DISREGARD - FOUND ANSWER - Installing Pertronix on '78 FJ40 2F - Capacitor question (1 Viewer)

[cvan1971man]

From the instructions it looks like there needs to be a capacitor between the coil and the pertronix.

I do not see a capacitor on the coil. There is a capacitor on the distributor but I don't know if that will be in line between the coil and the protronics.

Will I need to add a capacitor to this?

 

[Aloha Jen]

What was the answer? My ‘75 fj40 with a ‘78 2f installed came with a Pentronix distributor and I don’t have any coil in my setup. Been running that way for years.

 

[cvan1971man]

Is this a capacitor - follow the fat finger

 

[Its me shaneus]

The finger is pointing at a resistor. The capacitor would have been under the distributor cap. Round, about 3/4” dia x1” long with a screw down hold tab and a single wire coming out one end.

 

[derail]

deleted

 

[Malleus]

IIRC, it's a 15-mf capacitor that's required

 

[brian]

IIRC, it's a 15-mf capacitor that's required

As compared to a flux capacitor.....do not make that mistake.

 

[trainbufftony]

Cvsn, the item you're pointing at is a blast resistor.
It supplies current to the coil during cranking via the crank wire from the starter.
If it wasn't there, the ignition feed in the run position would activate the starter solenoid and the coil.
With the blast there it can't put enough current through the system to throw the solenoid or operate the starter.
You need one with a pertronix, or it may not start in the crank position...
If you own a selection of 1n5404 diodes you can use one to do the same task for very cheap.

 

[DeskJock]

A capacitor is not needed nor should be used with a pertronix setup. The capacitor helps the points contacts from excessive wear ( burning)

The ballast resister (load resister) reduces the voltage to the coil (if the coil doesn’t a high enough internal resistance) - which also happen the points contacts from excessive wear and reduces the heat of the coil during operation.

Where the starter comes into play is that when the starter is active - a wire from the positive side of the stater gives the coil full voltage to get the hottest spark during start up. Note that when the starter is engaged your getting somewhere between 10.8 12.5 volts to the coil( not full strength)

Note that if the coil is only using voltage from the ballast resister at startup - it’s probably getting less than 9 volts - which in turn will give you a weak spark.

There a different kinds a coils. If the coil on you rig isn’t designed to handle 12 plus volts- it needs a resistor. Or you’ll burn it up - or worse start a fire.

The pertronix setup will allow a higher voltage coil- which will get you a better spark. Just make sure and review the instructions as to what the minimum ohms is needed for the pertronix unit.

 

[DeskJock]

There is a write up from the coolerman that says what I’m saying - just better.