Checking a distributor with a Pertronix

Like ***le; I have a distributor on bench I would like to check to see if it works. It was on a running engine a few years ago; but ended up on the shelf. With a points dist. I usually hook up a coil and turn the dist and see if spark comes out of the coil; would think this would be the same; but?

There are some scuffs on the bottom of the magnet ring; not sure how they got there as there is clearance to the sensor when the shaft is held up or down. The dist is shimmed tighter than I am used to seeing; maybe it was too loose and rubbed and then my buddy shimmed it tighter.

Probably easier just to put a set of points back in it.

 

I’m not the biggest fan of Pertronix , my thoughts toss it and points as God made it . I would think you hook up a coil correctly spin it and it should make spark if in good shape .

 

If you test it like points, see if it's a PI or PII model. PII will forgive you for leaving it on,PI will burn up. If unsure, hook everything up with power last and spin the distributor. Get your answer and power it off.

 

I currently have one on my distributer machine. It is the PIII model and hooks up like a set of points.

This version has the multi spark and that messes with the indicated timing.

I bought it because it has a built in rev limiter. I put it on the distributer machine to see if the rev limiter works, it does.

 

Pertronix ll, their coil, I used my stock ballast resister. 12 years, the timing never changes off spec. Plugs show perfect. I clean the cap inside every 2 years with a toothbrush.