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(Part 1--long)
My Pertronics did not go "Ka blooey" as in Daniel Neuman's experience,
but I think my problem(s) may have been related, because of what I
believe to be inadequate installation instructions (or maybe, because
I'm just not as smart as the average bear).
The Pertronics unit seems to be an excellent product--it markedly
improved the starting and idling of my '68 1600.
When installing it, however, several questions came to my mind.
First Installation:
First, the instructions specified that the coil resistance must be AT
LEAST 1.5 ohms. Mine measured (on an accurate, carefully zeroed) VOM,
1.49 ohms. Maybe not a biggie, but I still wondered about it.
Second, how to route the wiring from the sensor within the distributor.
I decided it would be best to route it behind the sensor (rather than on
the side of the magnet). Space was cramped behind the sensor. (Think
Daniel's problem may have been related to this--see later)
Third, what to do about that wire (within the distributor) between the
distributor base and the advance plate. Since the countersunk
holes/screws heads of the Pertronics unit did not seem to be appropriate
for a spade connector, I left out that wire.
Forth, what was that black, disc/cupped piece included in the kit for?
Nothing in the instructions mentioned it. On my first installation, I
finally decided to just ignore it, and put it back in the box.
Well, with these questions in mind, I was very uncertain when I went to
attempt to start the car. To my surprise, it started immediately, and
all I had to do was advance the timing, a rather significant amount
(7~10 degrees).
I thought it ran well and ventured down my volcano.
On the way back up the mountain, I experienced a brief period of missing
and backfiring, but it smoothed out, and I got home. Concerned, I
rechecked the timing, but could think of nothing else at that time.
A few days later, I mustered enough confidence to try again. This time,
on my way back up the mountain, it started missing, backfiring, and quit
completely. Bad news on a heavily traveled, two-lane road with little
or no shoulder. Eventually got it restarted and managed to limp home
backfiring a lot.
Second Pertronics Installation:
Even though I had followed Tom Walter's advice and had the points,
condensor, etc. in the glove box, the limited shoulder on Palani Rd, is
no place to accomplish that kind of replacement.
I had a 2nd distributor, not the better of the two, because the cam
seemed unevenly worn, causing unequal point gap on different lobes.
Didn't seem to be any shaft "slop".
So I decided to reinstall the Pertronics unit into distributor # 2, and
get new points, condensor, rotor and cap for distributor #1, to be
easily installed in the event of failure to # 2.
Well, on my second installation, I changed a few things. I installed
that wire from the distributor base to one securing screw of the
Pertronics unit.
I found a small, previously unused screw, from the "kit" which did fit
into a hole in the Pertronics plate; this I used to secure a small cable
clamp to hold the two wires away from the rotating magnet.
I replaced the 1.49 ohm coil with another I had which measures 1.6 ohm.
The black plastic "cup shaped disc", since it almost fit, I attempted
some slight "Dremel mods.", and it did fit, but the Dist. cap wouldn't
go over it! So that was put back in the box.
Anyhow, I have made it up and down the mountain without problem since
then, but still lack some confidence. It does start and run much
better, but I would be a lot more comfortable with a working distributor
# 1 (the back-up points distributor).
That IS a mind boggler. Will be in Part 2.
Aloha, Dave
Kailua-Kona
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Date: Sun, 03 Oct 1999 17:13:29 -1000
From: "David R. Conrad" <conrad1@gte.net>
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Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 21:17:25 -1000
From: "David R. Conrad" <conrad1@gte.net>
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To: Ross <datsun@istar.ca>
Subject: Pertronics (was Re: computer glitch)
References: <37DE9079.686E58FD@istar.ca> <37DF1C39.2575@gte.net>
<37DFBD33.7CB90EAB@istar.ca>
Ross:
Thanks for the response. (guess you've solved the problem about the
missing messages).
> What kind of coil are you using? Does it have an internal or external
> ballast resistor? we ran into some problems when we went to a bigger
> better coil with an internal resistor.
It's an old stock coil with an external ballast resistor. The
Pertronics info indicated it should be "at least" 1.5 ohm.
You may recall, that I e-mailed you that I was concerned that I could
measure only 1.49 ohms (on an accurate multimeter). I wondered about
how significant that was, and your reply suggested you might talk to
your dad about that. I have two other coils. One does measure slightly
above 1.5; the other is Lucas--I don't think so! :-)
The Pertronics Tech info is very deficient, in my opinion:
-- no information on routing of wiring inside distributor. First
time, ran them behind the sensor to prevent possible contact with
the rotating magnet
A small screw was included (didn't know what for), which on my 2nd
try (today) I used to
tie down the wires with my own small cable clamp.
-- a dish shaped disk was included in the kit. It *almost* fits above
the installation, below the rotor, but not quite. I relieved the
interference with a Dremel Tool, but then the Dist. cap would not
go over it. What's that disk for??
-- A ground connection between the dist. base and the advance plate, I
didn't connect the first time, because the countersunk screw heads
of the installation did not seem to be appropriate for a spade lug.
Anyhow, the instructions are *way* too general--not directed to a
specific application. Think maybe, failure to connect that ground wire
may have been the reason for my intermittent-type performance.
Anyhow, I had a 2nd distributor, in which today, I installed the
Pertronics unit. Ran it, and it did great (as it had the first time,
until quitting at the worst time). Installed new points, condensor, and
rotor in the 1st distributor, so that I'll be able to "slap it in" in
case of a Pertronics failure.
What has been your experience, if any, with this unit?
Aloha, Dave
----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > ... I would be happy to
> > forward from the list, but would like to know the time period of
> > interest.
> >
> > Still having problems with the Pertronics snd am about to initiate a
> > message to the list describing prob. and asking if others have
> > experienced/solved.
> >
> > Basically, starts and idles a *lot* better and usually runs well, except
> > that all of a sudden, it'll start missing, backfiring, and then quit.
> > Yesterday, it quit on me on the "no shoulder" Palani Rd. going up our
> > mountain with fairly heavy traffic. Adrenalin raising experience.
> > Finally got it restarted, and limped home with several stops, with a
> > loud backfire as I shut it down in the garage.
> >
> > I've sorta lost confidence, and am about to convert back to
> > points/condenser unless I can solve this.
> >
> > Aloha, Dave
>
> --
> Ross Mullen
> SPORTS IMPORTS - your Datsun Roadster Parts House
> Phone: (604) 538-5615
> FAX: 535-3538
> Web site: http://home.istar.ca/~datsun
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