Topic: Opinions on electronic ignition upgrades?

[drj434343]

I came across a electronics points upgrade at David Silver Spares:

http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/CB500K0-FOUR-1971/part_192262/.

I did this conversion on a vintage Volvo using a Pertronix kit, and it made a big difference in idle smoothness as well as saving me time constantly adjusting points.

Do these bikes benefit from this type of upgrade, or are the points more or less up to the task?

Jason

[wrenchmuch]

Is maintenance something you like doing? If so then points work fine with stock coils (about 5 ohms). Simply follow the maintenance schedule as set out by Honda in the manual. If don't like servicing points then go electronic. The points will wear faster with 3 ohm coils but you can add a ballast resistor of 1 ohm and get around that. Points don't generally fail suddenly. Electronic units can. When they do there's no fixing it at the side of the road. Hondaman's ignition unit is the exception. It uses points as the trigger and uses transistors to switch the load thus greatly reducing point wear. If it fails you re connect the points and your on your way. The DSS unit you link to is of German origin but there's a knock off made on the Far East as well that looks identical. Dyna makes a couple of units. Cyclex has another. There is also Pamco. Lots to choose from.

[NewOldSchool]

The points work fine when set up correctly, most people just find it a pain to constantly monitor their timing, gap, dwell, etc.

I personally have changed to the Dyna S and have had absolutely no problems. There are a lot of choices when it comes to ignitions for CB750s however. Pamco, Dynatec, Hondaman, Kokusan, just to name a few. Most work in the same manner, but the Hondaman ignition lets you keep the points as a backup in case the unit fails.

[oldbob]

Somewhat off-topic but in the 1970s there was a product called Maxi-Dwell. It was a set of GM ignition points, better capacitors, a built-in timing light, and a new backing plate. I had one on a CB550 and really liked it. I'd like to find one of those today. It was as simple due to the points, but the points did not require adjustment as often as did the stock ones, and when they did need adjustment, it was trivially easy.

I just found them on eBay. They're old but they should still be good.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251108926971&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

Bob

[Mooshie]

+1 on Hondaman transistorized ignition.  Any problems with it and he is quick to respond and assist.  I had to reconnect to the OEM points while out on a 2500+ ride in the desert heat and it was a snap.  Once I got home contacted him and he sent me a new unit while I sent him the old one back.  I am glad I went with his ignition otherwise I would have been out of luck. 

[dave500]

the boyer micro power is a great unit.

[jason41987]

when the electronic ignition fails, what within the circuitry of the electronic ignition actually goes out?.. id imagine whether or not you could do a roadside repair might depend on your skills with electronics? that being said an ECM can go out suddenly, but i know cars 20 years old now with their original ECMs functioning normally

i like the idea of a built in timing light if you have points... does anyone thing it would be possible to wire a 12v LED light inside the cover to act as a built in timing light for roadside maintainence?

[jamesb]

i have pamco in 2 of my bikes, and getting ready to order a 3rd for another bike. I'm very happy with them.

[super pasty white guy]

I've had a Boyer, but my recommendation  is to go hondaman.  Well done and solid.  And you Have a fallback in the unlikely failure situation


Spwg

[jason41987]

has anyone else used the pamco ignition besides the guy posting 2 or 3 posts above this one?... ive thought about buying this for myself because i do NOT enjoy playing with points

[Spanner 1]

OP... no one should have even said 'hello' 'cos you don't tell us what bike were talking about ? Need to know that. Need to know what kind of alternator it has. Why? 'Cos if ya want electronic ignition you better factor in buying a solid state regulator/rectifier as well if your bike hasn't got one You can risk installing the new ignition with the stock regulator.... and accept the failure somewhere on a long ride miles from anywhere... or just ride around the hood.... 

[HondaMan]

when the electronic ignition fails, what within the circuitry of the electronic ignition actually goes out?.. id imagine whether or not you could do a roadside repair might depend on your skills with electronics? that being said an ECM can go out suddenly, but i know cars 20 years old now with their original ECMs functioning normally

i like the idea of a built in timing light if you have points... does anyone thing it would be possible to wire a 12v LED light inside the cover to act as a built in timing light for roadside maintainence?

Look on my website, in about January. I have been developing one since last year, almost done.

[Frostyboy]

Need to know what kind of alternator it has. Why? 'Cos if ya want electronic ignition you better factor in buying a solid state regulator/rectifier as well if your bike hasn't got one You can risk installing the new ignition with the stock regulator.... and accept the failure somewhere on a long ride miles from anywhere... or just ride around the hood.... 

That's interesting to hear Spanner, can I ask you to elaborate on that a bit? I'd like to understand the theory behind the statement.
Cheers,

[oldbob]

I traded emails with the guy selling Maxi-Dwells on eBay. It turns out that he is the guy who invented/developed them back in the 70s. We went to Engineering school together, and I bought mine from him as something of a prototype. We were both 20-something students.

Bob

[Rich Ard]

I have a PAMCO   on my 450, and have for a few thousand miles; I have two dead units on my shelf at home, and Pete's support on the HondaTwins forum has been great. My bum units seem to be a statistical outlier.

[Rgconner]

Go with the HondaMan.

Rock steady, saves the points if you need to convert back, original timing advance, probably the least load of all the the units. (I think it is 5 to 10w)

[jason41987]

im actually hearing from different people that electronic ignitions can go out fairly random, and doesnt take as much to mess one up as it would a points system... so i guess from a reliability standpoint i would probably rather go with points with a build in LED timing light...

hondaman, let me know when you get that worked out and ill add one to my bike

[JimS63]

I have the Dyna S on my CB750A and haven't had any issues at all.

[Scott S]

 I've had great success with the Pamco on my SOHC's as well as my XS650's.

[HondaMan]

Go with the HondaMan.

Rock steady, saves the points if you need to convert back, original timing advance, probably the least load of all the the units. (I think it is 5 to 10w)

If you use stock Honda coils:
The extra load from my unit is 1.2 watts.
The extra load from the Dyna S is 16 watts, the Boyer-Brandsen is approximately 20 watts more.
EDIT 9/28/12: The Boyer-Brandsen units draw 36 watts for 2 dual-coil outputs, according to their Micro-Digital info on their website. It shows as 1.5 amps per dual-output coil, 3 amps for 2 coils, or 36 watts, using their special coils and CDI-like performance driver. This is approximately 0.5 amp (6 extra watts) more than points and OEM Honda coils, and is similar to the post-1979 versions of the DOHC bikes. (Thanks to Dave500 for the update!) 
The extra load from the Pamco is probably close to the Dyna S, as the triggers are similar.

[LesterPiglet]

My bike is still running and starting fine on the electric with the smaller battery Mark. I don't have a kick. +1 for HM ignition.

[dave500]

have another look at the specs for the boyer micro power hondaman,the coils draw less than the stock ones in use,the average consumption is less than 1.5 amps.

[LesterPiglet]

Amps? Watts? I'm confused.   

[dave500]

watts divided by volts equals amps,so a 50watt globe needs just over 4 amps.

[greenjeans]

+10 on Hondaman's unit.   Over a year with 3500 trouble-free miles.    If it should somehow fail (which I don't believe it ever would) you can go back to points in a matter of minutes on the side of the road with no tools.