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MG MGA - Aldon (Pertronix) Ignitor

I am currently having a look at my Aldon refurbished DM2 distributor prior to installing it back into the car today. As part of the refurbishment they fitted an Ignitor (pertronix) electronic kit. The unit they fitted is non adjustable and has a gap of 0.060 inches. Included with the bits and pieces I got back with the distributor is the clear plastic gap setter 0.30 inches thick. The base plate and fittings have absolutely no scope for adjustment, so the 60 thou gap must be a standard.

This appears to be exactly the same story as discussed with Tysen at:

http://www2.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgbbs&access=&mode=archiveth&subject=6&subjectar=6&thread=2006062911435432036

So, is this kit going to work for me today when I fit it or am I better waiting to speak to Aldon for clarification?

The unit is an LU149.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Small error. The plastic gap setter is 0.030 inches, not 0.30 inches.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve,

Install it and give it a go.

Obviously you saw my post. I called and spoke with service. We reviewed that I had the correct unit and nothing more. He further indicated that you could have up to 70 thou gap and it should work fine.

One tidbit to consider on your install. The routing of the two wires from the sensing unit around the spinning collar magnet and through the distributor cap needs to be just so. Mine rubbed against that collar and through the insulation, so you could imagine some arcing.

You may want to put a turn or two of electrical tape around the wires just as a preventative and then be sure to check for rubbing after the first couple of hundred miles.

TM
Steve

Thanks Steve. Aldon had infact already taken care of the cable problem with a very neat cable tie arrangement through the hole in the base plate where the condenser used to fit. See here:

http://freespace.virgin.net/stephen.gyles/odds_and_sods.htm

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve

I removed the base plate and filed the holes so that I could get the 030 gap using the plastic. My car then ran considerably better than with the larger gap (though I acknowledge the info from Tysen about the gap, I can only speak from experience)

I too would counsel care with the wires - Aldon probably fitted a plastic cable tie, but you have to remove this to get the unit out to close the gap. I used some heat shrink as well as a cable tie - a short here will fry the unit.
dominic clancy

Sorry Steve, that was me earlier. Aldon did a nice little job of adding that tie.

Tysen
Tysen

Steve, the .030" gap will work fine! A .070" gap will work fine as well, or anywhere between those two figures.

Its funny that everyone doesn't install that tie strap for the wires, since it comes with the Pertronix kit!
Jeff Schlemmer

Jeff

Very many thanks. The instructions are not too specific about the cable tie: "...tighten the cable tie around the module wires just inside the distributor housing."

Also, why do they enclose the 0.030 plastic gapper in a non-adjustable system. No mention of the gap in the instructions. Perhaps they could do with a rewrite of their instructions. I will call them tomorrow (the British-end of the business) to discuss.

Steve
Steve Gyles

I fitted the Pertronix about 4-5 years ago and there was no mention of gap, or of adjusting it, and no measuring tool included. Obviously a recent upgrade. The cable tie, I believe, was to prevent the wires being pulled through the rubber D-shaped grommet. Again no mention of using it to keep the wires away from the rotating bits!(but a good idea) Polarity is of the utmost priority, otherwise it will fry it instantly. Black wire to negative, or "CB", and red wire to positive or "SW" (actually the fuse box) on the coil, but make sure you buy the right one for positive ground or for negative ground, as they are different.
P. Tilbury

I spoke to Aldon today (or at least the customer services rep). She phoned me back with infomation on the gap - "minimum of 0.030 but the larger the better. The enclosed gapper was to prevent setting less than 30thou."

She did not seem to understand my point that the items are non-adjustable so what's the point of the gapper, whether the gap is less than 30 thou or greater. (I accept what Dominic says about elongating the module's attachment holes, but I am reluctant to do this and invalidate any warranty).

I also made the point that Pertronix should perhaps revise their instructions to include information on the gap. I guess some of their units are adjustable and some are not. A bit of clarification would not go amiss, judging by the comments in this thread and the one one previously.

Steve

Steve Gyles

Steve, many of the kits can be adjusted by elongating the holes with which the modules are mounted. I have had instances where this was necessary. Because of that, they include the "tool" in virtually every kit. I have also had kits that had less than .030" gap and they work fine, as long as there is no contact between the module and the trigger wheel.
Jeff
Jeff Schlemmer

This thread was discussed between 20/08/2006 and 22/08/2006

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.