Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Kohler Misfiring, kohler command, farmiliar

Question
I am perplexed.  I have a Kohler Command CV 125 in a JD mower.  It began just intermittently dying one day and when I would try to restart it it would pop and sputter when cranking but would eventually restart.  Now it just won't start at all.  It just pops and sputters when I crank it and with the breather off, it shoots fire out the carb.  It's like it's firing out of time or something.  I checked for a sheared flywheel but it looks like at TDC, it's lining up where it should.  I put a carb kit in, no change.  I can see spark at the plug when cranked and it's shooting fire out the carb so it's sparking.  Could it possibly be the rectifier?  The stator?  What am I missing?

Answer
Not being farmiliar with John Deere, I'm not sure what type of electrical ignition differences there may be, but it sounds like you may have a carburetor problem. I understand you have put in a carb kit, but the passages in the carb could still be plugged, you may need to find some thin wire to run through them or take the carb to a local shop where they can clean it in a tank.