Pertronix is da bomb

MarkB_MI · Sep 9, 2018

Well, I just converted my Ford four cylinder 4000 to electronic ignition with a Pertronix unit, and now I'm a convert too. I always thought it was silly to replace the stock points-and-condensor ignition; after all, how much spark does a 45 hp engine need? But for the past year the stock ignition has been driving me nuts. I've been unable to find replacement points that last more than a few hours, and at least one replacement condensor was bad right out of the box.

One of my co-workers was telling my how happy he was with the Pertronix conversion on his ski boat, so that convinced me to make the switch. It took less than 30 minutes to change out the components, then I bumped the starter and it fired up instantly. And prior to this, I was spending more time trying to get the tractor to run right than I was actually using it.

Royse · Sep 9, 2018

They work well when they work. Keep your points setup in the toolbox.
Mine lasted less than a week before the plastic magnet ring fell apart.
I assume this was a manufacturing defect, not a flaw in the product.

Pertronix support is awesome. No sarcasm there, they are.
I told them what happened and they sent me a new one free of charge.
It still took a week to get here so I put my points back in so I could use my tractor.

The brand new EI is still hanging on my pegboard.
I might put it back in someday, but my points work fine.
I noticed no difference in how it started or ran.
The benefit for me would have been in not having to maintain points.
But as it turned out, I had to do more than that in a week. YMMV

PaGlenn · Sep 9, 2018

I bought a Pentronix system for my 67 3cyl gas Ford when I was at the farm. I ran the Ford for four years with the point system waiting for it to fail in order to install the Pentronix. It started on the button each year after sitting all winter. That's why I didn't do the Pentronix setup. I was just waiting...?.Left the farm 10yrs ago. Don't know if the new owner installed the system?

MarkB_MI · Sep 9, 2018

> Mine lasted less than a week before the plastic magnet ring fell apart.

Although the instructions say the rotor fits tightly on the distributor cam, mine is a bit loose. I wonder if they were having problems with too-tight rings 'sploding like yours, so they made the fit a bit looser?

Steve@Advance · Sep 9, 2018

I'm a firm believer!

Installed several and never had a problem. Most were on forklifts that see a lot of hours.

Put one on the old lift at work. It has a Red Seal Continental with the distributor in the center of the head. That makes it run hot, cooks the grease out of the bushings and gets sloppy. Points don't like it but the Pertronix doesn't care, just keeps on sparking!

I haven't had the cap off in years. Last time it was off was when I got it wet pressuring washing under the hood.

Ultradog MN · Sep 9, 2018

Lots of arguments about electronic ignition.
Lots of naysayers and guys who scoff at it.
Funny but rarely do you hear from guys who have installed it and didn't like it.
Royse, I have read your story many times about how your ei kit was defective with the implication that Pertronix is no good.
I do not think your experience with ei counts for much as you never actually used it.
And Pertronix did make good on the defective part.
Put the kit in and run it for a couple of years.
Then tell us what you think of it.

oldtanker · Sep 9, 2018

I've put 4 of em in now and have no complaints at all. 2 in Ford 8Ns, Farmall M and in a JD 4020 gasser for a friend.

Rick

Billy Shafer · Sep 9, 2018

I was given a case of them. To install in some Onan JC units.I thought they were a waste of time. Until I installed a set. Best thing I ever did. Faster starting and smother running.

JMOR · Sep 9, 2018

(quoted from post at 22:04:33 09/09/18) Lots of arguments about electronic ignition.
Lots of naysayers and guys who scoff at it.
Funny but rarely do you hear from guys who have installed it and didn't like it.
Royse, I have read your story many times about how your ei kit was defective with the implication that Pertronix is no good.
I do not think your experience with ei counts for much as you never actually used it.
And Pertronix did make good on the defective part.
Put the kit in and run it for a couple of years.
Then tell us what you think of it.

ome on now! Get real! If he never used it, how did it fall apart? It is obvious by now that you never have a dog in these EI fights, so why don't you just go back to your Jr high debate team and be happy. Personally, anybody can use EI or not and I don't care!

Ultradog MN · Sep 10, 2018

I like and respect Royse but do you really
think that his experience was a legitimate
long term test of Pertronix products?
Or was his experience a fluke?
I bought a set of Goodyear tires for my
pickup once. After 20K miles they had wires
from the steel belts sticking out of the
sidewalls.
Stuff happens.
Goodyear, above and beyond the pro rated
warranty, replaced them for free. Do you
think that one experience qualifys me to
rate the quality and performance of all
Goodyear products even today? Or was my
experience with them likewise a fluke?
When the topic of Goodyear tires comes
up should I focus on the defective tires
they sold me or focus on a good company
that ponied up and fixed the problem for
me?
I suppose That depends on one's attitude
and well, we all know how you would weigh
in.

