Before you cut your goofy coil apart, test the continuity between the all three terminals, that is, the +, the - and the secondary output. You should have various amounts of continuity between all three, as in the diagram posted earlier.
Only contiuity on the primary connections.
No continuity to anywhere from the secondary center post, not even the case.
In the middle of trying ready the house for sale, so may not be moved and able to cut it open till later this
summer. It must be arcing inside to complete the circuit. If it did have continuity to either end of the primary, it wouldn't be biting me when I puled it with the motor running.