Shutoff problems

[DugMoney]

Hey guys, long time owner, first time posting

I have 59 bugeye and I recently had a brand new electronic ignition installed. When I go down the road and push the clutch in, the car shuts off. Now, I can drive 50 to 80 miles, shifting through all the gears, downshifting at stop lights without any problems. But, without warning, when I go to push the clutch in after driving 5 miles or 60 miles...all the sudden the car shuts off. I can start it back up no problem....drive anywhere from 2 to 50 miles and I press the clutch in, the car will shut off....

Not sure what would cause this.....anyone out there have any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[HealeyRick]

What kind of electronic ignition? Do you have any wiring that might be running near the clutch arm or master cylinder?

 

[Bayless]

But he has to use the clutch to change gears. Really sounds more like a carb problem to me. Maybe goes too lean (or even rich) when lifting the foot with clutch engaged but not long enough between gears to die. Ok, on second thought, the same might apply with the clutch mechanically shorting something in the wiring.

 

[Deleted member 8987]

Replace the coil...it's always the coil.
But seriously....if you have a bad or loose engine ground, and the engine/trans shifts any when doing this...maybe the ground is breaking up occasionally.
Granted, your linkage is all contained, not external on the frame, but who knows.
Try shifting to neutral and rolling up to a stop just using brakes...if it dies, try it again only using handbrake (in case the brake lights have a short...). If that all works, then try revving in neutral in the driveway up to 3K or so, letting off fast and see if it dies.

Just try to eliminate some stuff.

 

[SD Bugeye]

I would also check the wiring from ignition switch to your electronic unit
my Petronix will shut down with less than about 11 volts .
maybe pushing in the clutch is tugging a wire under the dash causing a voltage drop?
may be remove the wire to the dizzy and replace with a direct 12 volt source to see if that stops the problem
if it does then maybe the brake lights are pulling it down

 

[Deleted member 8987]

One of the reasons for slipping into neutral and rolling up on the stop eliminates the wire under the clutch pedal issue.

 

[DugMoney]

Thanks everyone!

I had the back of the ignition switch replaced, tonight I'm going to check the wiring and see if the clutch is hitting a wire.

I'll keep you all posted, thanks again!

I also just had the carbs rebuilt and tuned, runs great and idle's smooth

 

[Deleted member 8987]

Thanks everyone!

I had the back of the ignition switch replaced, tonight I'm going to check the wiring and see if the clutch is hitting a wire.

I'll keep you all posted, thanks again!

I also just had the carbs rebuilt and tuned, runs great and idle's smooth

Just for clarity, the troubleshooting while driving process I listed was to eliminate a whole bunch of stuff and narrow the areas needing attention.
You can spend a whole lot of time checking this and that without narrowing the scope of the issue you think you have.
A whole lot of people have spent a whole lot of time and money over the decades and centuries throwing money at issues without understanding what the issue is.
Modern parts stores love that.
Have fun.