quote:
Originally posted by rwmastel
Michael,
I have to pick on you for this one! :twisted:
quote:
Originally posted by mdsalemi
.... Any electronic system is infinitely more reliable than a mechanical system; something about "moving parts" .... My Crane worked fine for 5 years until I had a mechanical issue with it
So, the electronic system is superior because mechanical systems have moving parts, but your electronic system had a mechanical problem? :?:
Rodd,
I was merely attempting to NOT rehash, what has been hashed about
ad nauseum by me, several times before. But since you didn't read it, or perhaps forgot, here ya go...
My Crane worked flawlessly for 5 years. Got it? No fiddling with anything ignition related for 5 years. Perfect. So perfect there was NO REASON to even ever take off the distributor cap, though I probably did at one point.
THEN all of a sudden I was having "instant death" issues. Drive along, and WHOA--all ignition stops and car is DEAD. Most often I could restart w/o issue--sometimes in moments, sometimes in minutes, then not at all.
What had happened was this: you need to run a small set of wires from OUTSIDE the distributor, to inside, where they wrap around the inside, and go to the optical pickup assembly. What had happened is that for some reason, after 5 years of working perfectly, these wires decided to "get springy" (like that chunk of hair that makes a cowlick) and while the car was moving, they contacted the optical shutter wheel. When that happened, the wheel, being only lightly held on the distributor shaft stopped. No movement of the shutter=no ignition=DEAD. Get it? I discovered this by observing small cuts in the insulation on the wire set.
The problem got worse: the installer actually used a shutter wheel too big for this distributor. In order to make it fit, he pulled out the pivot pin upon which conventional points pivot. So when I discovered this problem, I couldn't even go back to conventional points. Since the issue was with the Crane, I decided to go with Pertronix. BTW, I managed to get the distributor working properly and a new pin installed courtesy of one of our members here, Mike Webster.
NOW do you get it? A
MECHANICAL problem with the
ELECTRONIC ignition. The electronics did not fail. A moving part mechanical issue with the system did. Goodness I hope that makes some sense...Of course, many told me at the time to get rid of the electronics--that I had a problem with them. I actually installed another Crane box, thinking that maybe the electronics were overheating (that does happen) and then creating an intermittant issue. Of course that wasn't the problem.
I did not install the Crane myself and would
NEVER have abused a lovely old 051 distributor by pulling the swaged-in pivot pin! The installer did not have the benefit of the article I proffer here, just the guide that came with the unit. George Murphy of the MBCA Technical Advisor fame says that a smaller shutter is available for the asking, so is one with a tighter fit on the shaft. He sells the Crane.
Our own Jim Villers swears by the Pertronix.
Therefore I harbor no ill-feeling toward the Crane; it worked well for 5 years. The Pertronix is working well, too. There are proponents and detractors to both.
I had all kinds of help from lots of people in attempts to diagnose the problem. Nobody was correct, however, not even close. You could not even see the cuts on the wire unless you had a bright light and stuck your head down into the car...but when the optical assembly came out, it was clear as day what the issue had been. I would never have guessed this was the issue either, but since it happened to me, it can happen to anybody.
The Pertronix is an easier, cleaner, neater installation. The mechanical issue I had with the Crane simply isn't possible with the Pertronix (but there could be other issues, of course); the magnet wheel is a tight fit and only passes close to the pickup. The Crane's shutter wheel passes THROUGH their pickup. What is better? Dunno. You make the choice. Whether that makes it any better is up to those making a purchase decision.
Dan Caron, bless his heart, is merely lacking confidence. My 17-year old VP at the MBCA installed the Pertronix on my car in about an hour; he had put them on several W123's. Most of that time was filing a little bit of metal off the base of the Hall effect p/u to make it fit better--and that's something they tell you about in the instructions I believe.
If someone sat down with Dan and the instructions he could install either in a short amount of time. Compared with much of his skill, understanding and experience this is trivial.
But one thing Dan says or alludes to is quite right: you really should have your car's ignition working well before installing an electronic. Don't attempt to mask an ignition problem by an electronic setup. If your distributor is worn or broken, and electronic system won't cure your ills, only make them a bit different. You have to remember, that the little distributor is turning, moving, advancing, etc. with every beat of the car, and over 35+ years they do wear out. Validation, also, for Cees' comments about the new 123 system.
