I'm with metal guy and Franz
The extra load theory doesnt stand up. If the engine is capable of operating at full throttle, as the stress in each cylinder is the maximum that each cylinder can make at full throttle. Disconect a cylinder, and you dont get more power from each remaining cylinder to maintain the engine power, you lose power.
At part throttle, you increase the throttle to make up, but you are still mostly less than full throttle power, and even at full throttle power, each cylinder is still at it's rated output.
A carbon track or crossfire from the voltage buildup from the disconected lead sounds most likely
Regards
pat