Jake,
I don't have a full knowledge of the spit but I can explain why the
ballast restistor is usually used and why you should put it back in.
Your coil is probably a 6 volt coil. The ballast resistor drops the 12
volts normally available from the battery/generator to 6 volts. Why, you
ask. Because during the cranking of the engine, the battery voltage
drops down to 10.5 or fewer volts, making starting very difficult with a
12 volt coil. Knowing this Lucas, Prince of Darkness, installed the
ballast resistor with a bypass for starting, so that when the starter
motor is engaged you get 10 volts +/- to your 6 volt coil, making
starting easier. Without your ballast resistor you run the risk of
burning out your 6 volt coil, by supplying 12 volts continously.
I assume your PO didn't put in a 12 volt coil. Hopefully this is correct
for the Spit, it is for most older brit cars.
My Norton motorcycle did not have a bypass, but it did have a spare
switch on the handlbars. Most owners created the bypass for easier
starting, We didn't have electric starter motors, just kick starters.
Every little bit helped.
On Tue, 11 Feb 1997 21:13:18 -0500 (EST) snake@cris.com writes:
>I am wondering if a 73 spit needs a ballist resistor. The car starts
>and
>run great but there is no ballist resisitor. Do I really need one.
>The
>comm numbers are FM1531U
>
>thanks,
>Jake
>
>
>
>`=B7.=B8=B8.=B7=B4=AF`=B7->snake@cris.com<-=B7=B4=AF`=B7.=B8=B8.=B7=B4
>73 Triumph Spitfire FM1531 U
>http://www.cris.com/~snake/
> =20
>
>
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