It would do that with the points in as well. The wobble theory has me interested. Over the years, the points could have worn the shaft to where it is not perfectly round, however, the magnet for the pertronix would take up for that slack because it fits like a donut over the shaft, and any wear of the shaft would be hidden behind the ring of the magnet ring. Nah.....the pertronix unit is just bad. Take it back and get a new one.

 

Probably is the Pertronix but this would be the third one he has put in. While it's possible that 2 of them went bad - seems likea stretch. I probably have gotten carried away in replacing parts but after messing around with igntion problems this year - I just decided to replace all the igntion parts - I figured after 40 years it was about time anyway.

In any case I guess it would not hurt to try another one.Also assuming you arerunning 12volts as DRBOB suggested earlier if not that could be the problem. Could also explain why it runs good with points but not with pertronix. Also with the pertonix ii suppose to running coil especially for pertronix ii unit. good luck..

 

Concerning the oil/graphite in the cap, I had a lapse of logical thinking, duh... yea I forgot for a moment that it ran good on points.

About the shaft woble, I was thinking more of the bearing or bushing being worn out instead of the cam for the points.

From way back in high school auto shop I remember that the symptoms of a worn out distributor was eratic spark.

Couldn't it be possible that a wobble in the top of the shaft might cause a somwhatrepeatingmovement where the magnet might move too far from the pickup, causing a kind of consistent miss when themagnets happend to pass by a specific spot?

What makes me doubt that the unit is bad is that4reboy says that the same cylinders miss consistantly. I am of the mind that the ignition module is ignorant of just which spark plug is firing, exceptthat the rotor and magnet are synchronized by virtue of being on the same shaft. while these 2events are synchronized, they are seperate. Assuming that the magnetic sleeve is good, I think it isimposible that the the same cylinders would miss all of the time if it is the module (pickup) that is bad.If the "magnetic sleeve" part of the assembly is bad then my argument is moot.

To me it just seems unlikely that this part of the assembly would be defective, since it is essentially just a series of well placed magnets, especially 2 defective magnets in a row.

 

Question: All I know about these ignitions kits is what is in the FAQ. Can the magnetic sleeve be positioned on the distributor shaft in more than one position, or does it fit only one way?

The reason I ask is that if it will fit in differing positions, I would be interested in knowing if turning the sleeve into a different position would change the particular cylinders that do not fire.

I know that I might be extending this issue beyond what maybe should be a simple parts exchange, but I hate the emarassment of returning parts that I think are defective only to make a fool of myself when the issue is somthing else. I know it is not me but...... well you know.

(EDIT>>> Ok, so I reread 4reboy's first post, this answered my question he said that by repositioning the magnet a differnt cylinder would mis-fire, so I guess it is safe to say that the magnet sleeve is defective. I guess I should read more carefully!!>>>

 

Duhh.. Your pertronix is defective and should be returned for a new one.

 

Duhh.. I dont have one,,,

 

I reacon the shaft wobble theory could be dispelled quickly with a wiggle of the shaft with your thumb and fore finger.

 

Ok, so I already said that Imissed the line in the first post of the thread that said that the misfiring cylinders change with the position of the magnet, I built atheory that made all of the pieces fit without taking thisinto account, my mistake.

Savor the flavor,mock mesome more, if it will make you feel better!!

I was just trying to help, I don't get paid for this any more than you do, and distributors do wear out sometimes.

 

I thought it was a great theory. Certainly plausible.

 

Thanks for all the responses everybody. That wobble theory is pretty cool,and definitely believable. I'm in vegas right now, so when I get home I will see if there is any looseness in the distributor. It is definitely the magnet sleeve because as stated before when placed in a different position a different cylinder missfires.

Should I just return the Pertronix and get a different brand? or is it third time the charm?