Hard starting solved (sort of)-Pertronix and Kadron carbs

[cefalu]

I have been frustrated with what I considered to be "cold blooded" Kadron carbs I recently bought from the Kaddie Shack. I though the problem was related to the fact Kadrons didn't have chokes.

At the same time I installed the carbs, I also installed an SVDA distributor with Pertronix points that came with the Kadrons.

The cranking time at start up seemed excessive, and oddly, the engine seemed to want to start when I stopped cranking the starter motor. It got me to thinking that maybe the electronic points were not getting enough voltage until the starter motor was released.

I hooked a hot jumper wire directly from the Battery + to the coil and gave it a try.

Boom! instant start and nice cold idle, just like my old Weber ICT's.

I don't know why I am getting such a voltage drop at the coil. My ignition switch is brand new too. Old age seems to take its toll.

I am thinking that maybe I will use the old ignition hot wire to activate a relay which can supply good battery voltage to the coil.

I also removed and replaced the old crimp connectors onto the coil wire connections in hopes a bad crimp was the culprit. I also swapped in another coil but it made no difference.

Any ideas as to why the low voltage?
_________________
1970 Jeepster Commando
1974 Volkswagen P27 Westfalia Camper
1974 Mercedes SL350 Euro Market Model
1974 Jeep J-20 ZZ
1985 Alfa Romeo GTV6
2005 Toyota 4Runner V8 Sport
2008 Mercedes E350 Wagon
2018 Lexus GX460

[GusC2it]

I installed a small relay to shunt Bat V directly to the coil and picked up 1 V at the coil. Thats a huge difference. 3 years and still working fine!
_________________
75 type 2 http://gusc1.tripod.com/1975vwtype2
Old vices have now been upgraded to bad habits.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/VW-Wild-Weekend-2011-St-Pete-Fl/197064760336111

[andk5591]

Assuming that in addition to the connectors being replaced, you cleaned the tabs that they slid on to. I would look further upstream. Keep going backwards - like you have the conenction from the coil to I assume the switch. But what do you have on the other side of the switch? Weak voltage feeding it can still cause your issue. See what I mean?

Fix it right instead of putting on bandaids.....
_________________
D-Dubya Manx clone 1914. Ex wifes car.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Ex-wifes car.
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[telford dorr]

Agreed. There are only a half dozen or so connections between the battery and the coil. A little time with a voltmeter will trace it out. Don't forget the ground straps.

_________________
'71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST)

[cefalu]

Thanks for the diagram. I agree that getting the circuit cleaned up is the right approach. I will try that first before I resort to a relay.

But, I have to say, what a difference it made to get full battery voltage on the coil. It totally solved what I thought was a carb problem
_________________
1970 Jeepster Commando
1974 Volkswagen P27 Westfalia Camper
1974 Mercedes SL350 Euro Market Model
1974 Jeep J-20 ZZ
1985 Alfa Romeo GTV6
2005 Toyota 4Runner V8 Sport
2008 Mercedes E350 Wagon
2018 Lexus GX460

[Wildthings]

Years ago I went with a coil that takes an external ballast resister and rigged up a bypass for the external resister during start up. This system was found on many rigs back in the day and gives improved coil output when cold over what the OEM VW system would even with a relay added.

[GusC2it]

Even with perfect wiring, there is a voltage drop caused by the long distance involved. The addition of a relay is not as a band aid, but as a performance upgrade.
_________________
75 type 2 http://gusc1.tripod.com/1975vwtype2
Old vices have now been upgraded to bad habits.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/VW-Wild-Weekend-2011-St-Pete-Fl/197064760336111