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Convert Old Engines
To Electronic Ignition

Got an old gas engine that's hard to start? Why not convert it to electronic ignition?

Any engine with a distributor and points can be converted to a Pertronix ignition system, says the company, based in San Dimas, California. Pertronix makes electronic ignition kits for just about all automotive, industrial, agricultural and marine engines and for either 6- or 12-volt systems.

FARM SHOW reader John Ruff, Logan, Kansas, put a Pertronix system on his John Deere 40 2-cyl. tractor. "I can only describe the improvement in performance as unbelievable," he writes. "It was like putting a 6-cyl. engine on the tractor."

He adds that while his Deere 40 starts easier, he does have a bit of a problem with the 6-volt Group I battery on the tractor.

"The electronic ignition needs at least 4.5 volts, so if the battery is a little low, or on cold days in the winter when the starter takes more power, there's not always enough power in it to run both the starter and the ignition," he says. "What I really need is a battery with technology advanced enough to provide sufficient power under most normal operating conditions." He's looked all over for a Group I battery that can consistently deliver enough power, but so far has had to resort to using his battery charger a lot during the winter.

Changeover from points to the Pertronix electronic ignition was easy, he says, since the kit fits into the old distributor in place of the points. A new electronic coil may be needed for best performance. The company sells Flame-Thrower(tm) coils designed specifically for use with their electronic ignition system.

Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Pertronix, Inc., 440 East Arrow Highway, San Dimas, Cal. 91773 (ph 800 827-3758; fax 909 599-6424; Website: www.pertronix.com); or John Ruff, 963 W. Big Bear Lane, Logan, Kan. 67646 (ph 785 689-4323).

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