Another Idiot move by yours truly

Bwmurph · 05-04-06, 05:23 PM

Went to jump in the "Hot Rod" yesterday and take it for a spin; hasn't been out in 3 - 4 weeks. Sat down and went to hit the key and found out that the KEY WAS IN THE "ON" POSITION !!! So the battery is "deader than a doornail". Not a good thing !

My question: What kind of damage could I have done (other than kill the bat.) to the ignition system ? I recently changed from the original dual point ignition to a Crane "Fireball" pointless system. Would I have fried anything in that system ? Could I have burnt the house down ?

Heading home now to get a new battery and see if it will fire up, but just wnated to know if I should suspect any major problems.

Thanks,

Bernie O.

BarryK · 05-04-06, 05:33 PM

oh Bernie, Bernie, Bernie shame on you. that sound like a move I would have done!

I know it can kill points doing that but with your electronic ignition conversion I don't think you did anything other than kill the battery. did you try charging the battery to see if it will still accept a charge at all?

paul67 · 05-04-06, 07:12 PM

Not sure about Crane but with Pertronix the module is toast.

allcoupedup · 05-04-06, 07:12 PM

Been there done that. I put my battery on trickle charge overnight and it has lived another 2 years. No damage to ballast resistor or points or anything....

Brian

JohnZ · 05-06-06, 04:03 PM

The Breakerless SE conversion has an auto-shutoff feature if the ignition is left on but the engine isn't running - don't know if the Crane unit has that feature or not - should say so in the instructions.

paul67 · 05-06-06, 05:40 PM

Pertronix Ignitor I does not have that feature.

Bwmurph · 05-07-06, 10:47 AM

Thanks for all your replies; I fired it up yesterday and all aapears to be OK.
Doesn't quite seem to have the "pep" it should, but I think that's a timing/total timing and/or carburetor issue I have to resolve.

Thanks again; I'll let you all know the NEXT time I do something stupid (shouldn't be a long wait !)

Bernie O.