S/G question

[dav 2]

i dug out one of the spare 12hp b&s motors to put on the tractor i am assembling from extra parts. it has no s/g on it. i found an s/g in a pile but have no idea where it came from(i'm developing a case of CRS)or if it works. for right now, i just want to see if it will work in the starter mode, so i can put it on the 12 to see if i have spark and compression. the 12 is not in a tractor yet so i plan to do this on the ground. a milk crate would be easier on my back-less bending over-but i dont know if the torque would throw it off the crate. Can i test the s/g in the starter mode by hooking a ground from the frame of the s/g to the neg on a battery and touching the A terminal with the hot wire? thanks for any input

[DMedal 1]

yes, you can. Since you don't know what it come off of and I assume that could be another make of tractor, you need also to check rotation direction.