No spark, No Fun

[spareparts]

over the years, I've probably installed more than 50 pertronix conversions. I only had 1 go bad, and it was because teh coil leaked oil out thru a rust hole in the bottom, then teh resistance on teh coil droped, buring out the ignitor. I suspect the dealer was having an installation issue

[Road King Cole]

Thanks SP. I think I will end up going electronic. Is it just remove the points and install the new pickup\sender? Do you keep the same resistor wire that runs to the coil? Wouldn't timing need to be checked again?

BTW, I didn't have much time to work on the boat last night. Tried the new coil, checked the other wires for ground, still no start. I now think it could be the wire from the coil to the points.

[THEFERMANATOR]

The ones I've done you simply remove the points and condenser. Bolt the pick-up in using the screw for the points and slide a plastic drum over the distributor shaft(some new ones don't require this part though). You leave the coil hooked up like before except you connect the black wire to the negative side of the coil where the points wire used to be, and hook the red one to a 12V+ side. If the coil had a resistor leave it installed and hook that red wire in BEFORE the resistor. Low voltage to the pick-up module WILL kill it. You should re-check the timing, but chances are it will be REAL close.

[spareparts]

on the pertronix you replace the point plate(real easy) when updating the delco type distributor, the instructions are easy to follow. While you have the point plate off, check the advance weights and springs, make sure they aren't broken or stuck, spray them down with a little lube(CRC656), but not too much. Check voltage at purple wire, it will run on less than 12 Volts(its in the instructions), but I allways un did the wrap on the harness, followed the wire back to the resister loop, cut it out and replaced the wire to the coil, I figured I'd eliminate any future issue with the resistor wire. Check the resistance on the coil, and check the timing when you're done(4 degrees btdc)