Topic: ARD Magneto

[cafe75-550]

OK!...Let the games begin...   

One of the ARD Fairbanks Morse magneto conversions just went up for auction on eBay...No, it's not mine...   

It's item # 230093009229   End time:   Feb-25-07 18:14 PST

I may bid on it myself...but one thing I don't like - it's been chromed...   

I emailed the seller about instruction sheet, parts listing, mounting screws...maybe if it goes for big $$$ we can get him to copy the paperwork for us...   

Its over $700 with 3 days left to go still...

[puppytrax]

G'Day Jim, can you order me a couple of belts for a MK2 (electronic) ARD CB750 Magneto for me mate? I know they don't have a website, so I can't order online, but I can paypal you, if that's ok? Cheers, Terry.

Ok mate, I might beed to get back to you to order me a belt and a couple of pulleys once I work out the length I need? Hmmnnn, I wonder if I could make a buck outta these............. ?

Terry -

I've got my sprockets/belts worked out; I'm using wider belts & sprockets than ARD used (16mm as opposed to ARD's 3/8") but if you still need ARD-style belts & sprockets (and don't want to wait), Grainger (http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/start.shtml) has them in their catalog. The exact part numbers for the Browning sprockets & belts used in my ARD/Fairbanks-Morse CB500/550 conversion are -

Browning    Stock #    Price    Desc
 Model

15XLB037    2L518    $11.41    sprocket  15 tooth
30XLB037    2L526    $21.04    sprocket  30 tooth

150XL037    2L565    $4.15    belt  75 tooth

The sprockets are all straight-bored; the tapered bore will have to be added by user.

Prices may have gone up; this is from an '03 catalog...   

I don't have the numbers for the ARD/CDI mag conversions; sorry...   

[puppytrax]

Terry -

Here's my latest effort...Everything fits OK; big disk has been turned down to ~3/8" instead of 1"...

Pics that were here have been combined into an animated GIF, you can see the difference in thickness of the points cavity disk.



It now mounts the same as ARD. Except slightly bigger sprockets and a wider belt (16mm). Because the mag is tilted (like ARD), it fits farther in, and a shorter belt can be used.

[Jim F]

Just got my ARD back from bill today (Saturday) and haven't had a chance to check it all out but looks good
He is e-mailing part numbers and model numbers of my mag and as soon as I get it will pass it along

Also got my GS 850 big port head yesterday so heres another project thats starting. got my RS 34s re-racked so its time to re-build the head

will send pictures as projects progress

Jim

[puppytrax]

Just got my ARD back from bill today (Saturday) and haven't had a chance to check it all out but looks good
He is e-mailing part numbers and model numbers of my mag and as soon as I get it will pass it along

Sounds good, big_jim!!!   

How many days did it take, from you sending it, to getting it back???

[Terry in Australia]

Terry -

Here's my latest effort...Everything fits OK; big disk has been turned down to ~3/8" instead of 1"...

It now mounts the same as ARD. Except slightly bigger sprockets. And a 2:1 mag, instead of the 1:1 ARD mag.

Now that is looking really cool Rich! I might need to beg you to send me the sprockets and belt for my conversion, but there's no hurry mate, I's so far behind with all my other projects I don't think I'll be starting any time this month, ha ha! Cheers, Terry.

[puppytrax]

I might need to beg you to send me the sprockets and belt for my conversion...

Any time, mate! 

[Jim F]

Well Bill is not the fastest in the world but as long as he got it right and it looks as thought he did
total was about 180.00 bucks
still need to look at the parts he put in but will let you know model numbers and such
later today

Jim

[puppytrax]

OK! Terry and big_jim -

I've been using aluminum plate for my mockups, to get the right center-to-center distance, using available sprockets and belts [Gates]. I'm hampered by the fact that there is not much room beneath the carbs/behind the cylinders/in front of the clutch housing. So, using the Fairbanks-Morse mag housing (pretty much universal) and the crank centerline, I've come up with 145mm c-to-c for my CB500/550 conversion. That's approximately 5 11/16". I'll be using 32 tooth sprockets, which are ~2 1/8" dia. The belt length works out to 425mm [85 tooth], for a 5T belt [5mm pitch x 16mm width].

