Electronic Ignition

[Gary from Iowa]

I am interested in trying Electronic Ignition in a 411-B, 711-B, and a 811-B. All with the 251 cu in engines. For those of you who use this type of ignition, where have you/suggest is a good vendor to start with. I have researched the Pro/Cons and it appears the Pros outweigh the Cons. I realize that is subjective, but I will entertain opinions. Thanks.

 

[560farm]

For ignition parts including Pertronix kits lately I have been using the Brillman company, most of their parts are USA made. I recently switched the Big 400 over to Pertronix and haven't had anymore problems with the Autolite dist like I was before. I only have about 6 tractors switched over to EI, all the others still use points.

Brad

 

[mEl]

FWIW, I have used A&I electronic kits also and as far as I can see they are just rebadged Pertronix kits. Prices vary so shop around.

 

[connor9988]

I switched both my VAC and 300 over to EI when I restored them and have had ZERO problems from them in the years since. They are easy to install and trouble free. I believe I bought them from this website.

 

[Mike Groom]

Go to Pertronix website to make sure you get the right number for your tractor,then just shop around by using that # in your search line for the best price,I have Pertronix in everything I own that was points before for over 20 years and would not go back.

 

[Joe (Wa)]

411B is factory with 148 cid engine. Were you able to transplant a 251 cid?

Joe

 

[Gary from Iowa]

Thanks everyone who commented on my questions about Electronic Ignition, just what I was looking for, thanks again. This site always amazes me with the quick responses and good info.

Joe (WA). Drop the B and I think I am in the ball park!!!

 

[Joe (Wa)]

Yeppers, big 400 I would bet with you.

Joe

 

[old]

So my question is why do the switch?? I've never had problem with points and many I have not so much as touched in more then 10 years

 

[Gary from Iowa]

Old - It is kind of like farming with a team of horses, worked good for a very long time, then someone went and developed a tractor and people discovered the tractor accomplished the same thing as the team of horses. But, they also discovered that when the tractor died you could bring it back to life, when the horse died you had a whole new problem!!

 

[old]

Well that is part of the point. Electronic ignition when they die you throw them away and buy another $100 electronic ignition. When points die you file them and your good to go for a year or 2 more if not 10 years more. Plus I can buy 5 sets of point with what the electronic ignition cost. Plus Heaven forbid we get hit with an EMP my tractor will still run and yours will not

 

[Joe (Wa)]

I have to agree with old. I put Pertronix kits including their matching coils in a VAC, 310, 311b 15 years ago. All failed over the years. The VAC & 311B went back to points. The 310 that I used most often, got a new OS distributor off feabay and a new Pertronix kit, lasted about 5 years. I had keep the original 310 dist w/points as a ready spare and it is on the 310 now. Coils all still function, ignition module is what failed.

The electronic ignition worked great until it didn't and left me with changing out to points in the field so I recommend to hang on to the original plate with points and condenser as a ready replacement. Maybe you'll have better luck than I.

JOe

 

[mEl]

Most failures of the Pertronix are due to being installed improperly, I have used Petronix for many years and will continue to do so, a 4 cylinder engine must use a ballast resistor or the module will overheat due to the dwell cycle of the module being so long, slow triggering causes the module to have to carry current longer an six cylinder using the same module does not due to quicker triggering because there are 6 lobes instead of 4. At any rate, Pertronix has made a new red module setup which will trigger all coils so coil replacement is not a factor. In the pulling world there are literally thousands , almost universal usage of Pertronix. I would sooner trust a Pertronix, I have had many condenser failures lately, To each his own, I will not twist anyone's arm to use Pertronix, there is nothing wrong with points but the compression levels we run in competition a bit hotter spark is a plus.

 

[kevinthefixer]

I have just recently bought a CDI kit from Velleman via Amazon, I've built the kit but it's going to be awhile before I install it--maybe until the 611b won't start! The CDI kit has the advantage of using the stock points, just disconnect the condenser. It puts such a minute amount of power through the points that there is no detectable spark so no burnout. You still have to worry about wear on the rubbing block, just put some points lube on the cam lobes once a year when you oil the distributor bushings and advance mechanism. Eliminates the condenser but you can leave a known good one inside the distributor for emergencies, long as you understand the stock wiring and could reproduce it in the field.

 

[LP-Always]

i have used pertronix for years, my super 77 has had one in it since 1999!

 

[mEl]

Kevin, I looked at the kit you are going to use and hope you have good luck with it. It looks like a good unit. One of the reasons I feel the Pertronix kit has an advantage is that a lot of distributor erratic timing issues is caused by shaft/bushing wear. This causes erratic points opening and you can see it with a advance type timing light. The Pertronix uses a magnet ring and a pickup module and is not affected by the shaft/bushing wear and the spark is very stable even with shaft wear. Many years ago we ran a Delta CD ignition using points as a trigger and it worked well, For what we were doing standard ignition would not cut it, Lots of turbo boost blew the spark out and we developed a miss. so were forced to make a change. BTW, my stock 53 DC is still running points and does just fine so I am not against the old systems.