Conversion to point-less ingnition - Page 3

elwood-914 · 11-29-2003, 06:26 PM

O.K. here is what I have, I adjusted the optical trigger to when the L.E.D. on the ignition module just lights up. I am still unable to start it, but I got a HUGE back fire which is still ringing in my ears. I did rotate the engine to TDC for #1 cylinder and re-installed the distributer accordingly. I am trying to start the car by rotating the distributer slightly and trying again when BLAM. I think I am going to call it a night and try again tomorrow. If anyone has any ideas please let me know how big of an idiot I am.

cruiksdr · 11-29-2003, 06:34 PM

Don't feel too bad. I can't get mine started either! I'm not using the optical unit, so I don't know what the heck is happening. But, I think I may have accidently pulled teh dizzy on the wront rotation (not TDC) and then put it back in the wrong position. So, tomorrow, I'm back out to try that theory out.

BTW, the instructions say something about ballast resistance. Do we have ballast resistance on the 914?

elwood-914 · 11-29-2003, 06:53 PM

Daniel,

As I understand the Bosch Blue coil has an internal ballast resistor. Good luck.

schwarb2 · schwarb2's Garage

Van:

Just took the six to the Gold Coast PCA 40th Anniversary celebration. It is still runnning strong and looked great in the Concours - especially next to my old 1990 C-4 Cabriolet.

Barry

cruiksdr · 11-30-2003, 12:31 PM

Day three (of the 1 hour installation). Engine won't fire. I get no spark from the coil (which was working fine before). No obvious problems with wiring. I donknow... With my timing light hooked to the coil wire, I get one discharge as soon as I turn on the key, then nothing. No spark to plug, obviously.

All I did was swap the points for the optical trigger. I'm not using the xr700 since this thing is supposed to work with the permatune.

Any thoughts?

cruiksdr · 11-30-2003, 05:10 PM

Hey elwood, did you get your's running yet? I finally sorted mine out. Tripple checked my wiring and realized I spliced my switched wire to the wrong source -- duh.

Not only is she running now, but the optical trigger makes an increadible difference. My car has never run better. It's smoother, quieter, stronger, and no more snap, crackle and popping.

Thanks for all the help from everyone here!

Dave, I wasn't expecting too much from this upgrade after your comments, but I have to say, it actually is a really major improvement. I think I will eventually add the Crane HI6 to replace my permatune so I can get the added bennefit of MSD. But I'm happy with this for now.

Good luck elwood!

elwood-914 · 11-30-2003, 05:59 PM

Hi Daniel,

No luck yet, I have taken out the distributor quite a few times to double check the install. I get spark to the rotor cap (dang that hurts) I guess I am just not setting up the sensor up properly. I have everything at TDC I set up the sesor to the edge of the slot, just when the LED lights and then I secure everything. Try to start it and nothing. Getting so frustrated, I'm about to tear out the Compufire unit out of the 2.0 and give that a shot. I'll keep trying tonight. Thanks for the imput.

elwood-914 · 11-30-2003, 06:09 PM

Hey Daniel,

Just fired up!! going to let it warm up and time it. I'll let you know later how it is. Thanks everyone.

elwood-914 · 11-30-2003, 06:47 PM

Thanks to everyone for their imput, finally got it dialed in and even though I don't have it timed just yet I have it close and what a difference! Before I removed the points it wouldn't red line, now it gets very close. The first thing I noticed was it accelerated very smoothly and was very responsive. I'm sure some others did not have such a difficult time but it sure was worth it. If it wasn't for this board I would have never bought a 914, even though I have wanted one for many years. Thanks to all.

cruiksdr · 11-30-2003, 06:56 PM

Did you figure out what was causing your problems, or did it just start working?

BTW: May father just installed the same unit on his XKE this weekend, too. Worked fine for a day, and then failed. It seems to be a short in the optical unit itself as it works intermitantly and seems to be affected by jiggling the red lead. From what I've seen on this boaard, such failures are rare for Crane products. Dad as a way of being the 1 in 1,000,000 to get the lemon : )

elwood-914 · 11-30-2003, 07:32 PM

Hi Daniel,

Yeah I'm still a bit confused, when I bring my timing mark to TDC and the rotor is pointing to the notch on the distributor rim, I assume the rotor is pointing to the #1 pole to fire #1 cylinder. Well on this 1.7 it is pointing to #3. So in my mind they had all the wires 180 degrees out. I put the #1 spark plug wire where the rotor was pointing and put all the wires where they should or I thought. I double checked with my 73 2.0 and it WAS the way I thought it should be. Well tonight I thought about what I had changed and that was it. I put back all the spark plug wires and it fired right up. Kind of embarassed about it but I still am confused. But Hey it runs GREAT! I am Hummled.

cruiksdr · 12-02-2003, 06:53 PM

As long as it works, I guess : )

elwood-914 · 12-02-2003, 08:10 PM

Hey Daniel,

I e-mailed Dave D. and he got me on the right track. The distributor is not an original, the numbers do not match with the Haynes manual. So the notch on the rim of the distributor was on this distributor adjacent to the #3 spark plug wire. I was just following the Pelican tech article on how to find TDC. But got everything back together tonight and it runs great. Thanks

georgia914 · 08-09-2004, 09:59 AM

I just installed the xr 3000 w/ optical shutter, ps91 coil on my 74 1.8. Have absolutely no spark anywhere. bought the setup off ebay. came with no instructions... What am I doing wrong? better yet how do I fix it?

elwood-914 · 08-09-2004, 10:35 PM

With the key on do you have power to the coil?

cruiksdr · 08-10-2004, 07:11 AM

Try this address at Crane Cams. You'll find the directions for your unit there.

http://www.cranecams.com/?show=install&heading=Electronic#Ignitions

I'm sure that your problem is allingnment of the trigger to the #1. Once you get it, it should work great (assuming the unit is working). But from what I understand, the optical ignitions are all or nothing type devices. If it's not set correctly, you get no signs of life... Once I got mine sorted out, it was fine -- and still is

Good luck!