Technical electronic ignition - really weird!

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Technical electronic ignition - really weird!

ianhunterv8

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Dec 3, 2012
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With the continuing saga of my mystery misfire still ongoing and unsolved, I decided to buy an electronic ignition kit to replace the points. Nice and easy to fit, started it up and hey presto! Both cylinders singing in perfect unison!

Thought I had better check the timing (it suggests you do). It was spot on with the points fitted.

Am I correct, there is now no way of doing a static check?

I connected my strobe and it is way, way advanced. So far, that it is beyond the adjustment range of the dizzy. I removed the dizzy, replacing it one tooth further round. The timing is perfect, but the car hardly runs. If I advance the dizzy, the car revs up and runs smoother.

My marks on the pulley are in the right place, of that I am certain. What on earth is going on?

Over to you!

Ian
 
Re: electronic ignition - really weird!!

OK, so I have removed the electronic ignition and refitted the points. Perfect static timing, start the engine and it isn't really happy. Check the strobe and my timing marks on the pulley are way before the mark on the casing - exactly where they were with the electronic ignition.

How come static says one thing and strobe says another? How come the engine prefers to run somewhere other than than when the timing is set perfect?

Confused.com!!
 
Hi Ian,

it's one of those rare times when I've logged on to this forum and just noticed your problem.
To get to the root of the cause I would get the car running properly on points. Cars have run ok on points only for yonks so that problem needs fixing before you switch to electronics which give easier starting, better reliability etc etc.
If you're absolutely certain of the 10 degree BTDC mark on the crank pulley then your static timing should be OK.
The problem may be with the centrifugal advance on the dizzy which gives up to another 12 degrees advance on the ignition at higher revs.
With your strobe, do the timing marks steadily advance up to an additional 12 degrees when you slowly increase the revs the engine ?
If there's a problem with the advance weight springs the timing will be way too advanced to run smoothly at low revs.
On most electronic systems you can't do static although you can on the more sophisticated 123 systems which have an in built LED to show static timing which is why you need to get to the root of the basic ignition problem.
Hope I'm not teaching granny to suck eggs, apologies if I am.
 
Granny needs all the help she can get!

I'll look at the centrifugal set up - I like your logic!

Thanks.

Ian
 
One of the little springs looked slightly stretched - whether enough to make a difference I don't know.

Have ordered a couple of new ones and I'll report back!

Thanks anyway!

Ian
 
Hi Ian,

I was going to draw up a document for Matthew to explain timing but since your problem reared its head it made me do it sooner rather than later. It was put together to explain (to Matthew) in simple terms how timing works and I only have experience of Lucas dizzies not the Marelli so it may not answer your question.
I also usually send it to someone to health check for mistakes etc so please feel free to critique it.
When I overhaul the Fiat's dizzy with Matthew I'll update it to be more specific to Fiats
Hope it Helps
Richard
 

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