> Is there the possibility that 'upgrades' such as the Pertronix ignition
> unit, and other like it, are less reliable than the contact breaker
> points they
> replace?
>
> Have any TR folks given up on such a system and reverted to points?
You are asking two distinctly different questions. Any mechanic with even
rudamentary experience has seen how much more reliable electronic ignitions
are than mechanical ignitions. A mechanical ignition requires adjustment
every few thousand miles. Electronic ignitions routinely go hundreds of
thousands of miles without maintenance. There is no doubt the electronic
ignition is more reliable. This is in fact why the industry went to
electronic ignition. They are far more reliable and stable.
A mechanical ignition is more tinkerable. People spend many hours
pleasurably fiddling with points. Filing them, coating them, making them
out of new materials, drilling them, greasing them, and of course adjusting
them. Electronic ignitions have virtually none of this. A mechanical
ignition can function poorly, and be improved, an electronic ignition tends
to either work, or not. There is very little tinkering to be had with an
electronic ignition.
To that end, the tinkerable fun of a mechanical ignition, many folks will
stick with a points ignition. Some will even retrofit a modern engine with
points, going to great lengths to replace a superb oem electronic ignition
with a points ignition. There is nothing inherently wrong with this. Just
a difference of approach.
Points ignitions for automobiles haven't been used in decades. You don't
find replacement points sitting on the shelf of any gas station. In fact
many a dedicated auto parts store no longer carries them, and they must be
ordered in. There is also the problem of the quality of the point sets on
the market today. Rubbing block failures are common, as are spring
failures. Out of the box, many point sets don't even have the contacts
hitting the faces squarely.
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