No problem. I have it mocked up; fits fine, works OK. (On the bench - not running). But I don't really want to have the belt exposed. Too many variables out of my control unless I'm standing next to the bike all the time.    So, I really need a box to house the belt drive...

Here's what I've come up with. An aluminum conduit box. Two, actually; TIG welded together.

http://appletonelec.com/SectionProducts.asp

http://appletonelec.com/pdf/A-2-3-12-13-14-16.pdf

2" Hub size; "LB" style conduit box, LB200-A or LB200T-A;  "P" gives 2.75" box ID - enough to clear my sprockets.

I'll cut and weld the two boxes together to give a single rounded-end box w/2 holes on the back side, and then machine it to fit my points cover disk. And fasten it with 1/4" SHCS or BHCS. The mag will bolt on to one end, the disk to the other. I'll machine a flat aluminum cover for it, too.

I don't have the equipment to TIG weld a box that size, so I'll have to farm that work out. (Hmmm...Who do I know that can TIG weld an aluminum box up??)   

[Jim F]

You need to watch welding that type of aluminum as it is a cast type of aluminum
I would use a 4043 aluminum rod as this type does good with aluminum that might be dirty
I us it with my laser system when welding float bowl posts and it works good but the laser system
is in a league of its own when it comes to welding difficult metels

call me if you need help at 770-367-7320

good luck
Jim

[Jim F]

OK! Terry and big_jim -

I've been using aluminum plate for my mockups, to get the right center-to-center distance, using available sprockets and belts [Gates]. I'm hampered by the fact that there is not much room beneath the carbs/behind the cylinders/in front of the clutch housing. So, using the Fairbanks-Morse mag housing (pretty much universal) and the crank centerline, I've come up with 145mm c-to-c for my CB500/550 conversion. That's approximately 5 11/16". I'll be using 32 tooth sprockets, which are ~2 1/8" dia. The belt length works out to 425mm [85 tooth], for a 5T belt [5mm pitch x 16mm width].

No problem. I have it mocked up; fits fine, works OK. (On the bench - not running). But I don't really want to have the belt exposed. Too many variables out of my control unless I'm standing next to the bike all the time.    So, I really need a box to house the belt drive...

Here's what I've come up with. An aluminum conduit box. Two, actually; TIG welded together.

http://appletonelec.com/SectionProducts.asp

http://appletonelec.com/pdf/A-2-3-12-13-14-16.pdf

2" Hub size; "LB" style conduit box, LB200-A or LB200T-A;  "P" gives 2.75" box ID - enough to clear my sprockets.

I'll cut and weld the two boxes together to give a single rounded-end box w/2 holes on the back side, and then machine it to fit my points cover disk. And fasten it with 1/4" SHCS or BHCS. The mag will bolt on to one end, the disk to the other. I'll machine a flat aluminum cover for it, too.

I don't have the equipment to TIG weld a box that size, so I'll have to farm that work out. (Hmmm...Who do I know that can TIG weld an aluminum box up??)   

send it to me puppy
will be happy to weld that
Jim
www.jmfmicroweld.com

[puppytrax]

send it to me puppy
will be happy to weld that
Jim
www.jmfmicroweld.com

Why, Jim!...I had no idea...   

I'll get back to you by email; I'm going into Buffalo Thursday to see if the electrical supply company has the conduit boxes...

Thanks!   

Edit: BTW, that last ARD magneto -

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&item=230093009229

 went for - Winning bid:   US $711.99

[puppytrax]

OK, I got my ARD magneto back from http://www.mainelymagnetos.com/ today. I sent it in on 02/20/07, so it took 15 days...the charge was $160; the new cap (mine was missing) and a condenser were the only parts replaced. Steve charges $94 to disassemble, test, clean, adjust, and re-assemble the mag. 

