MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Timing with Positive Ground Pertronix

I drive my car a lot and got tired of changing or setting the points every 6 months. So I got the positive ground pertronix (TD/XPAG) LU-146P12.

The wiring of the coil and ignitor (as they call their product) is quite different from with points.

The car ran, though poorly after installation. When I time the car statically with a light bulb across the low tension coil leads, the car won't run, at all. This is how I did it for points.

Then, I just loosened the distributor and moved it around until it would start and timed it by ear, and have it running like worn points. I notice that it now does better at high RPMs than points.

Has anyone figured out if you need to connect the right differently to time with Pertronix ?

I was very careful to make sure that I was at TDC on #1 cylinder, with both valves closed and the top of the piston visible in the spark plug hole, while lining up the timing mark.

I did notice that there seemed to be looseness in the advance weights, at rest. They didn't seem to be drawn up tight, as I suppose they should be. I wonder if the springs are stretched out ?

regards,
Larry
L Ayres

Larry,

When I installed the Pertronix I set the timing about 5 degrees BTDC. I believe that this is also the preferred starting point for timing your points now too.

Also if you have a timing light with an advance feature you should check to ensure you have max advance (approx 30 degrees) at about 3100 rpm.

Gene
Gene Gillam

The way Pertronix instructs you to wire the positive ground version one side of the coil gets grounded and the ignitor is in series with the 12 volts. Therefore to time it by using a light bulb, put the bulb across the two coil terminals and rotate the dizzy for the light to go out.
Cheers,

Bob
R. K. (Bob) Jeffers

This thread was discussed on 22/01/2008

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.