Robin EC25DS Runs Like a Banshee now but...

[hypermike]

New guy!, long detailed explanation here, can't do it any other way-(ask my wife!!)
Thanks to all who have posted before me, used this site a lot and got great info and answers.
I just changed the piston, cylinder, points, condenser, coil, spark plug and carb (all new) on my late 70's EZGO marathon. Originally was just going to do points/condenser but screwed up taking it apart so I figured as long as its out I might as well do all of this.

Now I am no stranger to taking stuff apart and putting back together, (worked as an aircraft component technician for 10 years). My question, I put the armature back onto crank-only goes on one way as its keyed, then the stator and immediately find that the brushes do not line up even close to where they sit on the armature...looked like about 1/8" would touch, the rest up off the surface completely. Thinking I may have missed something, I shimmed it forward (a lot) to get the brushes lined up and then quickly found out that was wrong. Disassembled, reassembled with brushes the way they are, hooked it all up, gas into carb and I'll be damned if the thing didn't scream back into life.

Don't get me wrong, happy we're back in business but I don't understand why it fired up given my brush issue. Has anyone done this?, found this? I've never heard of a "floating armature" and given that when I put the flywheel on, again only one way as it is also keyed and torqued the bolt (that attaches to the crank) I can't see it floating.
Like I said, long explanation-my wife is proud! Thanks in advance for any insights and responses!