62 (positive ground) Countryman will not start

[62Countryman]

I am having a problem starting my MK1. The car started for a few seconds and then it died. It seems as if the car isn't doesn't have any spark (sprayed starter fluid in carb). I know that there is fuel going to the carb. I can also see that I have 12 V to the points when they open (MK1 is a positive ground). It looks like there is a problem with the Coil but I do not have a spare Coil to confirm my suspicion. I used an ohm meter to measure the condensor with a new one and the measurement was the same. I cleaned the plugs and checked the gap. I went to Napa (parts place in the US) and purchased an in-line spark tester (connects bewteen spark plug boot and spark plug) and it did not light. Maybe this tester only works with a negative ground system ???? Any ideas on additional checks that I need to make? How do I check the high tension circuit? Thanks in advance

[Pete]

If your plugs are dead but your points are not I'd suspect the rotor arm. Rescued somebody at roadside yesterday with exactly that problem., luckily he carried a spare. Lots of rust under that arm aswell! (though cleaning that up alone didn't bring it back to life). Arms fail in quite an erratic way, especially when the engine gets warm.

[dklawson]

+1 to Pete's comments (also posted to your thread at MM)

[mab01uk]

And if you want a decent quality rotor arm that lasts try here:
http://distributordoctor.com/red-rotor-arms.html

[ianh1968]

Try this???

Take the king lead off the middle of the distributor and check
that with your "spark detector". ie, so the lead comes straight
from the coil... (That's "king lead", as opposed to ***'king lead...)

Connect the other end to ANY/ALL of the plugs.

If you get a spark here, it is almost definitely the rotor arm
or maybe the cap...

Good Luck!

Ian