After 2 failed Pertronix ignitors, I put in points and it runs again

[sdowney717]

First Ignitor I did last over 10 years. Then went to start up and nothing. Discovered had no spark.
So few days ago, I bought a replacement Ignitor II, worked about 15 minutes then dead, no spark. Reconnected wires, It worked, left for the day. Today went to boat, no spark Ignitor II is dead.
Very unhappily, I put in points and condenser. New points though I had to sand as connection was bad. Then points worked great. I was wondering if the place I ordered from, can I return it?
Speedway motors.

 

[sdowney717]

was nice that with the points, the timing was about the same as with pertronix. I had to retard a little as the idle was too high.

 

[Scott Danforth]

speedway will point you to pertronix. your experience is like many others (I had 3 different installations fail) check your dwell on the points.

 

[Lou C]

I thought this over & over but never had much trouble with points. So my 4.3 4bbl Cobra still has the Prestolite points distributor. The thing to keep in mind is when our cars had points ignition, we changed points @ 12,000 miles, the average recreational boat does maybe 50 hrs per season so the points just don’t wear out that fast. The set in mine now I installed in 2016! All the years I had points I have had one failure to run (1965 VW Beetle) and one of running lousy (boat, bad condenser). Not too bad for so much time!

 

[sdowney717]

speedway will point you to pertronix. your experience is like many others (I had 3 different installations fail) check your dwell on the points.

I talked with Speedway Motors, apparently this was an open box return they had clearanced. So they refunded me the entire amount $100, and gave me a UPS shipping label. They agreed since it was an earlier return, it was probably defective. So did not have to deal with Pertronix.

I actually don't mind points, they are easy to install, these were new points I had ordered from Rock Auto, and sometimes these things, you do need to clean the points as some oxidation builds up in warehouse storage. When closed, the points did not always close the connection. So it took me a while fiddling with them to figure that out. Like closed points infinite ohms...

Thing is you want reliability, so I am thinking order another set of points for other motor incase it's ignitor I fails.

 

[sdowney717]

I don't have a dwell meter, I don't rev the motors high. I think if your are pushing your motors hard, stuff like that is more of an issue. I typically cruise around at low RPM of about 1500.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I don't have a dwell meter, I don't rev the motors high. I think if your are pushing your motors hard, stuff like that is more of an issue. I typically cruise around at low RPM of about 1500.

Wrong. Setting points with a dwell meter is about coil saturation and full burn of the fuel charge. Which leads to better fuel economy, better power, and better idle quality

 

[Lou C]

When I discovered the GM/Delco window distributor with the allen key dwell adjustment (engine running) it was like magic! 1972 Chevy Impala 350. When I set the ones on the boat I use a remote starter switch & dwell meter. Faster & more accurate.

 

[cyclops222]

You have a Ohmmeter on the boat.
Computer or a point controlled motor ?

 

[Lou C]

Yes I do have a Volt/ammeter on the boat as well as spare points condenser cap n rotor!