[Healeys] Missing under Load

Oudesluys coudesluijs at chello.nl
Thu Jun 4 04:31:40 MDT 2015


Leaving the ignition on for a long time kills most electronic ignition 
systems.

Another often overlooked problem is:
Check the impedance of the coil plus ballast resistor if fitted. The 
total impedance should be more than 3 Ohm for most electronic ignition 
systems unless specified otherwise. If  a ballast resistor (ca. 1,5 Ohm) 
is fitted  and if the electronic ignition is connected over the coil 
(ca. 1,5 Ohm) only, the impedance is only ca. 1,5 Ohm leading to the 
electronic ignition and coil overheating/burning out. It should be 
connected over coil and ballast resistor in series. It is also advisable 
to disconnect the wire from the starter(relay) to the coil/ballast 
resistor terminal as this one will take out the ballast resistor during 
starting up to counteract the Voltage drop. This is usually not needed 
with electronic ignition.
If originally no ballast resistor is fitted the impedance of the coil 
should be about 3 Ohms so you can safely fit the electr. ign. straight 
to the coil.
It is always wise to check the impedance first, whatever is fitted. PO's 
may have been messing around.

As Derek suggested, if you have an electronic ignition from Petronix or 
similar, get a dirt cheap Powerspark unit as a spare. Easier to replace 
"en route" than installing points or a spare distributor.
Kees Oudesluijs






Derek Job schreef op 4-6-2015 om 11:22:

I was a great supporter of points, not because I thought they were 
better but just because of originality and part of the 'fun' was 
adjusting them. Since I switched to Powerspark (same as Pertronix) the 
car runs much better throughout the rev range. I can buy the Powerspark 
for £28.00 so I keep a spare one in the boot instead of having to switch 
back to points if the first one fails.

My first Powerspark did actually fail after about 6 months but i think I 
may have caused that problem when working on the lighting circuit over 
winter and  leaving the ignition on for longer than was probably advisable.

Derek
>
> On Thu, Jun 4, 2015 at 8:12 AM, Oudesluys <coudesluijs at chello.nl 
> <mailto:coudesluijs at chello.nl>> wrote:
>
>     "Talked to Jeff with Advanced Distributors.... Strongly suggested
>     I install points instead of the Petronics"
>     Bull shit!
>     Concerning distributor caps and plug wires I very much agree to
>     have copper core wires and and an OE, preferably NOS Lucas distr. cap.
>     Some time ago I bought a bunch for the 23/25D4 distr. from a stand
>     that is clearing stock from old garages on a classic car show,
>     some original Lucas, some aftermarket but all NOS with copper
>     instead of aluminium "contacts". Stuff from the 50's to 70's.
>     Kees Oudesluijs
>

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