Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing And back to points.....

Fitted the electronc ignition a few weeks ago - been running nicely on the drive, but in last few days, been getting a 'stutter' every minute or so when she's warmed up.

Thought is was vacuum tube so fitted a new one. No change.

Went for a drive this morning. Started off OK but then got a misfire at idle and acceleration. Got home OK - been fiddling and fettling but no joy.

Stuck the points back on roughly (set by eye). Running perfectly.

Can't send the electronic module back as a) I had it for 20mths before fitting and b) I hoiked it 50yds down the road and it may be a little damaged......

It was a Powerspark SimonBBC module. Yet again, I seem to have got the duff one (had a similar issue with Land Rover ones in the past when they get warm).

Will set the points up properly in a bit.

Sorry to hear that. I had good experiences with Boyer units on motorbikes.

Yeah, it's been a right PITA.

Any recommendations for a good alternatve?

I have a Ford Motorcraft dizzy, but I may be able to swap to a Lucas style one? Not sure.

I've had an Aldon Ignitor for twenty years which hasn't missed a beat.

Yeah, I'm tempted by an Aldon - bit pricey, but very good reputatuion. They only do 'Lucas' style dizzies, so need to check if I can swap easily to a Lucas.

If I remember right, Aldon used to have a shop in Worcester - bought several bits off them when I was running my old Mk3 Spitifire in the late 80's.

That closed years ago, it used to be in The Butts.

That's right. I think it was Netherton Lane?

Not long after I bought my Plus 4, I went to electronic ignition trying to figure out what electric bugaboo led to my car having intermittent starting issues. Now 5 years older, and smarter, and finally knowing the answer (faulty wire from ignition switch to coil) I could have predicted it was not the distributor. But I tried electronic anyway (noticed no diff). then I sent the distributor to a guy for formal rebuild, and he set me back to points and says I won’t regret it. Years later I am inclined to agree.

Why do folks want to get away from points? They seem simple, reliable, robust and cheap. And you get to use that cool little Lucas key thingamabob with gap gauge. Am I missing something?

For me, it's not so much the points themselves as the mechanical advance that's sub-optimal. An electronic ignition system is able to provide a much better spark advance profile than you can get with whirling bob weights.