Triumph Repair: ignition problem on 1500 Spitfire, starter solenoid, tracer wire

Question
HI Howard, I have a 1977 1500 spitfire and it has been in my garage for 10 years without moving. I have now decided to get her going again.
I am having some trouble with the spark. Using an inline ignition spark tester I am getting a spark indicating when the ignition key is in the normal position but not when the key is turned to turn over the engine.
The wires on the coil are: pink with white stripe and white with yellow stripe on the +, and white with what looks like grey stripe and a black on the -. The black goes to the distributor.
The coil is new as is the starter solenoid.

Any suggestions

Thanks

Jon

Answer
Hi Jon,
If your car is wired as it should be, you will have two power wires to feed the (+) side of the coil (they may be joined together at the resistor wire end rather than at the coil)
A power wire from the ignition switch (white) goes to the resistor wire and on to the coil by a white w/yellow tracer wire. A second white w/yellow wire comes from the starter solenoid to the coil either at the coil on some cars and to the coil end of the resistor wire on others.
This is the power to the coil in the "Start Position".
The coil is a 6v coil and when running is powered by the resistor wire and in the start position the coil is powered by the solenoid wire which is 12v but since the starter is drawing so much current it is only 9 to 10 volts. As soon as the solenoid is released the power is from the ign sw by way of the resistor wire.
Howard