TR2/3/3A Ignition Issues

[Goose55]

Hi wise ones,

I've upgraded the ignition system in my Triumph TR2 with a flamethrower coil, cobolt leads, and new key barrel. Problem is now she cranks over nicely but doesn't start. I replaced the points with a petronix a few years ago so I'm wondering if this has gone bad or if the timing needs to be adjusted for the new coil, or if there's something else that anyone can recommend. Thanks.

 

[charleyf]

Hi wise ones,

I've upgraded the ignition system in my Triumph TR2 with a flamethrower coil, cobolt leads, and new key barrel. Problem is now she cranks over nicely but doesn't start. I replaced the points with a petronix a few years ago so I'm wondering if this has gone bad or if the timing needs to be adjusted for the new coil, or if there's something else that anyone can recommend. Thanks.

I am not familiar with the cobalt leads. But I did learn the hard way that when using a electronic ignition system you need to use silicone type plug wires. I used copper core and it killed the electronics in very short order.
Charley

 

[CJD]

Another petronix thread. If you do a search, you will find there are at least 3 times more threads envolving petronix as points.

I used to be a huge gearhead. I always bought the latest Accel, MSD, Mallory or any other ignition that came along. They all worked wonderfully...until they didn't. Every time they died, I kept the original points in the trunk, so I'd swap them back in in about 10 minutes and be back on the road. In my later life, when I grew tired of breaking down and working on the side of busy freeways, I developed a policy of never buying any part that was not offered from the factory. The reason is the factory had to offer a 1-10 year warranty, while aftermarket balks on a 30 day warranty...often not allowing any electronic part to come back. Thanks to that policy, I haven't broken down on the side of the road in decades.

Sorry, just rambling. I do not know what your problem is, but there sure are a lot of P nix threads.

 

[donbmw]

I have had more issues using the Petronix the two times I have used it. Went back to points many years ago. Better starting and performance.

 

[Gliderman8]

I’m odd man out here. I’ve been running a Pertronix for the last 19 years without a problem whatsoever. Go back and check your rotor and cap to make sure they look good.
Also, make sure your wires are coming off the distributor in the correct order.

 

[Sarastro]

None of us can tell if your Pertronix unit has gone bad. You just have to do some tests to determine it.

But before that, you need to check the wiring, make sure that the right wires go to the right cylinders, be sure the ignition wires are pushed all the way into the cap and plugs, and so on. Be sure they are in the right order. I strongly suspect that one of these is your problem.

As for the Pertronix, it's possible you have blown it while futzing around, trying to upgrade your ignition system. You might try installing a set of points and capacitor, get the car running, and then reinstall the Pertronix unit. You can't definitively test the Pertronix any way I can think of.

You don't need to do anything to the timing to compensate for the new coil.

While we're on the subject, these super-duper, umpteen thousand volt fire-breather chest thumper coils are a scam. They are insignificantly different from coils that don't make any special claims. I have spent some time making electronic measurements of all the coils I can find, and there is no significant difference between them. The best one I've found, if I split some hairs to pick it, is the cheapo conventional Lucas coil (about $20; NOT the sports coil). There is very little you can do to improve the spark energy by coil selection.