Just replaced the coil with one of those new solid-state jobs in an original coil body that Roy sells at ECAS. Also got a brand new crankcase breather.

This is a new type of coil supposed to be not prone to overheating.

http://www.2cvsource.com/141,-920-coil; ... olt-(pic.1).html

If the coil was bad, wouldn't it also give problems with the car running? Dad had a riding mower where he would make a few laps around the front yard and the engine would shut off but would restart after 30 minutes. That problem turned out to be the coil.

I noticed there is residue on top of the engine block. Initially I thought it was oil from the breather/filler unit. I've read these can go bad but the residue I'm seeing I think is petrol. This makes me wonder if the fuel is boiling in the carburetor after I shut the engine off. Is there supposed to be a hose coming off the fuel vent bowl and it's missing on mine?

I'll snap a photo.

If it is the coil that's at fault, you're in the right neck of the woods to pick up a Harley 'points ignition' coil, type 31609-65A, which should have a primary resistance of just under 5 ohms.

At $25, one like that won't break the bank and maybe you could work out how much it would cost to post one to the UK for a bit less than this vendor quotes...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262355714242? ... _cvip=true

No, you're not missing a hose, it's fairly normal to get a bit of dribble from under the carburetor.

there is a small hole in the manifold to avoid a flow of petrol into the engine when you play to much with throttle. It pumps a little jet of fuel every time you push it...