Electronic ignition

[pitzey]

Hi Everyone ,

I have been having problems with cold starting my stag , she does go well once warm ... so is it worth fitting electronic ignition if so what is the best and has any one got a good second hand one .


regards Paul

[wilf]

Hi Paul.

Working properly, the standard system should have no problems firing up the car from cold.

So, rather than spend money on an electronic system, it would be better to find out just what is making the car difficult to start and fix that problem first. Might be carb rather than ignition.

[Ian Durrant]

Or your ballast resistor bypass circuit might not be working and some types of electronic ignition wont compensate for that anyway.

[Andy Rundell]

I'd agree that it is worth investigating to resolve the root-cause of your problems, but I would strongly recommend a good electronic ignition as a wise improvement to remove one common point (no pun intended) of variability/wear/adjustment.
From those commonly available today i'd go for a Pertronix (Aldon) Ignitor.

........ Andy

[marshman]

I'd agree that it is worth investigating to resolve the root-cause of your problems, but I would strongly recommend a good electronic ignition as a wise improvement to remove one common point (no pun intended) of variability/wear/adjustment.
From those commonly available today i'd go for a Pertronix (Aldon) Ignitor.

........ Andy

And several more common points (pun intended) of total failure (trigger unit, control box etc.)- judging by the number of posts on the forum about failure of electronic ignition systems - but I guess you could see if you can find one on BOGOF (buy one get one free) - that way you have a spare for when the first one fails.

Personally I would keep the original points system in and just keep it serviced - 5 minute job every 6000 miles or so. Never had a points system totally fail without warning on any car.

Of course this is my own personal opinion based on my own feelings and observations (not any any hard facts) as usual do your own research and make your own decision.

More seriously, as the others have said find the source of the problem first, a healthy Stag should have no problem starting no matter how hot or cold it is. If the car runs OK once started my guess would be look at the choke first. Or maybe just give it a service (points gap, timing, mixture) first and see if that cures it. Next make sure the coil is getting the full 12v whilst the engine is being cranked over.

Roger

[Andy Rundell]

And several more common points (pun intended) of total failure (trigger unit, control box etc.)- judging by the number of posts on the forum about failure of electronic ignition systems - but I guess you could see if you can find one on BOGOF (buy one get one free) - that way you have a spare for when the first one fails.

i have yet to see a thread on Pertronix Ignitor failure..... now, Luminition and the cheap-as-chips Ignitor-copies is quite another story

...... Andy

[KOY 23]

i have yet to see a thread on Pertronix Ignitor failure..... now, Luminition and the cheap-as-chips Ignitor-copies is quite another story

...... Andy

Agree. The consolation of a BOGOF in the glovebox is little consolation when the cheap one fails, always at the wrong moment.

[Staggard]

i have yet to see a thread on Pertronix Ignitor failure..... now, Luminition and the cheap-as-chips Ignitor-copies is quite another story

...... Andy

I think you needs fact's and figures before you can come to that conclusion. My car has had a Lumination for many many years and many many miles. Yes it's just packed up but nothing lasts for ever.

[marshman]

i have yet to see a thread on Pertronix Ignitor failure..... now, Luminition and the cheap-as-chips Ignitor-copies is quite another story

...... Andy

Not on the Stag forum BUT.........

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=830806&page=2

or just type "pertronix failure" into google and see what crops up!

As I said before no hard facts just good old hearsay and conjecture with a healthy dose of gut feeling

Roger

[V Mad]

Its easy to check the coil boost voltage when starting, and it might be the cause of the cold start problem. Also check the choke cables are set correctly so the enerichment levers are fully operated.

Points are fine if you have the equipment (dwell meter) and the skill to set them up properly.

But electronic ignition can be so cheap these days it a no brainer. I know Aldon (Pertronix) have a good reputation but then I never yet heard of a failure of the new budget systems either (Accuspart/Powerspark etc).

[V Mad]

Not on the Stag forum BUT.........

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=830806&page=2

or just type "pertronix failure" into google and see what crops up!

As I said before no hard facts just good old hearsay and conjecture with a healthy dose of gut feeling

Roger

Thats worrying. It's the first I've heard of it.

[Ian Durrant]

Everything fails eventually. Searching internet forums will give you the bad news stories not the good. Frankly the cheap as chips magnetic trigger units are no more likely to fail and being as cheap as chips means you can carry a spare. I'd rather have a spare than the vague hope that one I paid more money for will be any more reliable.

Without a doubt the buy cheap pay twice is valid with many things, but with electronics it's far less clear cut IMHO.

[V Mad]

The problem with electronic modules like ignition, sold into the classic market is that they can be mis-wired in so many combinations. Latent damage can occur, unknown to the user which can result in an unexpected failure later. Then the unit gets the blame for being unreliable.

[iani]

i have yet to see a thread on Pertronix Ignitor failure..... now, Luminition and the cheap-as-chips Ignitor-copies is quite another story

...... Andy

And these Lumenition systems might typically have been fitted for 20+ years unlike the £30 alternatives available today?

[Staggard]

The problem with electronic modules like ignition, sold into the classic market is that they can be mis-wired in so many combinations. Latent damage can occur, unknown to the user which can result in an unexpected failure later. Then the unit gets the blame for being unreliable.

Well ! the electronic ign systems for a Stag, you would have to pretty stupid to miss wire them, and the magnetic modules that I have come across if you change -for+ blows the unit, so the only failure later is, you have to buy another one.