I'm still waiting for a parts breakdown; I've requested one from both Steve and from ARD. I also requested an instruction sheet from ARD, I enclosed a SASE, but no word here on that yet either.   

[puppytrax]

Here you go PT, here's a pic of the one I sold Big Jim.

Hmmm...Here's a cropped shot of Terry's/Jim's 750 ARD conversion...and a shot of the one I have for my 550...





Anybody notice anything funny about the points cover/mount on my 550?? 

Now...Was there ever a 750 with the same points cover as the 500/550?? Or did ARD actually produce a conversion for the 500/550??

Either way, I lucked out...   

[Jim F]

you sure couldn't get it under the carbs like you can for the 750s
how much off set is there on yours

going to get the ARD set up this weekend and might try to fire it up
will let you guys know


Jim

[Terry in Australia]

Sorry Rich, it's very early here, so I'm probably not awake, what's the problem? Cheers, Terry.

[puppytrax]

Sorry Rich, it's very early here, so I'm probably not awake, what's the problem? Cheers, Terry.

No problem whatsoever! But if it was for a 750, there would be a problem (for me!)...

My ARD conversion mounts to the points cover at 4 o'clock and 10 o'clock...that ARD 750 you posted the pic of mounts at 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock...quite a bit of difference...   

The guy I bought it from said it was for a 750...which is why I asked if any 750 ever had a points cover that mounted the same as the 550...

Jim -

There's ample room under the carbs just the way it is...   

[Terry in Australia]

Oh, ok mate, well all CB750's points cover screws were at 12/6 o'clock, so maybe yours was a "one off"? Geez, it's not "sandcast" is it? Ha ha, Cheers, Terry.  

[chung]

It would be a problem with the mag, Huh? The name is the only issue with the cover. What the hell is up with that anyway? I could never see a reason for them to differ.

[puppytrax]

Oh, ok mate, well all CB750's points cover screws were at 12/6 o'clock, so maybe yours was a "one off"?

Terry - No, my bike is a CB500/550...I was planning on having to do some modifying to the 750 ARD to get it to fit, but it fits the 550 as is...

It would be a problem with the mag, Huh? The name is the only issue with the cover. What the hell is up with that anyway? I could never see a reason for them to differ.

Hello Chung! I don't understand what you're saying here...no problem with the mag that I can see...not sure what you mean by the cover name??...but there seems to be a general misunderstanding here, so let me say : I am putting this ARD setup on a Honda CB500/550, not a 750...and it bolts right on, so I'm thinking that it can't be for a 750 because the 750 points cover bolt pattern is different from the 500/550...

[Terry in Australia]

Nah, it's OK Rich, I understood that you're fitting it to a CB500/550, my "sandcast" remark was because I thought it might have been a "one off" that ARD may have made as a special order for a wealthy 500/550 owner? If so, like a "sandcast" it might be very valuable? Cheers, Terry.

[puppytrax]

...I thought it might have been a "one off"...

I dunno...   

here's a pic of the ARD set I have, alongside a stock 550 points cover...you can see that this set is for this bolt pattern (the 550), not a 750...all parts are positioned as they would go on the motor...well, except the magneto...   



Maybe we can get big_jim to post his parts, set up like I did, for comparison...

[Jim F]

well here it goes

i will try and put some pictures with this here thread

been trying this for a week with no luck

[Jim F]

lets try again rich

Jim

[puppytrax]

I can see enough of yours to tell that your points cover mount is drilled differently than mine (now that I know what to look for)...I really did luck out... 

Yours has the 6 & 12 o'clock screw holes; mine has the 4 & 10 o'clock holes...but my mount does have the relief where one of your holes is (on the top), so I guess ARD did make some for the 550...