[TR] Pertronix Failure?

Randall tr3driver at ca.rr.com
Wed May 15 20:45:05 MDT 2019


Well, maybe. Is it loose on the point can? Or does the point cam just turn back and forth a bit?
Or does the whole mess move side to side?

It normal for the point cam to be able to turn slightly. But there should be no side to side play; and the plastic piece should be tight on the point cam.

Side play is usually a sign of wear in the shaft bushing. If the plastic piece is loose, its probably just time, heat and vibration vs cheap plastic.
-- Randall

On 15 May 2019 18:41:10 GMT-07:00, TERRY SMITH <terryrs at comcast.net> wrote:
>Okay, so I was wrong.  I thought the intermittent engine miss on the
>TR3 had to do with a dislodged damper on the forward carb.  Test drive
>said no, engine still stumbled, cleared, stumbled again.  Changed fuel
>filters out because they were due anyway.  Problem persisted.  Checked
>the floats movements, all fine.  Problem persisted.  Finally just
>swapped the carbs entirely with spares that I knew worked, problem
>persisted.  So...not fuel.  If it were valves, it wouldn't be
>intermittent, unless a valve were sticking, right?  
>
>
>Next up assumption is it's electrical.  Swapped the distributor, wires
>and rotor with spares I knew worked.  Problem persisted.  Checked for
>potential electrical shorts.  Nothing obvious.  Yeesh!
>
>
>I run a Pertronix.  Went online and read about Pertronix
>troubleshooting.  Piece I read mentioned that the trigger magnet that
>spins on the rotor can come loose and affect the timing.  I checked
>this and LO!  The trigger magnet is indeed loose.  I seem to remember
>when I put it on some eight or nine years ago, that it went on tight. 
>But it now wiggles about an eighth of an inch back and forth, maybe a
>bit more.  
>
>
>So question.  Do I remember correctly, it's supposed to be tight?  And
>second, what would cause it to come loose over time?
>
>
>I know it could still be a sticking valve, but this first.  Thanks,
>everyone for patience with this long message.
>
>
>Terry Smith, '59 TR3A
>
>New Hampshire
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