Triumph Repair: TR4A not starting

Question
Hi, I recently purchased a TR4A, and it was running fine. It has a Crane XR 700 electronic ignition.  Now I cannot get the car to start.  It cranks but there is spark to the spark plugs, and nothing from the coil.  I was planning on replacing the XR 700 unit, but how often does the coil fail?  Thanks.

Answer
Hi Jesse,

How often? That is useless information. I have had new coils fail in a day and others are still working after 30 years.

First put an ohm meter on the primary windings of the coil and test it an then check the secondary windings. You can run a practical test by connecting a condenser to the primary and 12v and scratch the other primary lead to ground while you have a spark plug on a plug wire placed in the coil tower to see if it makes sparks. (first check to see that it is a 12v coil not a 6v coil as some electronic ignition systems require a 6v coil.)

I have no info on a Crane electronic ignition system. So you need to contact the supplier of that system as to how to test it.

Howard