JMOR · Sep 10, 2018

(quoted from post at 06:23:49 09/10/18)
I like and respect Royse but do you really
think that his experience was a legitimate
long term test of Pertronix products?
Or was his experience a fluke?
I bought a set of Goodyear tires for my
pickup once. After 20K miles they had wires
from the steel belts sticking out of the
sidewalls.
Stuff happens.
Goodyear, above and beyond the pro rated
warranty, replaced them for free. Do you
think that one experience qualifys me to
rate the quality and performance of all
Goodyear products even today? Or was my
experience with them likewise a fluke?
When the topic of Goodyear tires comes
up should I focus on the defective tires
they sold me or focus on a good company
that ponied up and fixed the problem for
me?
I suppose That depends on one's attitude
and well, we all know how you would weigh
in.

hat would be one not so eager to hear his jaw flap as someone else that everyone else knows. :roll:

John T · Sep 10, 2018

From an electrical engineers standpoint of course solid state electronic ignitions are superior in theory and in practical terms AS LONG AS THEY ARE WORKING. I've heard of BOTH good and bad experiences over many many years. If they go south unfortunately you're stuck unlike the old points where you may be able to file them and get back to the shop. The problem I've observed and experienced with conversions is they are obviously NOT up to the par quality and reliability of factory installed modern automobile ignition systems WELL DUH.... I'm still a fan of tractor conversions as so long as they are working they can (subject to switch and coil used etc) deliver more spark energy then the old system and points begin deteriorating from the moment they are first used.

BOTTOM LINE some like them and have had good experience, while others don't like them and had bad experience. To each their own and it would be a boring world if all had the same opinion lol

John T

MarkB_MI · Sep 10, 2018

> If they go south unfortunately you're stuck unlike the old points where you may be able to file them and get back to the shop.

John, that's precisely why I put off converting for so long. But with the crappy quality of ignition components these days, it got to the point where I was spending more time filing points than actually using my tractor.

Butch(OH) · Sep 10, 2018

Same experience with crappy tune up parts but after reading about the electronic conversion failures I withdrew from that route. Since all of my gas tractors use the same points I punched my Delco point numbers into Ebay search and bought up 20 sets of old stock genuine Delco points and condensers for a couple bucks each. While I was at it I also bought up several boxes of NOS AC-45 plugs. Enough tune up parts for my life time and then some. Just a note that there are currently manufactured Delco brand(ed) points available but they are no better than the aftermarket junk as they are outsourced. As John said, different strokes for different folks, just the route I took.

Ultradog MN · Sep 10, 2018

Is this supposed to mean something?
It is neither coherent nor decipherable.
Try a little remedial writing jmor.
Maybe start at the jr high level.

Traditional Farmer · Sep 10, 2018

What all is involved in installing the Pertronix ignition?

JMOR · Sep 10, 2018

(quoted from post at 10:06:02 09/10/18) What all is involved in installing the Pertronix ignition?

ike almost everything in life, 'it depends'. Depends on which Pertronix unit and make/model of tractor. On some, just remove points and attach module to same mounting holes as points and run two wires thru hole already in side of distributor, whereas on others, the old breaker plate needs to be removed and replaced with a different plate, hole needs to be drilled in side of distributor or if present a vent may need removal for wires to/from module to outside distributor, magnet assembly installed on shaft, and if older Ford with front mount distributor & changing to externally mounted coil, then you find a suitable location to mount the new coil/bracket and run primary & secondary wires and install block off plate and special distributor cap. Some require removing or modifying distributor dust shield and some require adding a ballast resistor and associated wiring. Some require a change to RFI suppression spark plug and coil wires. Pertronix provides instructions with each unit.

MarkB_MI · Sep 10, 2018

On my four-cylinder Ford it was simple. My tractor has been converted to 12 volts, so I used the 12 volt negative ground kit, 1244A. Removed the points and condenser. Removed the wire and other electrical hardware connecting the coil primary winding to the points. Installed the plate that contains the pickup module where the points and condensor used to be. Ran the red and black wires and grommet through the distributor primary coil wire hole. Trimmed the red and black wires, crimped ring terminals to their ends and connected to the coil + and - terminals. Installed the magnet rotor over the distributor cam. Then reinstalled the distributor dust cover, rotor clip, rotor and distributor cap. Done.

Texasmark1 · Sep 10, 2018

Back when I ran gassers, I used them and never looked back.

Geo-TH,In · Sep 10, 2018

Mark,
I replaced the tach/hour meter when I bought my Jubilee. Tach now shows 350 hours. It was converted to 12v before I bought it. I've never replaced points and condenser. It fires right off. I did put a 12v starter on it. I did modified wiring to make it the way my cars were wired in the 60's. Cars bypassed the ballast resistor when starter was engaged applying full voltage to coil. Most people forget to do than when converting to 12v. Too small ballast resistor will burn points.

Two Dogs · Sep 10, 2018

I put that on my FE35 about ten years ago. It still fires off almost before I turn loose of the switch. TDF

Royse · Sep 10, 2018

"Royse, I have read your story many times about how your ei
kit was defective with the implication that Pertronix is no good."

No implication intended, mine was simply defective.
That can and does happen with any manufacturer.
I also made note of Pertronix excellent customer service, every
time I've posted that experience.

I'll agree with you that it was a short lived test, but there were
still valuable lessons learned. One, that if and when it goes
south, you are dead in the water until a new one arrives unless
you plan to keep a spare $100 part on hand all the time.
Two, my tractor did not start or run any better than it does with
correctly adjusted, quality points. The quality points part was
apparently OP's reason for converting.
When I can no longer get quality points maybe I'll put it back in.

BTW, you mentioned that you've seen me post that several
times, and I have, but I don't remember exactly when the first
post was. I do know I haven't had to touch that used set of
points since I put them back in to get the tractor running.

Pertronix is da bomb

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