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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Electronic Ignition?

Had a bit of a problem ignitionwise on my 1275cc 1771 midget and have decided to go for some form of electronic system.
I am looking for reliability above all else, (find getting to the points and condensor a bit awkward) and I am not really concerned with performance. I just wondered what the opinion was on the "best" system to go for, and whether Ishould replace the distributor if using lumenition type points replacement.
Colin
C Martin

Hello, Colin --

In my experience, the pertronix has been a very good solution. It was easy to install, replaced both the points and the (troublesome) condenser, and only required a bit of re-timing before the engine was running better than ever. it hasn't missed a beat since.

Good luck,

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

Hi
I use the Lumenition Optronic version and since I changed to this it is a different car.
The Optronic is better than the basic one,but more expensive as it allows for wear in the distributor.
Very easy to install

Regards

Ian
manian

H+H ignition solutions. They will sell you a brand new bosch electronic dizzy and matching coil for the price of a lumenition system
Shawn

Pertronix / Ignitor is a great solution; easy to fit, and virtually no parts to go wrong; invisible - no external boxes and only one additional wire to coil +ve.

Friend of mine had the 'bulb' go suddenly in his optical system, rendering it u/s. I don't understand the popularity of these systems - unless you need a rev-limiter or some other giz you can't drive from the Ignitor.

{The Ignitor works on the 'Hall' effect - a semi-conductor becomes a conductor in presence of magnetic field - so there's no circuit (no transistors, capacitors, resistors) like in the other systems with a separate box.)

A
Anthony

Anthony,

I think if you looked into it you would find the hall effect device is just the trigger for the power electronics switching the ignition current. The other electronics being packaged in the pick-up. My VW uses a hall effect sensor and a seperate ignition module, they are not immune to failure, they were one of the common faults on some of the VWs of the period as I found out.
David Billington

David - you may be right; I've never taken one apart. But the principal is still much simpler than optical. And it all fits in place of points/capacitor.

If I reverted to Aseries, it would have an Ignitor.

A
Anthony

Colin. The first step is to find out what the ignition problem is. If you are having an ignition problem, one that is not corrected by simply installing a new set of points and a new condenser, you will have the same problem after you install an electronic points replacement device. So, first step is to identify exactly what the problem is.

If you want to install a electronic points replacement, you should do it on a distributor which is in good mechanical condition. The points replacement systems will correct a points cam which is slightly out of spec. It will not correct a wobbly distributor shaft (due to being bent or having a worn bushing), it will only camouflage it to a degree. It will do nothing to correct a worn mechanical advance system or a non-functional vacuum advance system.

If using a Lucas distributor, remember that they were designed to have an annual lubrication performed and, if this is not done, will become less reliable over the years regardless of the type of coil triggering system being used.

My experience with the Pertronix/Ignitor system has been quite good, but I have seen several of the electronic points replacement systems and several true electronic ignition systems fail over the years. There is no such thing as a free lunch.

Les
Les Bengtson

Les makes a good point. (As usual!) Yes, I fitted a PerTronix; but not to my wobbly old Lucas dizzy. I'd picked up a good second-hand Mallory dual-point unit, and the PerTronix went into that. It's working very well, and I'm pretty confident about it. Also, when I check my timing, the mark is rock-steady under the strobe, and doesn't "wander" a bit.

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

I bought my electronic ignition off a guy trading on E-Bay with the brand BesTek. You see the systems advertised for A-series and they come in a variety of specs. If you supply your engine details he will produce an advance curve to suit. The kit consists of a distributor, coil and a box of 'electronic tricks' (a but like lumenition). My dizzy is a version fitted to Austin Ambassadors apparently. It has been extremely reliable despite several years of neglect. It certainly made a difference to the reliability of the car and to performance as well.

See below:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mg-Midget-Sprite-distributor-and-ignition-kit-coil_W0QQitemZ160235216933QQihZ006QQcategoryZ27380QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262
Chris H (1970 Midget 1275)

I can concur with Chris H regarding Bestek.

I fitted their system to my sprint Midget and it fires perfectly up to 7500.

They were also very helpful regarding queries

John Turner
John Turner (Midget & MGB)

Collin,

I bought years ago Lumenition Optronic for my B and it works fine, but today I would go for 123distrobutor: http://tdcperformance.ca/

toni

I use H&H's system. I send them my current distributor, tell them the spec of the engine, they send it back with electronics fitted plus the correct coil AND they set the advance curve to suit your own engine's spec. I have NO complaints whatsoever.....

http://www.h-h-ignitionsolutions.co.uk/

Mark.
Mark Boldry

This thread was discussed between 01/05/2008 and 05/05/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.