Electronic distributor

[lesrollins]

I would like to fit an electronic distributor to my 1098 engine, I have noticed on fleabay there is a brand new accuspark electronic distributor for £55 with either a free timing light or a coil. Is this a good buy and which one do I need a 25D or a 45D. And is it a easy job to replace one for the other is it a case of old one out and new one in without disturbing the timing. The car is negative earth. Thanks

[faversham999]

25 or 45 but i think its best to just change the points for the digital sender simple instructions just connect the wiresto the coil, timing stays the same but you have to move the dizzy to get the best tickover. look up on google simonbbc (bundle deals) it will give you an idea what u need

[lesrollins]

Thanks never knew about that one I will look into it, just fancied the idea of fit and forget as I,m going to keep the car. But which is the best one to fit a 25d or 45d and how do I tell if the system is non ballast.

[bmcecosse]

The 45D is by far the better dizzy - either from accu or from simonbbc. Both are screaming bargains in non-electronic form - it's up to you if you want the hassles of the electronic version. Minors never had 'ballast' ignition - although it is a very good idea for cold starting.

[lesrollins]

So whats the hassle with the electronic version and is it easy to fit/replace the old dizzy ? And whats ballast ignition anyway. Cheers

[bmcecosse]

I view electronic as 'hassle' - because if it stops working - it's pretty much impossible to fix it. So for that reason I much prefer good old points. Ballast is where the ignition is supplied using a 9 volt coil and a supply to it through a ballast resistor. This is bypassed during starting - so the ignition gives full force sparks.

[faversham999]

if u have electronic ignition a brake down , call the AA and if you have no spares with you its a trailor home at least you can fix points by the roadside . Just carry plenty opf spares

[dp]

If you are handy with a soldering iron you can knock up a couple of Maplins electronic ignitions.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=3162

They replace the capacitor (condensor) and use your points but only as a low current switch with almost no wear. They are cheap enough to build two so if one does fail you have a spare. I actually had one of these fail after about 7 years but was able to just reinstate the capacitor and get home using the points conventionally. I've since replaced my (Fiat TC) distributor completely but on my old Enfield I have two of these ignition modules plus leave the capacitor in place and keep a spare set of points.

In my mind it's a cheap fit and forget system with two levels of failover just in case. So long as you keep the capacitor unused in place and a spare set of points you're as backed up as a conventional points system.

[Alec]

Hello all,

as an aside to this, I hear so many comments about fit and forget.
Centuries ago, when I worked in a garage, the standard was plugs and points, (with plugs very often being sandblasted in a special machine rather than replaced). So those that fit and forget, do you also forget to check the plugs? The other item is lubrication of the distributor, that too, I suspect, is forgotten

Alec

[lesrollins]

I think that " fit and forget " may have been my figure of speech. I understand there as to be some sort of maintenance but to make life easier I thought an electronic distributor would be a small step forward. How many modern cars are fitted with points and a condenser ? If we all thought the same we would still be watching valve televisions and working by gaslight ! Yes its great to keep that old car on the road but I think some modern upgrades are a good idea. Morris minors and V8,s no thanks. Happy new year folks

[Alec]

Hello Les,

no, not just your figure of speech. This is the reason that a lot of people put forward as the gain in electronic ignition.

I tried it some years back, when working abroad, to make the car more reliable. (For my wife). After two failures I reverted to points and have never changed from them. I had thought that it would do away with the gradual points deterioration but hadn't accounted for total failure (Which the AA couldn't even diagnose to say what was wrong). I still read tales of failures with them so time hasn't eliminated that aspect.

I drive an anachronism and I'm happy with it. Thermionic valves, by the way, are found in some very top end Hi Fi amplifiers for their purity of sound, so sometimes latest is not neccesarily best?

Alec

[bmcecosse]

What's wrong with gaslight ??? The electronic ignition is modern cars is a very different beast from the sytems fitted to dizzies........ I would love to have Megajolt - but electronics don't agree with me......

[Bazzalucas]

This all the flavor of a pub debate to me; I have had zero problems with either system and have used both in many cars, for many years. However, since no one likes a fence-sitter, I would say I prefer electronic. Yes, when they fail, they fail completely and irreparably, but they fail so very, very rarely. I think you are more likely to be stranded by a host of other things before you'll be stuck by a failed electronic dizzy.

[chickenjohn]

I view electronic as 'hassle' - because if it stops working - it's pretty much impossible to fix it. So for that reason I much prefer good old points. Ballast is where the ignition is supplied using a 9 volt coil and a supply to it through a ballast resistor. This is bypassed during starting - so the ignition gives full force sparks.

I agree with BMC! Keep to the standard ignition, it can always be repaired. I have heard/known of a few folks who's electronic ignition failed and they had to revert to normal ignition- including Rob Thomasson, the club's technical advisor!!!

I also agree with the comments that newer is not necessarily better! And as a guitarist in a band I would not use anything other than a valve amplifier. 99% of rock and pop guitar players use valve amps for gigs and recording. Older sometimes IS better!

Best keep your car standard to keep it reliable and easy to work on.

[lesrollins]

Thanks for all the advice I will give the electronic distributor a miss.

[bmcecosse]

But DO seriously consider a complete new 45D dizzy from accu or simon - so everything is 'new'.

[Bazzalucas]

You know, those rubber tires can leave you stranded by the side of the road with a flat...better switch to wooden wheels!

[MarkyB]

Or carry a spare.

[chrisryder]

i switched to electronic ignition after a spate of coil failures and getting fed up of making sure the points gap was right. i picked up a kit from 'a-series spares' that had a stand at the national. it was £35, came with a free 'red' rotor arm, and i got entered into a raffle which i won a £20 autoglym kit, so i was pretty happy with that. i fitted it in september and have done 3000 trouble free (well no ignition trouble...) miles since. for its cheapness i do worry that it might die on me one day, but i've got the points and condenser in the boot just incase!

now excuse me, i'm off to change my wheels for wooden ones

[Bazzalucas]

Don't forget the wooden spare! I fitted a Pertronix Ignitor setup- took minutes- a few years ago, and forgot it. One of the nice advantages was that my dizzy shaft was a bit worn and wobbly, and that particular system takes that in stride. By the way, I don't ardently advocate wooden wheels, but since the earth is flat, I probably should! The point I was attempting- and failing- to make was that in the scheme of components likely to fail on any given trip, I think electronic ignitions fall well below other candidates like fuel pumps, running out of gas, or even punctures. I think the balance between the reliability of points and electronic ignitions vs. their ease of maintenance is a wash, so go with whatever you like.