Ballast resistor is bypassed in start position. Put a test light on the 2 brown wires while cranking to check for voltage. Electronic ignition or points? Pull cap, rotate engine till it is at a point where you can grasp the rotor and twist it back and forth to make a reluctor tooth swing past the pickup's tooth. With ignition on, you should see tha spark with the coil wire on the alternator again.
My good electronic ignition boxes throw a 1/2" spark.