The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Pertronix Ignition & distributor question

Installed my Petronix ignitor kit. How tight should the magnet fit on the shaft? It indexes just fine, but it doesn't fit as tight as I thought it would. I have a 1954 235 engine.

Also feel a little movement up and down on the distributor and can also get a little movement in a circular rotational motion, not a side to side wobble. Should there be zero movement or is a little okay?

Thanks

Dont know about the ignitor, but some up and down play in dist. is normal (called end play)
Some circular motion is also ok, that is the centrifigal advance portion of the dist.

Side to side slop is another story!

I used a Petronix ignition and before it toasted the part that went on the shaft fit loose also. I was told by the Petronix tech rep to put tape around the shaft.

I just had to replace my pertronix ignitor in my 53, the module which is rived on came loose, pertronix will replace free of charge.

I offer this opinion here even though many of you will not agree with it.
The common practice is to remove any ballast resister or wire. Pertronix says their module (ignitor) is safe up to 16 volts. If you have a 12volt system the charging voltage will be anywhere from 14.0 to 14.8 . All it takes is one little 1.5 volt spike and the module is history.
Hot Rod mag installed one of these in an article last year. They put this question to Pertronix. Should you or should you not use a ballast resister? They would not commit themselves. They are well aware that a lot of their units go up in smoke.
A stock ballast is 1.4 or 1.8 ohms (if I remember correctly) depending on if it's for a 6 or V8. It will drop the voltage 1-2 volts. This will give an extra margine of safety and will not affect secondary voltage.
I have a HEI on my 292 and I use the stock ballast resister wire. It drops a little less than 2 volts and draws slightly above 1 Amp. Do the math and you'll see that it works.
A popular misconception is that you have to use 10 gauge wire with a 20 amp fuse.

Richard, perhaps that is why my unit toasted. I was told by Pertronix that I did not need a ballast resistor. Of course I was also told by them that they did not make a unit for 235's and that the part # listed on a unit in my possesion did not exist. I did not opt for a replacement ignitor becuase I used it over two years, did not have the original receipt, and as I say my part # did not exist.
I wonder if my generator could produce 16 volts. I was told by a Petronix dealer who is no longer on the board that generators were weak, underpowered and a thing of the past.

The very same situation with the Mallory Unilite, burns so easily that the best insurance is to run a extra resistor to avoid hassles. The HEI seems to tolerate a li'l more volts, maybe because it was built to run on 12V straight, but better not take chances.

Hey Richard - Does this mean that I should put my original (12v) ballast resistor back on with my Pertronix just to be safe?
Thanks
George