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Engine will not keep running

H

hook_line_sinker

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"Hey Guys, Some help please. I

"Hey Guys, Some help please. I just tried to start em' up here in NJ for the first time today. Stb. fine ! Port have problems. They are 270, 350 base motors.(1987 vintage) The engine will start and as long as you have the ignition switch in the star position OK,with the starter engaged. As soon as I release the switch the motor dies. I checed spark good, fuel good, & fuel pump working.
Has new plugs,rotors,caps,wires. There is spark at coil, & plugs. I'm baffeled the only thing I can think of is possible a bad ignition switch?
Some help from the experts please."
 
"Piece of cake! You have a ba

"Piece of cake! You have a ballast resistor (or resistor wire) circuit. Motor starts on 12 volts shunted directly from the starter solenoid, but runs on reduced voltage through the ignition switch. The resistor wire or ballast resistor side is open: Broken wire, burnt out resistor wire/ ballast resistor, etc.

Take a voltage reading at the + terminal of the coil with the ignition ON. It should be 6 to 9 volts. I'll bet it's 0 volts! If I'm right, start checking back wards until you find 12 volts.

Jeff"
 
"Thanks Jeff, I'll start a

"Thanks Jeff, I'll start at the coil and test there, then the resistor, I'm thinking that may be the culprit. It's probably the orig. I saw a diagram thet there is a neutral start switch too in the circut.next in line. The stb. engine was changed a few years ago, but the port has been old faithfull, so don't fix what ain't broken. I hope it's the resistor easy cheap fix."
 
"Two mechanics told me today i

"Two mechanics told me today it must be the coil.
They think If it wa the resistor or wire it would not try to start at all, when you turn the key then let off and it dies. Just wanted to ask you thoughts. I'm headed back tomorrow. Coil Resistor, either will be a good thing."
 
"Better find yourself a new me

"Better find yourself a new mechanic, for they have it assbackwards: If it was the coil the motor wouldn't start at all. The fact that it starts when you crank it, then dies when you let off, is a dead giveaway that the resister circuit is open. A 2 minute check with a voltmeter will confirm it.

Jeff"
 
"Thanks to Fastjeff, you are d

"Thanks to Fastjeff, you are da' man ! Did the voltage test, "0" so jumped the resistor & it ran, so I changed the ceramic resistor, and good to go.
The coil was the orig equip, slill had the crusader part # on it so I changed it anyway.
Rather have all the new ignition components if I'm changing the resistor, might as well do the coil too. Thanks again for being there to asnwer questions, for those who need some help now and again."
 
"Jeff....Rick, I bet,would su

"Jeff....Rick, I bet,would sure be proud of you if he see's this thread.Would probably say something like.....Not to bad for a carb guy.hahahahahahah.Could not resist.hahaha.I sure do like seeing true professionals as both of you are having fun....Todd"
 
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