Stage 1 - Series 3 - ignition fault??

[Exmunster]

Hi I have a 'standard' Stage 1 109" Series 3 , I have a problem I think with the ignition? as you can turn the key.... and it starts perfect, and you can rev it,(the starter does disengage), it sound great.... and revs well - untill you let go of the ignition key,then it just stops - like its turned itself off!

I have tried new spark plugs, checked fuel,dizzy cap,points,etc... and cannot find a fault............ but the only way it will run,is if you hang onto the ignition key! Help please as I'm at a loss as to its cause,and rectification!
Thank you,Terry.

 

[Exmunster]

Hi...... it turns out it was the ballast resistor, as I bypassed the resistor and the engine ran....even when letting go of the Key! I bought a new one,fitted it and THOUGHT ok problem solved! I took it out and it ran perfectly,started with no choke,and accelerated smoothly upto 75mph .... just touching the accelerator!

As it was running fine I thought I'd take it down the hill,and under the train tunnell...so I could hear the V8!! it seemed as though it was cured.... but when i turned round to go back,after the tunnell it was like it suddenly dropped four of its cylinders..... and drove like a sack of sh#te! struggling to do above 30mph!..... even when it crawled back to its parking place..... it seemed like it was only on 5 or 6 cylinders.... I could see nothing shorting out, and the coil was not warm........ so I still have the original fault, I can use it 'cold' to the shops... and thats about it!

 

[fanatic]

replace condenser to be 100% not that as years ago all kinds of weird running down to faulty ones or coil

 

[mystery]

What voltage coil have you got fitted if it 6volt need ballast resistor in circuit when running not in circuit when starting if fitted the other way round points will melt and gap close dwell angle drops causing miss-fire and poss starting problems
I'm assuming yours has contact's and not amp type distributor