INTERMITTENT IGNITION ISSUE
Update- When I started the Swinger up recently to change the oil, the 340 was missing, which was a steady fumbling for the first time, unlike the intermittent miss at 2,000 rpm. I switched back to the Pertronix Ignitor III and the engine ran fine (sitting in the pole barn). I also noticed that the points were burnt and the condensor bracket had a blue edge (pictures attached) where it may have been arcing. The screw was slightly loose and the condensor bracket could turn slightly, because the holes in the bracket didn’t match the nubs in the plate. So, it may not have been getting a proper ground at times. This might explain why the engine died, but started back up, but would not explain the 2,000 RPM intermittent miss that I had with both the Pertronix AND the points.
Then I started the Swinger to test my ammeter to volt meter conversion. But, the volt meter stayed buried for 45 minutes at a high idle. The charging voltage at the battery was over 15 volts, the whole time. I didn’t think that anything was wrong with the square back alternator (which didn’t have one of the two field terminals grounded), but I removed it anyway and took it to Autozone to get it tested. It turned out that it was producing 28 volts. The 69 electronic voltage regulator regulated the voltage at 15 volts. But, I think the excess voltage may have burned out the points even with the ballast resistor installed.
I think I read in a forum a while back that the 69 voltage regulator might not work properly with the 70s square back alternator, but it was confusing.
Could the bad alternator be the cause of the intermittent miss and burning the points out?
Autozone sells a remanufactured round back alternator rated at 60 amps and a square back rated at 78 amps. I was thinking of purchasing the round back 69 type alternator and stick with the 69 voltage regulator.
Are there any additional suggestions from the electrical gurus?
Update- When I started the Swinger up recently to change the oil, the 340 was missing, which was a steady fumbling for the first time, unlike the intermittent miss at 2,000 rpm. I switched back to the Pertronix Ignitor III and the engine ran fine (sitting in the pole barn). I also noticed that the points were burnt and the condensor bracket had a blue edge (pictures attached) where it may have been arcing. The screw was slightly loose and the condensor bracket could turn slightly, because the holes in the bracket didn’t match the nubs in the plate. So, it may not have been getting a proper ground at times. This might explain why the engine died, but started back up, but would not explain the 2,000 RPM intermittent miss that I had with both the Pertronix AND the points.
Then I started the Swinger to test my ammeter to volt meter conversion. But, the volt meter stayed buried for 45 minutes at a high idle. The charging voltage at the battery was over 15 volts, the whole time. I didn’t think that anything was wrong with the square back alternator (which didn’t have one of the two field terminals grounded), but I removed it anyway and took it to Autozone to get it tested. It turned out that it was producing 28 volts. The 69 electronic voltage regulator regulated the voltage at 15 volts. But, I think the excess voltage may have burned out the points even with the ballast resistor installed.
I think I read in a forum a while back that the 69 voltage regulator might not work properly with the 70s square back alternator, but it was confusing.
Could the bad alternator be the cause of the intermittent miss and burning the points out?
Autozone sells a remanufactured round back alternator rated at 60 amps and a square back rated at 78 amps. I was thinking of purchasing the round back 69 type alternator and stick with the 69 voltage regulator.
Are there any additional suggestions from the electrical gurus?
