Pertronix Ignitor! I'm just sayin!

[Boomyal]

Just couldn't keep from sharing this. I have owned an old (1962) 4 cylinder, propane powered Hyster forklift for years. I only use it about every 6-8 weeks. It sits inside an unheated 40 ft storage container, winter and summer.

Even with new points it has always been iffy that it will start up when I need it. As there is no electricity to the container, the battery is often on the soft side.

A couple of years ago, I rounded up a Pertronix ignitor for it but it sat on the counter until earlier this year. I finally had it with the iffy start ups so I installed the ignitor.

Now the last two times I have used the forklift, I hit the prime button a few times, hit the key and away it roars.

It's great when something works so well. Now I just have to remember to never leave the key on because they do not make the II version for this industrial distributor.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Pertronix Ignitor! I'm just sayin!

Yup, great mod for old points ignitions. We put it into a triumph spitfire my wife used to have, really helped on the starts after it had been sitting for months at a time.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Pertronix Ignitor! I'm just sayin!

A few years back I installed one on my '65 Mustang which sat around a lot. They make the II version for the Mustang. Immediately it started quicker and ran smoother without waiting for it to heat up to even out.

I also run one on my 5.0 L boat motor.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Pertronix Ignitor! I'm just sayin!

I run version III in my goat. It has a built in rev limiter. I think it's a great setup. Bye, bye points, forever!

 

[dolluper]

Re: Pertronix Ignitor! I'm just sayin!

Yep they are good as long as you have the right coil set up if not you could have coil arcing or coil neck splitting problems

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Pertronix Ignitor! I'm just sayin!

I run version III in my goat. It has a built in rev limiter. I think it's a great setup. Bye, bye points, forever!

Points do suck!

Dolluper, be interesting to see. I retained the use of what I assume to be the original coil. I do not know whats it's specs are nor do I know how to find out. One thing about it is that unlike a car or a boat, the forklift does not run for long periods of time.

 

[salty87]

Re: Pertronix Ignitor! I'm just sayin!

i bought one (actually a II) over a year ago and haven't gotten around to installing it...for boat (454, not sure which distributor).

how accurate does the dwell need to be set before installing the pertronix?

 

[ezbtr]

Re: Pertronix Ignitor! I'm just sayin!

Yup, they great, used a set in mt 68 Stang fastback with a rather hyper 302 :>), worked great!

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Pertronix Ignitor! I'm just sayin!

i bought one (actually a II) over a year ago and haven't gotten around to installing it...for boat (454, not sure which distributor).

how accurate does the dwell need to be set before installing the pertronix?

Don't need to set any dwell Salty, that is part of the beauty of the Pertronix. All you need to do is slap it in and set the gap. (assuming your distrib does not use the model with the module fixed on a replacement plate)

Pertronix II uses what they call 'adaptive dwell'.

One thing I would do, if one had the chance, would be to check the phasing. To do that, take any old cap and drill the biggest hole you can between the coil post and the #1 plug wire post. Use a white paint pen to draw a line down the center of the rotor top strap. Fire up the engine and take your timing light and aim it down the hole. Your TL should flash just as the white line lines up with the #1 plug wire tower.

You can do this with points as well. I had a huge issue on my centrifugal advance boat distrib. It was firing so far away from the #1 lug that the rotor was firing off the side wall of the cap.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Pertronix Ignitor! I'm just sayin!

Pertronix units are especially good to milk more life out of a worn distributor with a wobbly shaft that will drive conventional points crazy. Worn shafts won't hold a dwell angle or gap. A thorough rework/lube and cleaning of the advance weights are in order before you install a Pertronix unit to get it to really work. I've had some wierd tach issues using Pertronix units with Lucas distributors is my only issue with them.