Actually the Pertronix seems to be fairly tolerant of wobbly shafts- we have one running here that you couldn't keep points adjusted in, a C800 with a 391FT and the big governor dizzy that's pretty well shot, been starting like new for 6 years after installing the Pertonix If all else fails, follow the directions
Hi Don! I'm really not trying to bad mouth your business in any way, but I am calling it like I see it. You are basing your failure rate as the number of ignition systems that are returned to you. Me and many like me will take a part that failed, like a spectra fuel regulator for example, pull it off the car and throw it in the trash then replace it with another option. For me and many like me, it's not worth the trouble to go thru getting a replacement from the manufacturer. I'm not saying the manufacturer wouldn't honor the warranty but it does me no good on a Sunday night when I have to drive to work in the morning. In that situation I would simply put points back in, toss the old part into the round file and forget about the whole thing. I'm not saying you don't honor your warranty and I still claim I don't know anything about the parts but am only assuming they may not be as robust as OEM parts. What I am saying is that I see too much chatter from unhappy customers who, like me, wouldn't waste their time sending a bad part back for warranty coverage. As for my personal experience, anyone can read it below. Secondly, what I was referring to was Tesla's theory of a collapsing field generating a secondary current. Like so... The 1896 patent drawing shows an evolved bipolar coil using tandem chokes to store energy for sudden release into the capacitor, enabling the device to be powered by relatively modest inputs. Chokes are coils wound on iron cores. They store energy as magnetism. When the charging current is interrupted, the magnetic field collapses inducing current in the coils, which rushes in to charge the capacitors. This concept is the basic principle of how a coil operates. When the field is interrupted by points a "spark" is induced and sent to the distributor. You are correct that Kettering did the ignition in 1911, however. Cheers,
Emailed Petronix.Sent test instructions.Ignitor tested bad.Requested a new one.He stated he needed the other test performed before he could make a decision.Asked if i should snail mail ignitor.Said not without me doing the other test.I asked "why bother;It tested bad;as per YOUR instructions"I give up on that company!30month warranty my a**.Glad I kept my points.Using them again--
So, let me get this right. Pertronix requested that you perform two tests, is this correct? You did one, but not the other? And the tests were to ascertain the source of the problem? Hmmmmm ... you are obviously either unable and/or unwilling to follow simple instructions, yet they are the bad guy? Wow ...
Did the test that determined that YES the ignitor is fried.Period,that is what I was asking about.The engine is grounded in 2 areas.Since I tested&found ignitor bad;shouldn;t it be replaced as requested?They wanted to know about the coil&wether dizzy grounded.All other tests after determining ignitor is bad;are irrelevant.Somebody is forgetting that in BUISINESSES "the customer is right"especially after following their test procedures--- can't go wrong with points;as an old timer stated
Not saying "bad guys"Just saying I/we found the issue.just asking to back the product without the extra flack
I'm guessing that most problems are people not checking their voltages and or not using the proper coils or other customer faults etc. I have used Pertonix for at least 15 years and use then in many points distributors. This amounts to over a dozen sets with no problem. If you have points, good luck when your condenser goes. This leaves you stranded also, so does a flat without a spare, so does a Transmission when it goes or a timing chain or fuel pump or or or or or or oor or or ......... The list goes on.. Just curious, how do they work with 12 volt generator cars and what kind of precautions do you need to take.
Oh yes you can!! One word... "Condensor" It probably fails more than a Pertronix goes bad. Seems that most so far that have had problems had voltage spikes or bad grounds or.... If points were so fail safe, every car would use them still. Quit living in the past and make points sound like this wonderful ignition that it's not.
I installed a Pertronix HEI in my 29 A lastweek,so far so good .but some of you guys are making me NeRvOuS. I will order one of their Coils just for insurance,as my Chromed Taiwan Coil might cause a reaction ??? Also I am installing new woven Ground straps from Engine to Frame and one from Body to frame.
If the customer doesn't follow the directions and burns up the unit with a faulty install, he is not right. You need to allow room for the slightest chance that you just set it up wrong- we all make mistakes. If it was me, I wouldn't send you another unit either, until you did the rest of what they asked you to, because if it's set up wrong, it's just gonna cook another good unit
I have Pertronix on the 350 in my 29 A pick-up. Was installed when I bought it. No issues for about a year of light driving. Truck started running rough. Found a fuel issue. Trash in tank. I pulled and cleaned the tank, lines and installed a new filter. Still ran like crap. Started trouble shooting ignition. Threw cap, rotor and plugs at it. No improvement. Figured out it was only hitting on 4 cyl. Swapped the wires from the dead cyl's to the good. Still only hitting on the same 4 cyl. Must be the Pertronix. So I tried points, wouldnt even start, This should have been a sign..... Called the Tech line, they were great, very helpfull. Unfortunately it passed all the tests. Grounds good , resistor good etc. So Tech guy says send it for further testing. I dont have time to wait, so I buy a new one from Austin Performance. Austin Performance has been selling them for years, only 3 have come back. Two were install errors. One was missing a magnet in the wheel. I installed the new unit.....CRAP same problem. Well I thought I had eliminated the plug wires cause swapping them around had no effect on the fault. Installed a new set of wires....BAM! Runs like a champ. My guess is the resistance of the old wires caused the module to only fire on 4 cyl. Moral of the story. Pertronix (old unit ) wasnt the cause. Pertronix Tech Line was helpfull. Added bonus...I have a spare module for the next project.
