1974 fj 55 only runs in start!

[n2666s]

SHE RUNS with switch in ON ; this was the problem ; that insignificant little black wire going to the distributor was nice and snug and clean BUT between coil neg and distributor pole resistance was infinite nothing was going through the butt connector ; cleaned male side with dremel and abrasive pad, on female side with brake clean first and then electrical contact cleaner with a tiny bit of dielectric grease and she is starting and running smoothly.............MANY THANKS TO ALL

 

[Steamer]

Hmmm! Glad it’s working but,,,,,,,

If that were the problem all along, none of the jumping you did would have worked.

Unless, that bad wire was failing intermittently and by coincidence, happened to making contact when you jumped to the resistor.

Oh well. If it keeps working now, it’s solved. Very good! I think I’d make up a new wire and eliminate that butt connector.

 

[n2666s]

Without a good diagram you may have to just physically trace it out. Sounds like a bad connection somewhere.
Steamer you nailed it ; bad connection; hidden in plain view and not the usual
Does that same switch terminal feed more than ignition? Is anything else that runs only with ignition on, not working, like the radio or turn signals?
don't have a radio BUT headlights were coming on after cleaned up fuse box
How about the connection between the new switch and existing wiring. Maybe disconnect it and jump from there.

 

[n2666s]

Hmmm! Glad it’s working but,,,,,,,

If that were the problem all along, none of the jumping you did would have worked.

Unless, that bad wire was failing intermittently and by coincidence, happened to making contact when you jumped to the resistor.

Oh well. If it keeps working now, it’s solved. Very good! I think I’d make up a new wire and eliminate that butt connector.

Steamer; looked at doing that today BUT would be a bitch to get to the starter motor and solenoid as also have an AC in that side there and it gets very tight trying to work; hate it but not as flexible as I used to be hopefully with the good cleaning + dielectric grease will keep another 40 years +