Switching to Petronix

[ShawnAgne]

Been reading and that usually causes me to spend money, but going to add the Petronix kit to the Cub and the 300. From what I was reading on here in various posts if I add the Petronix kit I can open the plug gap to .035", correct? Putting the 40,000V coils on both as the Cub doesn't like to start sometimes when it is warm and I've read that can be a sign of a coil going out.

Also been told you need to time the engines with a light. Watching on youtube a guy added the petronix starter to his Super A and he said he times them but letting the tractor run and then just slowing turning the distributor till it is running the best. I've never heard of doing this before. Was planning on using a light but thought I'd see what people thing.

[Eugene]

Watching on youtube a guy added the petronix starter to his Super A and he said he times them but letting the tractor run and then just slowing turning the distributor till it is running the best.

Timing by ear.

If you are going to time the tractor, use the timing light and the specifications used in the manual. Basically you want the tractor to easily start and then run/operate at a decent level. To much of an advance, tractor runs great at higher rpms, hard to start.

[LRiddle]

I added both the ignition and coil to my cub and it was a painless easy install. I opened up my spark plug gap to .32 I believe and it works fine.

[ShawnAgne]

Gotcha, thanks

[rockfarmer]

Any problems running the above with standard 0.023" gap?

[LRiddle]

None that I know of. I just opened mine up to get a little longer hotter spark and because the coil could jump the gap.

[Gary Dotson]

I installed Pertronix in 2 of my Cubs and left the plug gap at .023. When the need arises to remove the plugs, I will open the gap to .035. In the meantime, they run great as they are.
I often hear people claim that they can time an engine better by ear, but they are missing an important part of the picture. Timing to make an engine sound it's best while at rest will not make it run the best with a plow in the furrow, grunting along in first gear. Timing specs. were determined on a dyno and they still hold true, as we've shown on the Cub dyno.

[inairam]

ShawnAgne on the parson lights post you were running a 6 volt cub. There are two different part numbers for Petronix one for the 12 v negative ground and one for the 6 v positive ground. Get the correct one kit.

The Petronic is very sensitive to low voltage. Make sure your battery and charging system are in order and you have a full 6 volts at the coil before your install. ( made the mistake).

It is the best upgrade. On the 12 volt systems, I have used it with no issues with the install. Just got ahead of myself on a 6 volt I did it on.

[ShawnAgne]

Yup I got the correct one. Actually ordered two of them (one for the 300 also).

Only timing I've done is when I installed the 184 motor last year on the cub. But question is I've read mainly in dealing with the 300 that people will time at a given RPM with a timing light. How do you time with the engine running using the light? Just trying to visually grasp what I'll be doing.

[inairam]

two person job.

one with the timing light on the left side of the cub and one turning the distributor on the right side as instructed by the timing light person.

[ShawnAgne]

The person with the light is watching for the light to come on?

So guessing the engine is running at the desired RPM to do this correct?

[inairam]

The engine is running and the timing light is a strobe that fires when there is a spark in #1 SP wire. The notches on the front pully should look stationary and you check for alignment to the timing post. if needed you turn the distributor until the notch and post are aligned with the strobe light. There are instructions in the manual. you will need a 12v source for the light

[outdoors4evr]

Set your timing with the tractor running at the "working RPM" This would be the speed where the PTO is turning its rated speed.
At this speed, your timing should have been advanced by the distributor. Hopefully your tractor has a timing mark for the advanced position. If not, you will need a timing light that has the capability to adjust for the advance. If you do not have this, then your best option is to set timing at idle (no advance) and hope that it is correct at the working RPM.