I'd
like to share a "techtip" that I learned the hard and expensive way with
the GGLC membership. I installed a Pertronix Ignitor electronic ignition
about a year ago on my twincam that, in effect, replaced the condenser
and points. The engine idle improved very noticeably, and the engine's
high speed performance, also, seemed to improve somewhat. The Smiths tachometer,
however, was an exercise in frustration, and I finally just gave up on
it - replacing it with an "a-pillar" mounted modern unit that functions
infinitely better.
My
unfortunate experience with the Ignitor occurred a couple months ago on
a country road miles from home. All was well with the world. The weather
was clear - albeit quite warm, the roads nearly deserted and twisty and
the Elan was working well. That is, until the motor stopped. Ignition failure.
Open the hood, and there's the problem clear as day - the coil wire (the
big one) had come disconnected at the coil end. Just plug it back in and
go again. Right? Wrong! Turned the key and nothing. No amount of fixing,
fiddling, fretting and fussing (the car guy's 4-Fs) would make the twincam
spark.
Jumping
way ahead and sparing you all the unpleasant details of getting the car
back home again which involved a long walk (it was actually very hot and
I was wearing bad walking/good driving shoes), a bad meal and a flatbed
AAA truck (oh, there's another good tip - buy the AAA-Plus service for
$125) - the problem was fixed by installing a new Ignitor. The way we figured
it was this: the "plug" wire when disconnected from the coil came into
close proximity with a "good ground" and shorted the electronic ignition's
little "brain." There are many "good grounds" near the coil of my Elan
- engine, chassis - take your pick!
So
this is the tip: If you have a Pertronix Ignitor installed, make
certain that it does not short circuit. There's actually a note in the
instructions that warns against switching the wires of the coil around.
For my case, I siliconed the bejesus out of the coil/plug wire boot going
into the coil…
Mel
Boss
********************************************
This
one is more of a forehead-slapper than a true "tech tip" but nevertheless
I think it will be helpful as I sure wish I had thought of it beforehand.
My
sole semi-motorhead neighbor once bestowed upon me a tube of Hylomar Aero
Grade Gasket & Jointing compound to assist with sealing the Jensen-Healey's
valve covers. Now faced with replacing the cheese-ball chrome valve covers
on Truckzilla I dug
|
|