If this happens with a Crane unit, it's because the position of the
sensor is wrong. The coil fires when the rotor is not close to the
distributor cap contact, and as a result, arcs across every point it
can.
Rstirb@aol.com wrote:
>
> Hello Triumph List,
> I call my '73 "Disco TR6" because of the nightly light show under the
> bonnet.
> Little sparks dancing over the HT wires, and onto my fingers. Sparks
> under the dizzy cap, sparks externally from plugs to head, sparks at the coil
> (-) terminal. So, she idles rough, but she drives OK!
> Put in new wires, you say? Did that. That was just the beginning.
> I need some help!
> This car has one year on my frame-up restoration. Last year it idled
> slightly rough, and I burned through two sets of points in 4,000 miles. I
> blamed Lucas.
> Over the winter I treated myself to a Pertronix ignitor with NGK BP6ES
> plugs @ .035", and a rebuilt alternator by BRP. It idled lousy with the
> Pertronix, and then I noticed the light show. I put the points back in. I
> then realized I was getting 12V out of my ballast wire, and feeding my poor
> 6V coil 12V, full time.
> Here's what was in the car, or parts I've thrown at it trying to fix this
> arching problem.
> -new battery
> -both battery cables new
> -rebuilt distributor
> -distributor vaccuum line removed, carb vac pipe plugged
> -new points, condensor, distributor cap and rotor
> -new primary wire
> -new NGK BP5ES plugs @ .025"
> -timing at 8 deg BTDC, or 0, or 4 ATDC
> -new Lucas copper HT wires, new TRF green wires, no difference
> -new stock 12V coil fed right off the fuse block - white wire
> These parts have had no effect on the arching. I've also tried a few other
> tricks with no improvement:
> -grounding a headbolt directly to the battery ground
> -grounding the distributor body directly to the battery ground
> -cleaning grounds
> -checking that cute little ground strap inside the distrubutor
> -swapping in a different distributor
> -checking polarities
> -load testing the battery
> -checked that the outer crank pulley has not spun on the inner pulley
> -putting a Dodge Dart ballast resistor in-line to feed the coil (getting
> desperate)
> Please help. I've talked with many knowledgeable folks about this, and we
> are baffled. You are my last hope Triumph List! Reply directly to me if you
> wish, I will summarize for all.
> p.s. Yes, I have the (-) on the battery connected to ground.
> -----Disco TR6 from Massachusetts-----CF2570U-----
--
George Richardson
Wyvern - '57 Triumph TR3, TS15559LT -
http://www.merlingroupinc.com/tr3.htm
Griffin - '71 Triumph Stag - undergoing restoration
Pikachu - '75 Triumph TR6 - undergoing repair
Kitty - '83 Jaguar XJ6 Vanden Plas - Daily Driver
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