it used to be closer to then that but since i bent the cable end just enough to clear it.
I went out and looked and mine does not have that wire over there. Unfortunately it is too dark to get a good picture of the actual wiring arrangement on mine but I will try to get one soon of all the connections I can see. What I can describe that I see easily at first glance is a two wire (black/green) plug dangling in the air, and then another black wire that goes from the engine (can't say where at this time) all the way to the front kill switch. It takes a lot of turns and loop-de-loops and there are many metal clips holding it on along the way, so when I get a chance I'll disconnect that one near the engine and see if it makes a difference. I have lots of new wire from other projects so if thats bad I can re-run it but this time in a loom too.
Also it looks like there could be a lot learned by removing the fuel tank and seeing what's under there, so that's on the list to do soon too.
I was tinkering with this in tandem with painting some new parts I got from BMI, plus visiting with my dad while the rest of my family helped look after our kids... so I'll have to wait till I finish painting before I get back to the engine. I'm about done spending money on this engine, and so hopefully I can find some kind of smoking gun otherwise I'll just use it as it is until we get something else for it. I'm certain if the engine was put on a say a pressure washer or something stationary, it would run like a top. No noises, no smoke, doesn't seem to use oil and pulls hard when it's not stumbling.
Truthfully, I'm not heart broken to get something else, as I'd like to get a 6-7 hp engine with electric start and a small alternator to charge a battery and run a few lights, so we'll see when it comes time to replace the rear swing arm if I put this engine back on or not.