Electronic distributors

[Lizzy12]

Good afternoon all.


I have a 1098 engine 1968 moggie
I having recently installed an acuspark electronic 45 D distributor and the recommended Lucus sports coil .
The rotor arm that came with the unit is useless and needed to be changed straight away as the misfire was terrible with it in and car kept stalling .

It is still on standard ignition leads with new rotor arm it is running but often sounds as if it is missing and lacks power . Do I need to use sport/ heavy duty ,/ performance leads .

Getting to stage where I don’t want to use him , in case he breaks down again
Or should I bin in and go back to points .

Thanks in advance for any answers .

[philthehill]

I would suggest that you at least need new plug leads. You do not need to fit sport/performance/heavy duty plug leads.

[Lizzy12]

Thankyou for replying.
I did fit new ignition Leeds, but they are the same standard type ones that I was using with old distributor. Is there any benefit to be had from using heavy duty leads With this set up .?

[philthehill]

If your ignition leads are new and are of good quality they should be alright.
I use 'Splitfire twin core' 8mm spark plug leads with my electronic ignition and they have and still are given good service.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232896570218
Also have a read of this article by Calver:-
https://calverst.com/technical-info/ign ... -s-needed/

[svenedin]

When you fitted the Accuspark distributor did you re-do the ignition timing?

I was not pleased when I tried an Accuspark distributor. The timing wandered all over the place when I used the strobe to set it up. In the end I had my original Lucas 25D distributor rebuilt by a specialist and had a Petronix electronic ignition module fitted at the same time. This was rather costly but reliable.

If your car is positive earth, I was warned by Distributor Doctor that the electronic module is very fussy about having an excellent earth connection. If the earth connection is poor there can be all manner of strange ignition issues.

Stephen

[mobylette]

I suggest you revert to the original Lucas distributor and standard points set up and see how the engine performs. You can then decide if there is any benefit in these "upgrades". Personally I like to keep things simple and as designed. Many will disagree.

[svenedin]

Incidentally, Club Spares usually have either NOS or refurbished Lucas 25D distributors. They are much better made than the Accuspark copies. If you do go back to points make sure you use the best points and condenser (Distributor Doctor) as there have been many reports of problems with cheaper condensers.

You say "standard" ignition leads. Are these the really old copper core type? I am sure I have read somewhere that the electronic ignition modules will not work properly with these because the resistance is too low.

Stephen

[unclealec]

I suggest you revert to the original Lucas distributor and standard points set up and see how the engine performs. You can then decide if there is any benefit in these "upgrades". Personally I like to keep things simple and as designed. Many will disagree.

Many won't.
Electronic ignition = work of the Devil. Try fixing one of them on a dark wet February night by the roadside.
Original distributors are easily refurbed; plenty of real red-box Lucas points and condensers around, or the Distributor Doctor stuff seems reliable.

[myoldjalopy]

I suggest you revert to the original Lucas distributor and standard points set up and see how the engine performs. You can then decide if there is any benefit in these "upgrades". Personally I like to keep things simple and as designed. Many will disagree.

I won't though.......

[svenedin]

I have both. I have two Lucas 25D distributors, one with a Pertronix electronic ignition module and the other with points. They are both set up so that if the distributor is removed with its clamp attached, the other can be dropped straight in without needing to set up the ignition timing.

I think my engine does run better with the electronic ignition but it ran even better when I got a Pertronix coil as well (as recommended by Distributor Doctor). The more powerful coil enables the spark plug gap to be increased to 30 thou.

The down side of the electronic ignition is that if the module fails you are stuck as they are too expensive to carry a spare (at least the decent ones are too expensive). Another, annoyance is that it is really difficult to start the engine on the starting handle with the electronic ignition and that is something I had to do quite often 30 years ago.....

I just don't think the Accuspark distributors are well made (which is what the OP has). It is also a problem if the owner thinks the car will run better by fitting an electronic ignition module to a worn old distributor.

When/if my Pertronix module fails, I will just go back to points. I do have all the spares in the boot to do that at the roadside!

I remember my father fitting electronic ignition to his Mercedes in the 1970's. He was certainly very pleased with it which is why I thought I would give it a go.

