Ignition coil bench test?

The cap goes in parallel with switch, not in series. You should also have a ballast resistor in series with switch. Put the ballast where you had the cap. It only takes bout 3ms to charge the coil when switch is on, the ballast limits the current to a safe value.

It works just as you said. I used a flasher instead of a ballast resistor. I can now label my coil as "good". Thanks to all for the help.