Morris Minor Owners Club

Should have said too that I have a red connected next to the white on the fuse box so me thinks maybe someone re-wired and did not have the correct colour-- wish I never started now but I do appreciate all your speedy advise and am determined to get to the bottom of this. When she goes she is just great, I just think whoever had her before just bodged it together for a quick fix. The list of replacements has been endless, if only they had looked after her better!

I don't understand why there would be 2 X white/black - unless maybe one is a sensor wire for the tacho - that could be it I suppose. So is the Red wire live ??

There should NOT be two white/blacks on - coil. Can you trace where they go to? One should go to the distributor. The other may go to a secret security switch that earths it so stopping anyone stealing it even if the + side is hot-wired.
EDIT
Sorry just had a look at the 73 diagram, different to my 72. As Roy says, it is a connection for the tacho.
You could try disconnecting this one in case it is earthing and stopping your points from switching.

You could also watch the tacho as you try to start - is it flicking up ? You really DO need to establish if there are any sparks at the coil LT, then at the HT, and then at the plugs.

Guys I hate to say it but me thinks I am going to admit defeat as still no joy. I hate to give in but think perhaps it is beyond my limited knowledge. Explained it all to my local MG specialist garage this morning and they can't see why there is no life so may give in and let them sort it out. I will let you all know in due course and thank you for your valuable help.
At least Morris is still purring!

Dunno why you are giving up so easily....it will be something very simple. Don't let them con you into a new coil and nonsense like that!

You are right, I will give another shot I do think it is something stupid. I think I should have done one thing at a time. I had driven the car home in the dark which seemed to drain the battery. I put that on charge and whilst disconnected thought I would change the starter motor as there were sounds of wear which was the case. Having cleaned up all the connections I also treated it to a new set of points, condenser, rotor arm and coil, checked gaps timing and all leads. Also checked alternator connections (alternator is only 9 month old) cleaned fuse box connections and replaced and checked connection order for relay. As you can tell electrics are not me and whilst I have the wiring layout which you kindly left details I am not sure that in a former life it has not been messed with. Forgive me but from where can I get a direct, temporary + feed to the coil to check I have a spark ?
Feel bad making this a major page filler as it is after all a Morris Minor site. At least they belong to the same stable so to speak. Trouble is Morris is stuck behind the MG in the garage and is desperate to get out!

Any ignition 12V source from the fusebox.
In fact, just rig up a piece of wire with a crocodile clip (or even wire end with a loop on it and fitted into the batter clamp - it's only temporary, just don't leave it connected) to the non-earth battery terminal, and crimp on a female connector to fit the coil connexion. If you try that, and still no spark at coil king lead, try removing your contact breaker lead(s) and replace with a seperate length of wire a lead from the coil terminal to the distributor CB terminal. If still no coil spark, it can only really be the coil (though it's never that) or the points being incorrectly assembled/not working.
Do these use the 25D distributor (anyone)?

Have done above and do have power to the coil now. Also tested with one or other of the two white and blacks connected to the - terminal on coil in case one was shorting out but made no difference. Re-checked points installation and lt connection and internal earth connection. No joy as yet

When you say power, do you mean the coil is sparking at the king lead, or that the LT side is now live?

Yes 25D or 45 D dizzy on the B engine. When you flick the points with your finger - do you see a spark at the points?

I know you will all think I am a wimp but my local MG garage are taking a look for me and will check through the dodgy wiring that seems to be an issue. At least I have learnt a lot by checking and testing thanks to all for your advise. Instead I am changing the bypass hose on Morris before it goes with a poly one. Can't believe the crud so have removed water pump (easier to replace hose) to clean out too and flush system through. Dare I ask a question! do you advise the new pump gasket to go on dry or with a smear of something?
Will let you all know results of MG after Easter.

Dry ! BMC didn't use anything -why should you now use bodger paste ?? Surfaces must be clean of course....

All clean and dry and back together.

Will the garage let you hang over their shoulder while they sort out your starting problem? If so - good learning experience - or perhaps not.....depending on the garage....... I'll recount again the story of my mates MGB not starting. He had tried everything....I went over, took out the NGK plugs he had fitted, put in an old set of Champs from my bag - and it started right away..... Next day he of course wanted to refit his nice new plugs - and again it wouldn't start... The NGKs are now somewhere in the field behind his house....... Many will jump in to defend the NGKs of course - I suspect the problem was that he had resistor leads + resistor caps.. and the NGKs were 'resistor' plugs, and my old Champs were just ordinary plugs.

Well yes they did let me look and I hate to say it but it was 1.That I had a sloppy screw fitting the condenser to the points. It now has a new external condenser.
2. The new coil WAS faulty!!!! and has been replaced,
She now runs.
We had a good look underneath and cleaned off a lot of old underseal that had been caked on to reveal very dodgy brake pipes and rusty unions, these together with the flexible hoses are now replaced. So it now starts AND stops.
Meanwhile Morris is happy with the refitted water pump and new hoses, cleaned plugs and grease up and is running like a dream.

NEW colis very often fail - which is why you should look for a 'good old coil'...which NEVER fails. External condenser is a get-you-home bodge.. Fix it properly !