QuestionQUESTION: Ignition problems! power to but not from coil / power at electronic ignition plug >Thought my mains were shot opened up pan found thrust in pan / car sat for 6+ months, swapped parts over to a midget engine< forgot a few things in 6 months.... now can not get spark from coil wire, can not remember if ignition amplifier? (module to increase spark attached to air pump) being hooked up when old motor ran fine (other than knock), changed out coil to (specific generic 6V car parts store item) showing stamp of no external ballast required Can not find any wires to connect to ?ignition amolifier / external ballast? and can only find one wire for - side of coil, condensor comes from + side to ground to coil mount
ANSWER: Hi Michael,
I don't know what kind of ignition system you have and all I have is the wiring of the original Spitfire system.
A white w/yellow tracer wire comes from the ignition switch to the (+) side of the coil and two white w/black tracer wires are on the (-) side of the coil (6v coil) One goes to the tach and the other goes to the distributor. A white wire from the starter solenoid goes to the Drive Resistor along with another white wire from the distributor. The other end of the Drive Resistor has a single white w/blue tracer wire that goes to the distributor. And a black wire from the distributor goes to ground.
By book does show a second later diagram where a resistor wire normally powers the coil in the "Ign" position and a straight 12v via the starter solenoid powers the coil in the "Start" position. The rest of the wiring seems to be the same.
I hope this helps, I found that if all the wires were connected up correctly and all had powers and grounds where applicable and the air gap was correct then it was new amp time.
The disadvantage of a pointed distributor is that you had to clean and adjust points at times and when they failed you put in the few dollars to replace them.
The disadvantage of electronic ignition is that when it failed not even the man who designed it could fix it so you put in a new system (not just a few dollars)
Howard
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you so much for your quick responce to my dilemma; The information you impart is most helpful
One question that I would ask for clarity is: on the positive side of the coil there is a condensor(?) that goes to ground it has the type of clip that fits the positive side and this seems to be the way it was when formerly running Is this the proper connection
Secondly I have a points ignition off the original midget engine that I swapped in / should I change out the electronic ignition can I still use the same coil
Thanks again for the awesome help
Regards
Michael
AnswerMichael, You can use a 6v coil with a pointed ignition system if you use a resistor with it or a resistor wire to power it. Most electronic ignition systems use a 6 volt coil and most of them use a resistor or a resistor wire to power the coil and use a straight 12v power supply that bypasses the resistor only in the "Start" position. This is done by an extra wire from the starter solenoid with a pin just for that. An 80 Spitfire should have that system.
A condenser mounted on the power side of the coil is a radio suppressor and should be removed unless you know the radio needs it.
Howard
