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Thread: Anyone Know How to Test a Pertronix?

  1. #1

    Default Anyone Know How to Test a Pertronix?

    I took a last pre-snow drive the other day, and on the way back to the house, the truck started sputtering and quit, all in the space of about 100 yds. At night. In a cold drizzling rain. Good fun.

    It cranked fine, was getting fuel normally, but it would not run, just popping some when I tried to start it.

    This echoes what I remember when the ignition module on my ‘77 M886 failed: the truck was running fine one minute, dead the next, and would not run at all until I replaced that module.

    So, I’m wondering how to test this Pertronix— I gotta get this thing off my lawn where the tow truck left it.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

  2. #2

    Default

    When mine died in my CJ3B from leaving the ignition turned on with engine not running. It acted similar with the missing and cutting out, but it stopped dead after that. Not sputtering or firing at all.


    I have tested the Pertronix module in my truck using this method, pretty easy.
    https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/.../#post-3936355
    Last edited by jeepdan; October 12th, 2019 at 09:39 AM.

  3. #3

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jeepdan View Post
    When mine died in my CJ3B from leaving the ignition turned on with engine not running. It acted similar with the missing and cutting out, but it stopped dead after that. Not sputtering or firing at all.


    I have tested the Pertronix module in my truck using this method, pretty easy.
    https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/.../#post-3936355


    Thank you Dan.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

  4. #4

    Default

    Check the coil as well.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
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    Fernandina Beach, FL
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by kwai View Post
    Check the coil as well.
    And if it is chrome in color rather than kinda gold, it may be of Chinese manufacture. One of those buggers gave me a fit and the problem was cured by installing a used "military" coil.

    Just a thought...

  6. #6

    Default

    Thanks for the suggestions, fellas.

    We converted mine to 12V, so I have no idea what type of coil is in there. I do know it wasn't abnormally hot at the time of failure like I've heard happens when a coil shorts out.

  7. #7

    Default

    Bad news.

    Tested the coil (3.1 ohms primary, 6K secondary), installed the new Pertronix module-- nothing.

    I noticed that while cranking on a 45-degree day, there was no oil pressure indicated when normally there would be. I took the distributor cap off, twisted the rotor, and got about 90 degrees of slack in it. My girlfriend then cranked the engine and the rotor was not turning.

    Something big let go in there.

    Shame because that was a good running engine.

    Any ideas?

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Fernandina Beach, FL
    Posts
    3,689

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Nailhead View Post
    Bad news.

    Tested the coil ...
    Any ideas?
    Hopefully, only the "tab" broke off of the distributor shaft. Maybe, the bearing in the distributor got tight due to a lack of lubrication and locked up.

  9. #9

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Don Cavey View Post
    Hopefully, only the "tab" broke off of the distributor shaft. Maybe, the bearing in the distributor got tight due to a lack of lubrication and locked up.


    Does the distributor drive the oil pump, Don?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 1998
    Location
    North Central Wisconsin
    Posts
    11,520

    Default

    The distributor has a flat blade screw driver type tip on the end which fits in a slot on the oil pump drive gear...so basically both are driven off that worm gear...pic:
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