pertronix testing

[John Robinson II]

Is there a way to test the pertronix system without installing distributor in an engine?

Thanks,
John

[Rick Kirchner]

clamp housing to something, spin in drill press, lathe, or mill. or you could put the magnet plate on a mandrel and spin that, attach the pert unit to a piece of angle and run it up on the cross slide.

[Garey Guzman]

YouTube has everything:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdYacuMl9KM

BTW, once my car wouldn't start. I fiddled with everything because it really seemed electrical. Finally discovered that the little magnets had fallen out of the housing. Spare housing installed and she cranked right up!

[Bardahl77]

Once upon a time most shops had distributor machines to test and repair distributors. Now I bet you'd be hard pressed to find one in a shop, maybe they have one stuck in the back.

[billtebbutt]

[tstrong]

As mentioned the magnet ring coming apart and spitting out the magnets is a common mechanical failure mode (no comment on electronic trigger reliability). The magnet ring is 2 pieces (male/female) with a little seam around the bottom. A couple drops of super glue along that seam solves the problem forever. Todd

[stonebridge20]

JRII, you could buy this from me since I have two of them. It's in perfect working order.

[Jerry Kehoe]

Attached is the test info that Pertronix sent me a few years ago to confirm functioning of their cube. I have used them for years on my BMW V12 which uses two cubes as the motor runs as two 6 cyl motors and has separate distributors. No problems and 10 years later......

[John Robinson II]

After posting I looked on you tube and found same vid Gary posted. Going to play with it this weekend.

FWIW, having had the magnet run come apart costing me a race, i now use plastic super glue along seam before installing. I rebuilt the one that came apart, was really fun getting the magnets oriented correctly and then sliding the housing over top. Real patience tester.

Also for everyone else’s future reference DO NOT turn on ignition while charging the battery. It will make all the smoke escape, just like it was a Lucas unit.

[Jerry Kehoe]

Forgot to mention we made our own magnet holder from aluminum, got the spec for the magnets, orientation of poles, press them in. Easy to do and permanent. If you have issues with the plastic this solves it plus there is nothing available for my purpose.