Stephen

[Myrtles Man]

Or, back the horse both ways by fitting one of these (if you can find one):-

Sparkrite SX2000.jpg (147.93 KiB) Viewed 4910 times

[mobylette]

OK, now time for an admission. My other vehicle has a Rover V8. The distributor is quite worn with about 30 thou play at the cam. A rebuild is too expensive, about £250 with the DD. The copies are bad quality & both lumenition and pertronix are pricey. Accuspark is selling a Sparkrite 4000 for £29.95 delivered, similar to the above and still with a switch to revert back to standard ignition if (when?) the unit fails. I thought this worth a try so I fitted the kit yesterday and went for a drive today. I must say it pulls much better, starts more easily & idles more smoothly. We will see how long it last's, but for the moment I am very happy

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191989451604 ... 1&mkcid=28

[Myrtles Man]

Snap! I, too, ran a Rover V8 (3500S) for about 30 years, twenty-odd of which after fitting a Sparkrite 2000. It truly was fit and forget so when I saw the light and became a Moggy owner I cast round for another Sparkrite. Being unable (at that time) to find a 2000 I also bought the 4000 version off the bay. As you have noted, it immediately resulted in ostensibly smoother, possibly more powerful running. However, within a very short time, I began to notice a slight fluffing/hesitation/misfire(?) under acceleration which disappeared on switching back to points ignition. I therefore removed the Sparkrite 4000 and consigned it to the dark recesses of my man drawer.

Nevertheless I kept looking out for an original Sparkrite 2000 until I eventually saw one on eBay and, to my amazement and gratification, I was the only bidder and got it for twenty six quid! It's proved to be exactly as I remember it from my P6 days and performs faultlessly. I'm a very happy bunny. I wish you better luck with your 4000 than I had with mine mobylette.

[mobylette]

Thanks, I'd better start looking for the 2000!

[mobylette]

I know we have gone a little of topic, but for completion I thought I would add that Boyer Bransden are still making a capacitor discharge unit which I think is similar to the old SX2000 . I would have bought one of these instead if I had been aware as they have a good reputation, in fact I still might.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354944060413

[oliver90owner]

I suggest you revert to the original Lucas distributor and standard points set up and see how the engine performs. You can then decide if there is any benefit in these "upgrades". Personally I like to keep things simple and as designed. Many will disagree.

Many won't.
Electronic ignition = work of the Devil. Try fixing one of them on a dark wet February night by the roadside.
Original distributors are easily refurbed; plenty of real red-box Lucas points and condensers around, or the Distributor Doctor stuff seems reliable.

I expect all modern cars are fitted with electronic modules these days. Are you suggesting they are unreliable? The likelihood of those failing is remote. Not all can fix a Kettering system in clear daylight, in June, on their driveway!

Unfortunately, the cheapest systems available are not always the most reliable. There are several factors to take into account when modifying the vehicle. Matching components is one important aspect.

I might suggest the OP looks under the bonnet, when completely dark, with engine running. If the system lights up like flashing fairy lights, as the engine is speeded up, it may give some indication of the energy leaking away before it reaches the point of use.

[mobylette]

"I expect all modern cars are fitted with electronic modules these days. Are you suggesting they are unreliable?"

No

[unclealec]

Are you suggesting they are unreliable?

I am suggesting that reliable or not, they are unfixable when giving problems.
The original system is fixable when giving problems.
That is why I stick to the Lord of Darkness equipment, given that I have stocks of real Lucas components, or purchase from The Distributor Doctor if/when necessary.
It is the plethora of below-standard components, including anecdotally the new electronic components, that put me off modernising.

[kevin s]

The only serious ignition problem I have had recently is my V8 range rover cutting out at 70mph on the fast lane of a busy dual carrigeway, Turned out to be a failed 6 month old Distributor Doctor rotor arm......

Not sure where to get reliable parts from now.

I do remember reading somewhere about using a GM ignition amp in conjuntion with points and a simple circuit which might offer improved reliability. (depending on how confident you are on building the rest of the circuit)

HEImodForPoints01.gif (35.19 KiB) Viewed 4764 times

[Sleeper]

My twopenneth....

Had a Boyer on my BSA A65 for years with no problems , had a Lumenition on the Plus2 for years with no problems, had a SX2000 on the fiesta for years with no problems , have looked into the Sparkrite SX4000 and wouldn't touch it with a bargepole,someone stripped one down and wasn't impressed..

At the moment have a SX2000 on the Moggie , best of both worlds ( with extras ) , timing light function and switchable between points and electronic...Gets my vote..

IMG_20231006_073254.jpg (1.56 MiB) Viewed 4759 times

John ;-)