Actually, the cutoff switch opens the circuit to the coil when the switch is in
the ON position (allowing the points to switch the current to ground). In the
OFF position, the switch grounds the primary circuit, which shorts the current
to the coil and prevents spark.
When I installed a Pertronix, I reversed the coil lead on the cutoff switch to
ground the circuit in the ON position, and open it in the OFF position,
preserving the rudimentary anti-theft 'device.'
bs
----- Original Message -----
From: "BJ8 Healeys" <sbyers@ec.rr.com>
To: healeys@autox.team.net
Sent: Friday, June 5, 2009 2:14:21 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Stalling Problem
Hi, Bob -
The white/black wire from the battery cutoff switch to the coil is intended
to permanently ground the coil when the switch is turned ON to prevent the
car from being started (as by hot-wiring). The cutoff switch is notorious
for failing internally and grounding the coil through the wire without the
switch actually being turned on (happened to me in Lake Tahoe at Open Roads
'02).
I think what was said earlier about the fix is slightly in error. The
white/black wire has to be disconnected at the CUTOFF SWITCH (not the coil).
Because the wire from the switch shares the same connector at the coil as
the white/black wire that goes to the distributor, disconnecting the wire at
the coil will also remove the ground the coil gets through the points and
the car won't run.
By the way, the last time I adjusted my valves I suddenly lost all power to
the car -- nothing worked. I had been using the button on the back of the
starter relay to turn the engine. Eventually, I discovered that the cutoff
switch had another internal failure mode: it removed the battery ground
without being touched.
Steve Byers
HBJ8L/36666
BJ8 Registry
Havelock, NC USA
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