Post-War Other Herald Starter problem?

[heigs]

I have a triumph Herald 1360 with starter solenoid mounted on the firewall. I am having a problem wherein when I start the engine and have current going to the starter motor I have ignition, BUT as soon as I let the ignition switch spring back to the power ON position after starting, the engine dies, and the power ON light on the dash re-illuminates. I find that if I keep the starter motor engaged by holding the key against the spring the engine will stay running, let it go and it dies. I know this is not a good idea but it at least got me out of a precarious road side breakdown situation.
Could this be a solenoid failure? It has been cutting in and out for a while and I thought it was a spark problem BUT now that the engine dies completely after starting yet will run with starter engaged I am wondering about electrical issues. Thanks for any help you can give me. DREW

 

[Dale]

Hello there! Don't take my word for anything, but wait for those much more knowledgeable than I. There will be some one in shortly I'd bet. For what it's worth it sounds like a ballast resistor thing, but again I'm just guessing. Good Luck

 

[70herald]

Hi Drew and welcome, I think we are up to 4 heralds around here now!
Sounds to me like your ignition switch is going.

Working off memory here, but I don't think that the power for the ignition coil goes through the solenoid on the Herald. You should have a wire going directly from the ign switch to the coil supplying power to the ignition. the contacts on the ignition part of the switch are going bad. when you hold the starter on you are moving the coil power part of the switch to a different location which is not yet worn out so the coil gets power. you could try taking apart the switch and cleaning it, but just getting a new one probably makes more sense.

 

[Andrew Mace]