily and quickly forthcoming from us guys.
Being a fellow Adelaidean I did see the machine up for sale originally and thought of purchasing it myself but I have one exactly the same and felt it best that someone else gets a chance at it.
As far as the engine not running there are a number of elements that need to be checked and they are 3 items Fuel, Spark and air. I pretty much suspect that the machine hasn't been used for a number of years and more than likely has a set of stuck closed points and as such you won't be getting any energy to the spark plug. I would first remove the air cleaner box and tip a small amount of fuel directly down the carby (not too much though)and then give it a couple of really sharp pull starts and see if there's any life to be found. If nothing then the next point would be to look at the ignition system which as I eluded to earlier that it will probably be a closed set of points. I have a simple method of checking if you are getting spark and that is probably not the best way and definitely not one for the occupational health and safety people to hear but just put your finger on top of the s[park plug and get a second operator to slowly pull the starter rope through the cycle and if there is spark you'll know about it instantly as soon as the rope is pulled (SLOWLY)as you feel a bit of a electric shock on the finger. Like I said it's probably not the best option if you've got a heart condition. The other way is to take the spark plug lead off the spark plug and use a rag around the lead to hold the lead with you hand. Now hold the lead so that the metal end is about 3 mm away from any metal part of the top of the engine and using a second operator get them to pull the started rope with a bit more motion and see if you can spot any spark jumping from the metal end to the engine, if no spark at this point you will have to investigate further into the ignition system.
If you need a hand I'm more than happy to help you out personally, that's providing you're not at Christies Beach or somewhere down that way.
Let me know if there's something I can do for you.
Cheers,
BB
