Electronic ignition problem.

[37coop]

hi guys,I imported my 51 F1 a couple of years ago ,mechanically rebuilt it and did around 1,000 miles trouble free in it last summer .It was fitted with elec,ign from the states and I kept the system,the unit broke down and had to be trailered home, I sent off to the States for another permeatex unit and it fired right up ,well after around 50 miles of short trips it has let me down and again had to be trailered home.Asking around apparently these units should last many thousands of miles without a problem,I emailed the company I bought the unit from but as of yet haven't had a reply ,my question is ...can the unit be tested (it's two wires to the coil and two screws to secure it ) ,my friend in Florida Cecil Goff has kindly sent me a rebuilt ,set up and tested distributor with points and condenser which I intend to swop for the current one ,I,m just curious as to what if anything has caused the ignition unit to fail and would like to be able to test it to see if the unit is indeed the problem, car ignition/electrics is really not my strong point ,any help would be appreciated , many thanks ...Jim.

[mrtexas]

Do you have a coil with the recommended resistance or an inline resister?

[37coop]

Originally Posted by mrtexas

Do you have a coil with the recommended resistance or an inline resister?

. I,v still got the coil that came with the car and it's fitted with a ballast resister going to the plus terminal on the coil which drops the voltage.

[40cpe]

I don't pretend to speak for the manufacturer of Pertronix and don't know if you have 6V or 12V, but 12V units are designed to run with a coil of 1.5 ohm resistance and full 12V to the coil. If you use a coil from Pertronix with the proper wiring, I'm confident that you can run the set-up for many years without problems. Correct coil and proper voltage are the key to reliable operation.

[40 Deluxe]

If you are still running a generator, it may be voltage spikes killing your ignition. Generators produce a lot of electrical "hash"-ever look into a running generator at night?! A bad alternator can do the same thing.

[37coop]

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O.k ,I,m on 12 volt with the coil that was with the car painted black and no brand and I did 1000 miles before my first hiccup,I don't know the miles done before I got it .Strangely I have just bought an almost used pertinex flamethrower 3ohms coil off eBay,as I said I haven't a clue what this ignition science is all about but I thought maybe it can be used with the points setup I,m gonna use (or not ? ),don't know if it's fitted with a resister or not. Thanks for your input.

[37coop]

oh and it's a dynamo/generator. Not an alternator.

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

A couple thoughts that may help:

Electronic ignition doesnt work real well with a 6 volt system. The module threshold or power point is very close , where a 12 volt have some extra swing to the voltages.
Pertronics doesnt like generators and a filter should be used when a generator is used...
I love the pertronixs unit but do not like their off shore made coils and had had tons of failures with them.. They fail with low resistance and cause the current to go high smoking the control module.

[51 MERC-CT]

According to Pertonix the plug wires should be spiro-wound resistor type as other types can cause electronic frequency interference.

[19Fordy]

Are you using a surge protector?
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1132190
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=128555
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...urge+protector
Are you using solid copper plg wires? If so, that may be your problem.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...urge+protector
Contact Pertronix here.
http://www.pertronix.com/support/tips/

[flatjack9]

When you get the unit from Cecil, install it and it will be the end of your problems. I think the 3 ohm coil will be just fine and will not require a ballast resistor.

[37coop]

Blimey guys ....my head is a spinning,......i,ll look through the attachments kindly sent ,I,m sure when its working properly and set up as it should be its great ,but when it goes wrong as it did with me twice its a trailer home ....too old now for all the drama now , back to good ol points and condenser I think. cheers .

[JSeery]

A points distributer is a good unit and a little more failsafe. But, you can't blame the electronics unit if it is installed improperly!

[tubman]

Originally Posted by 37coop

Blimey guys ....my head is a spinning,......i,ll look through the attachments kindly sent ,I,m sure when its working properly and set up as it should be its great ,but when it goes wrong as it did with me twice its a trailer home ....too old now for all the drama now , back to good ol points and condenser I think. cheers .

Smart man! You figured it out by yourself.

[Drbrown]

My '47 59AB 12v has been running on its electronic for many years w/o problem. Starts and runs flawlessly (I-knock-on-wood-now). Just-in-case and sealed in a container in my trunk: Bubba's built me a complete back-up unit including coil.

[37coop]

Originally Posted by JSeery

A points distributer is a good unit and a little more failsafe. But, you can't blame the electronics unit if it is installed improperly!

. Installed improperly? Mmmmm. 2 wires and 2 screws, I think not.

[flatheadmurre]

High frequency interference is something electronics dont like either by air or cable.
Thats the reason they dont like solidcore cables.
If you add a choke and a couple of capacitors you take care of the cable fed part.
What you cant fix is the very low voltagereserve on a 6v system.
If your battery voltage drops while cranking the unit will not work as intended.
The question is what you want to get from an electronic conversion and if you get it.
Im not gonna say either way is better...

[Frank Miller]

I might just be lucky but I have over 4000 miles on the pertronix I installed on my 6v pos grnd generator 49 ford. Aster a couple of bad condensers, the quality ones, I caved and took out the points which I carry with me.

[scooder]

Not as simple as two bolts and two wires, correct coil? correct ht leads? Surge protect on gen/dynamo?
Martin.

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by 37coop

. Installed improperly? Mmmmm. 2 wires and 2 screws, I think not.

Think there is a little more to it than that, that is most likely why you are having failures. As has been pointed out many times in this thread there are other factors involved. Martin just listed them again. Might also want to reread post #4, #5, #8, #9, #10 & #17.