Paul wrote,
>Hi all:
>
>I need some advice. After being a very dependable cold weather Alpine
>for many years, this winter my Series V developed a distinct distaste
>for starting. Battery is fine, starter is fine, drawing a "normal"
>load. Pertronix ignition with Weber 32/36 carb. The choke activates
>properly.
>Many years ago I had a problem with the ballast resistor/coil and
>ignition wiring. To make a long story short, it melted the insulation
>from the wiring. I replaced the wiring from the coil to the switch,
>replaced the original coil with a non-resistor coil and have run the car
>that way in summer and in cool weather of early spring and fall (circa
>30 degrees or so) for the past 9 or ten years. Suddenly, this year, it
>has become most difficult about starting. The timing is correct, the
>fuel line between tank/pump and carb is free flowing. I have new plugs,
>a new air filter, new fuel filter, a humongous battery with plenty of
>cranking power.
>
>I notice that while cranking I do not have any movement on the tach.
>Immediately upon moving the switch from the crank to the run position I
>will have a bump on the tach needle.
I have worked with pertonics units.
As I recall, they are not specified to opperate with a ballast-less
system. The problem is that without the ballast resistor, the current
is quite high at low RPMs. As I recall, the pertronics unit has a
built in current protection cicuit that will keep the unit somewhat
protected in the case of a shorted coil. The internal dwell control
circuit is altered off this current level, and the result is a very
weak spark.
Oh, and the coil will also have a lower DC resistance when it is cold,
which will compound this effect.
My advice would be to install a ballast (1 ohm 10/20W) and a normal
type coil (Bosch) makes afew good ones. Then connect the a wire from
the starter relay field terminal to the coil+ connection.
This will give you full powered starts and limit the coil current
otherwise, the pertronics unit will be far happier, and will likely
last a long time. It is not likely to last a long time without the
ballast installed.
Jarrid Gross
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