[Healeys] Lucas Sports Coil

[John Harper]

Bob

Good point. To elaborate this; one has to consider adding an extra 
contact to the starter button or switch or alternatively a relay circuit 
if one wishes to convert a standard A-H to a ballasted system. This will 
give a stronger spark whilst the engine is cranking and the battery 
voltage is reduced but one has to consider whether this is worth all the 
bother.

One related point. On some British 1970s cars, and perhaps many others, 
the ballast resistor is hidden as a length of resistance wire in the 
loom. This can lead to one looking for a visible ballast resistor. When 
one cannot be found one incorrectly assumes that one should fit a 
non-ballast coil. I found this on a car, not a A-H, that misfired at 
higher revs after a so called repairer had been involved.

This is something else in life that I learnt the hard way.

Regards

>I checked a book I have called "Tuning Lucas Ignition Systems." In it, 
>there's a schematic for a ballasted system showing a lead from the 
>ignition switch through a ballast resistor to the coil and one from the 
>starter solenoid to the coil. When cranking the starter, the lead from 
>the solenoid will short around the ballast resistor.
>
-- 
John Harper