smta no start update

Well back out to the shop,decided to elinate the ign switch and hard wired positive to coil still no start 12 volts to the coil Iam leaning twards the coil wire.It did fire with the carbon core coil wire that I stoled from the garden tractor but had to cut and put the old connectors on,switched the connectors to the old steel core coil wire and no fire.I would still like input on what type of wires to upgrade using the pertonix high out put coil and ignitor.Steel,carbon or copper core.Paul

> I would still like input on what type of wires
> to upgrade using the pertonix high out put coil
> and ignitor.Steel,carbon or copper core.

They"ll all work fine. You"ll have less radio interference with the carbon. The copper will be the easiest to work with.

Paul, the correct answer as far as what plug wires to use with a Pertronix high energy coil is: ASK PERTRONIX and believe them over any of us here, regardless if from engineers or lay persons........

The thing is in general terms, carbon core supressor wires may be best for supressing radio interference BUT can waste a "small" (NOTE I said small) amount of energy in the form of heat versus its discharge across the spark plugs gap. This is not so critical in a battery powered coil ignition versus say a lower energy Magneto where I recommend the use of coper core NOT carbon core wires.

HOWEVER AND THIS IS WHERE N WHY YOU NEED TO ASK PERTRONIX. In "some" high energy high voltage ignition systems (note I said some i.e. not all) they actually want a certain small degree of supression and/or inductance (such as in spiral wound plug wires) in the High Voltage Secondary circuit. NOTE IM NOT claiming this necessarily applies in your chosen Pertronix system, im just placing you on notice that in certain HV high energy ignition systems spiral would plug wires or perhaps carbon core may be specified I.E. Not having any pertronix specs or your coil or switch specs n data Im just saying CHECK WITH PERTRONIX N DO AS THEY SAY NOTTTTTTTTTTTTTT ANYONE HERE

At first blush many may recommend the use of copper core wires over carbon core and thats usually my general advice and such may darn well be correct in your case, but I just dont want to be responsible for mis information not having the pertronix specs or data or any idea which switch n coil you have, sorry. Of course, its your tractor and your choice and your bucks so whichever wires you choose or whose advice (Pertronix or us here) you go with is certainly your call. (My best non warranted guess, however, would be quality HV rated straight copper core or spiral wound versus carbon core wires lol)

NOTE whats important if you use a HV coil and run a wider plug gap is to use good quality high voltage withstand rated plug wires as you may be working at much higher voltages then with an old stock system, so DEFINITELY use quality high voltage rated wires REGARDLESS !!!!!!!!!!!!

If you need my complete Troubleshooting Procedure for no spark, click the URL link below

http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=farmall&th=5745

Best wishes n God Bless

John T
John Ts Troubleshooting Procedure

I think the Answer is to find out if there is fire when the coil is discharged by the Petronix unit.
Put a piece of stiff #14 house wire stripped from a short piece of Romex, into the the coil tower (double it over to stick in well) and point it to the block at 1/8 to 3/16". If it sparks it is wires, cap, rotor. If it does not, I think it needs to be considered that the Petronix unit is failing. JimN

My opinion is that you are making it too complicated. I know absolutely nothing about Petronix, except that I consider it to be a "black box" that is expensive to replace compared to the orginal ignition, which when you have a problem is the coil or condensor 99% of the time. I think your Petronix is shot. Rather to replace it or go back to the original ignition is up to you. The coil wire, etc is very unlikely. Last week I have ignition problems with my Super A and one of my C's -- luckily I can swap parts from one to the other and eliminate suspected problems. The C needed a condensor, I had an old one that was still good. The Super A about drove me nuts, until I fiddled with the ignition switch, pushed it on and off while cranking, it started and died. The screws were loose on the switch, along with the ones in my brain -- don't make it too complicated.

To John T.a guess but in the back of my head I knew that there would be problems using the pertonix system with orginal older than dirt wiring coil/plugs.As far as I know and have read previous posts copper core wires are the way to go but will contact pertonix corp for futher information and advise thanks for your in put but I still do not understand if you change/switch or otherwise put a different type of coil wire between the coil and dist cap it still will not fire at times.Paul

Unless it has 1/2 inch gaps in the wire, it will probably run with a bad wire. Check the output as I described above, to assure your self it is the wire. In fact you can put the end of that #14 house wire in the distributor cap and use it for a coil wire. Just don touch it while running. JimN

To Jim N.I hope you are talking about solid copper house wiring,if thats the caseI do have some on hand and have learned at a very eairly age coil out put to ground from my grandfather.He thought it would be fun for me to grab on to the coil wire when craking the super m over.I GUESS YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME FUN WITH THE KIDS ALMOST LIKE PULL MY FINGER.All bull aside if that coil does not discharge to the block will go further,best idea I have heard yet.Thanks Paul

Best of luck, I hope it is just a loose connection or ground to the Petronix unit. JimN