Pertronix Electronic ignition

check your connections, be sure your gettin voltage to the module, check the coil for voltage, then if all else fails put in another module.  Thats the problem with electronic stuff, hard to diagnose for the do it yourselfer.  thats why I havent done any electronic ignition, sooner or later its gonna break. 

Call the 800 #  they will tell you .

My 6 volt Petronix will sometimes do that when it's real cold.  It is kind of funny to let go of the starter knob and have it fire right off!

A 12V module can do like what Steve is talking about too if your cranking voltage drops below about 9V. All it takes is a bad cell in the battery. I had that problem once. The tractor cranked fine because it was a 6V starter. My cranking voltage was 8V. As soon as the starter was released, it would light off every time.

I fried 2, 12 volt Pertronix modules before I found my alternator to be faulty and was putting out voltage spikes. Replaced the alternator and all has been well, since.

Pipe, Sounds like an over-voltage situation.  Usually the label will curl and sometimes brown.  Since we don't get the cold you guys up north get, it not asw much a problem with the slow crank on 12 volts, but the 6 volt setups do it all the time.  I usually steer folks away fromt he 6V EI unless they understand the low voltage problem.  BUt I sure sell a lot of the 12V systems.

Ed K made a good point also. You fella's running these Pertronix E.I.'s that we sell, with 12V conversions, monitor your charging rates. If you're using a Voltmeter in your 12V system (especially with an Alternator) keep an eyeball out on an overcharging problem. Normal charging rate is 13.9-14.5. 14.2 is ideal. Anything higher than that can take the E.I. right out as what happened to Ed. Also, whatever you do, DON'T PUT A BATTERY CHARGER ON THE TRACTOR TO JUMP START IT with an E.I. installed. You'll blow the E.I. out by "spiking" it. Always Disconnect the Battery from the Tractor or remove the Battery and charge it if the Battery is low! Putting a charger on high 12V mode is a good way to take an E.I. right outta' service. Keep an eye on the condition of your Battery also. A Battery with a bad cell, will roll an "SI" series Alternator into high gear very rapidly because of the draw. The VR's in the "SI" series Alts are very sensitive. HTH
Steve@B&B

if the little white sticker on the side of the pickup  is distorted or melted its bad also . dont ever pull a plug wire while its runnimng either the little pieces of junk cant handle that either. makes them useless on 2 cylinder john deeres. imho

Edited by mlpankey - 28 Feb 2010 at 10:51am