Topic: Electronics question: Battery, Electronic ignition, rectifier and regulator...

[killersoundz]

I'm have some electronics questions for my 74' cb750.

Electronic Ignition:
What system should I go with? There's the "Pamco ignition kit", and I think I've seen another one around. cb750supply.com sells the "ultimate pamco ignition kit" with coils and all, but it has yellow spark plug wires which I'm not cool with, I'd just paint em' black though. Any input?

Battery:
I remember seeing a small 4x4x4 lithium ion battery that was like $150 that I was told would be enough to run the cb750 and even kick it over on electric start. The company makes them for motorcycle/atv applications. Others have said that a lithium ion battery shouldn't be on charge 100% of the time. Anyone here use this or advise against it?

Rectifier/regulator:

Should I even attempt to use the original rec/reg that was on my bike? The whole bike was roached out so I assume these are too. Should I test them out as prescribed in the service manual and if they check out go ahead and use them? They are pretty costly items to replace with new ones. Would like some advice,

Thank you!

[anotherCB]

Can't talk about the ignition, still using old style brakers.

But I minimized my electric and switched to a Li battery (4 cell, antigravitybattery.com, $109) and a combined regulator rectifier. I am not using a starter and the set-up works great. Only issue I see is that when you let the bike idle for 5 minutes or more, it will draw down the battery. Happened to me only once when I adjusted stuff in the garage. In stop and go traffic I have not any problems yet. For a while I had some issues with blowing the headlight bulb, but that happened twice and then never again. I can highly recommend that setup, probably would be even better with an electronic ignition.

[killersoundz]

Can't talk about the ignition, still using old style brakers.

But I minimized my electric and switched to a Li battery (4 cell, antigravitybattery.com, $109) and a combined regulator rectifier. I am not using a starter and the set-up works great. Only issue I see is that when you let the bike idle for 5 minutes or more, it will draw down the battery. Happened to me only once when I adjusted stuff in the garage. In stop and go traffic I have not any problems yet. For a while I had some issues with blowing the headlight bulb, but that happened twice and then never again. I can highly recommend that setup, probably would be even better with an electronic ignition.

Cool! Great endorsement thanks. Whats this combined regulator rectifier you're talking about?

[anotherCB]

I used this one from dimecitycycles. All fit nicely under my seat, after I did my own custom electric.

http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-cafe-racer-caferacer-bobber-brat-chopper-custom-motorcycle-electronics-parts-honda-cb350f-cb400f-cb500-cb550-cb750-rectifier-864218.html

[killersoundz]

I used this one from dimecitycycles. All fit nicely under my seat, after I did my own custom electric.

http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-cafe-racer-caferacer-bobber-brat-chopper-custom-motorcycle-electronics-parts-honda-cb350f-cb400f-cb500-cb550-cb750-rectifier-864218.html

Nice!!!!!! Thanks for the link. I really wanna see the rest of your bike now that's so clean. Did you make that oil tank? I do not want to use the stock oil bag on my bike!!!

[anotherCB]

Thanks man. I designed the tank and picked the fittings I wanted on there but I had it fabricated by a guy I found on ebay. His name is "Curt Owen" <anythinggoes74@gmail.com>, great guy, highly recommendable.

[matt mattison]

I had the 4 cell anti gravity battery for my 550 and I exchanged it for their 8 cell battery. Anti gravity told me that they were not real confident the 4 cell would cut it. The 8 cell really isn't much bigger, and it has a lot more power. Contact them directly, and they will be happy to help you. I would also advise on getting a Li-Po charger too. It's a small investment that you will be happy you made. If you happen to run any Li-Po dead, it's usually ruined. Oregon Motorcycle Parts makes reg/rec units, their customer service and warranty are great. As far as the electronic ignition goes, I can't help much. I use points and the hondaman magic spark box.

[anotherCB]

I had no problems so far with the 4 cell. Of course it is not enough for a starter and if you let your bike idle for an extended period of time with lights on, it will draw down the battery. It happened to me once at the very beginning, when I let my bike idle to adjust the carbs. Suddenly the motor died, no battery juice left. I waited 5 minutes, switched of the headlights and the motor started on the first kicks. 5 miles around the neighborhood and the battery was charged sufficiently.

About the 8 cell, I held it in my hands, it is almost twice as big as the 4 cell and wouldn't fit under my seat.

[lrutt]

why do you think you need electronic ignition, or electronic anything for that matter. Have the stock items failed you? In general, if your battery is next to dead, you can still get going with good old points. EI usually likes to have a well charged battery, low voltage just don't work.

[killersoundz]

why do you think you need electronic ignition, or electronic anything for that matter. Have the stock items failed you? In general, if your battery is next to dead, you can still get going with good old points. EI usually likes to have a well charged battery, low voltage just don't work.

That's a good point that I didn't know about before you just told me. No they haven't failed me, I've never even had this motor running yet lol.

At the very least I need to replace the coils and reg/rec and try to make the points work because my spark plug cables on these coils are toast. Are there any coils I can upgrade to that would work with the points and also the EI if I decided to go that route?

[becken]

My 76 CB550F was overcharging a bit with the original regulator/rectifier and I replaced them with one from http://www.electrosport.com/products/regulators-rectifiers/ and I am very happy with it. Voltage shows steady at cruising rpm where before it was fluctuating up and down.