Garden tractor ignition

while this type of electrical question might be rare here.. I figured 12VDC is 12VDC doesn't matter what it's on. ok so long story short, I have an old tecumseh engine with an SSI (Solid state ignition) that has died. Following the footsteps of Ed Stoller@ http://home.earthlink.net/~edstoller/id9.html I now have a 12v auto ignition coil, a 1.4ohm ballast resistor, and a rocker switch. If you follow his Option 1 and then Option 2 that is exactly what I have done. My issue is, currently on Option 2 I have it all wired up like he has diagrammed.. Battery to rocker switch to ballast input to coil +. measuring voltage at the ballast with rocker On I get 11.4vdc, measuring at coil + I get 6.5vdc What could possibly be halving my voltage? I did ohm out the resistor to make sure, I've ohmed all the wiring too (which amounts to like maybe 2 linear feet of 14 gauge) Any thoughts gentlemen?

i forgot to mention, my ultimate goal here is obviously to get spark. the Ignition control module has good ground, the three connections on it are solid. I've ohmed everything to make sure where's no opens where there shouldn't be and I've verified the wiring like I swear a dozen times over the past week. i believe my issue lies in the utter lack of voltage to the coil. thanks!

Try a feed directly to the coil from the starter wire at the switch.