When I bought the petronix ignition;I also bought the matching flamethrower coil.Installed identical setup in my 58GMC truckwithout issues.I basically have made a 53-54 corvette engine,mechanic stated.It needs an HEI setup.?At any rate,no problems with the one in my truck(4yrs)Had 2 in car.First installed backwards.Second just left me scratching my head.Car in shop for a tune-up Thanks for all the feedback
Just to clarify, that distributor is NOT an HEI. HEI is commonly used term for a specific GM style distributor. That IS a PerTronix Flamethrower Distributor that uses either the Ignitor II or Ignitor III module, depending on which one you bought, and the coil needs are very specific to the module. You could very well damage it with a "Chromed Taiwan Coil" if the impedance (ohms) is wrong. I would figure this out ASAP before you have a problem. If you need help, let me know. Don
No sir not irrelevant. The company needs to know if you have other issues being the root cause of the failure. I'm quite certain they will give you a warranty replacement, but they can't do that if it will soon be bound to failure. Now they have a customer with 2 failures that are not the company's fault or the products fault, but a incorrect or faulty instalation. It is not about replaceing your unit, it is also about the reputation of the item in question and the company's reputation as well. I am not trying to belittle you sir by any means but shed some light from another business owner meaning- me. If I built you a dyno tuned and tested racing engine and you were puting in race fuel from a unknown source and you didn't want anyone to test that fuel, and yet you are complaining about pre-ignition issues, and it left my dyno perfectly fine, I wouldn't be able to help you either with any further testing or warranty's. I have no interest in Don or his company, I'm just trying to shed some light here, all the best sir, TR
Got my Cad 472 resurrected with these guy's HEI unit. They make one for your 235.... http://www.ebay.com/sch/bestvaluehotrod/m.html?item=140848577915&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562 What I have read about Pertronix kept me away from it - even though they had both the apps I was looing for even for the '62 Dart 318ci.......... Just ordered Mopar Performance electronic from SummitRacing for the Dart... Made by Mallory ... If I did have points in a car - they would be "Blue Streak".......
I odered the Flamethrower ll from Summit off their webpage ,the ad states HEI style Cap,I wish I had known there was an update= Ignitor lll available as I would have insisted on the newer style,they must be pushing the Ignitor ll to sell off the old stock ? the Ad I read and ordered from say's it is compatible with any inductive ignition coil,but would perform better with a matching Coil,so I thought my old coil would suffice,after reading all the posts on this thread I got a better understanding,that I better run the Pertronix ll Coil as well,so I ordered one and is on the way FED-Ex.I have driven the pickup about 20 miles after the install,and will let it sit until the proper Coil arrives.Thank You for noticing my post and your Reply. D.Mc
Exactly. Thank you. That's the point I was trying to make, but I always end up saying it wrong. Good advice ....
OK, HEI style cap just means the Male style terminals sticking out of the cap, like an HEI, versus Female style, like and Old points distributor. As far as the Ignitor II versus III, it's not a matter of old versus new, we make both still. The II is most appropriate for the majority of Street/Hot Rod - the III has multi-spark and a digital rev limiter, which is more than the average hot rod needs. You will not hurt anything using your old coil as it is probably higher resistance than the II needs, it will just perform Better with the matching coil
I installed ignitor 20 yrs ago to my 64 Galaxie, still running well. Also My Edsel got ignitor 2 yrs ago. Galaxie is running with stock coil, Today I installed Flame thrower to Edsel, It will start much faster than with original coil !
I have an Ignitor II module that GMC Bubba installed in my Y block distributor and an Ignitor III coil. Will I have problems ?
High charging voltage will do it . Had a petronix go bad and found bad alternator , putting out 18 volts when I turned on lights . I found bad ground on lights . Fixed the problem . Good luck.
That is Not a good combination. The Flamethrower II coil is very low resistance, .32 Ω. The Ignitor II was designed to be used with a .6 Ω coil. The lower resistance can create too much heat in the module and cause problems. I would Strongly recommend that you get the correct coil
I had the same problem (fried unit) as you one time with my Pertronix unit and the answer was simple. You have to be very careful with the wires coming out of the unit, you can short out and fry the unit. I put in a new unit placing the wiring very carefully and never had another issue with the Pertronix units. CRUISER
Ran a Pertronix in my 427 side oiler for over 10 years no problems Had that car up to 160mph. Running one in my flathead for a year now and it has been great. You must use proper coil and ignition wires!
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