Topic: CB550F Ignition Replacement - Tytronic?

[Jooky]

Greetings all. Been having intermittent ignition issues with my 550 for quite some time now. Most recently I replaced both aged Tec condensers and the bike ran well for exactly 15 miles. Went to start it this morning and condenser for 1-4 was leaking its contents  . That said, it's time to replace these aging components with more modern technology. I've been in touch with HondaMan and am considering his ignition solution, but I'm also interested in a total points plate replacement. Searching the forum, it looked like one or more members had success with this Chinese ignition, Tytronic:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tytronic-electronic-ignition-honda-cb550f/112102319944?epid=25004359814&hash=item1a19d1a748:g:~DkAAOSwa~BYbJo5

They claim to have a newer and improved unit with a more efficient duty cycle:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tytronic-CB500-550-750F-electronic-ignition-UPGRADE-/112375970916?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

Does anyone have any experience with this newer version? Am I interpreting the "benefits" of this improved ignition to be better control of dwell time (duty cycle)? Is that same technology already baked into the Dyna and Pamco ignitions - should I just get one of those instead? I liked the shielded nature of the pickups in these units and their relatively simple installation (a'la Charlie's Place copycat), but I also don't want to keep fighting these ignition problems forever and want something that will work and last a long time.

[540nova]

That's an exact replica of Charlie's Place, which I use, and recommend.
Avoid Pamco!

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[Jooky]

That's an exact replica of Charlie's Place, which I use, and recommend.
Avoid Pamco!

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Thanks Nova. Do you use the original unit or their upgraded (orange pickup) unit?

[540nova]

I have the original.

That's an exact replica of Charlie's Place, which I use, and recommend.
Avoid Pamco!

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Thanks Nova. Do you use the original unit or their upgraded (orange pickup) unit?

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[Scott S]

 I, on the other hand, have thousands of trouble free miles on Pamco's.  Twins, fours, Honda, Yamaha.... never had an issue.

[Jooky]

I, on the other hand, have thousands of trouble free miles on Pamco's.  Twins, fours, Honda, Yamaha.... never had an issue.

Anything to be said about the optimized duty cycle in the Tytronic? Is that something the Pamcos and Dyna products have baked in?

[TwoTired]

What " optimized duty cycle" are you refering to?

The stock points are optimized at 190 degrees, and adjustable ( via gap).

The Dyna s is about 270 degrees.

The Pamco (IIRC) is 120 degrees.

Dwell optimization refers to coil saturation time in crank angle degrees.  But, you haven't mentioned what coils you are using or what the manufacturer of the coils chosen requires for their coils.

Cheers,

[Deltarider]

Now don't let us mistake dwell which is measured in degrees for duty cycle which we (and Tytronic) measure in percentages. Actually - without further knowing the Tytronic - what I think is smart, is that they limited the duty cycle to 50% or 45, 90 or 180 degrees dwell angle (depending on what scale you use) and so enable their product to be used on most bikes. Believe me: for saturation of either 3Ω or the standard 4,7Ω coils 50% is plenty and will safeguard you from too much draw.

[Jooky]

What " optimized duty cycle" are you refering to?

The stock points are optimized at 190 degrees, and adjustable ( via gap).

The Dyna s is about 270 degrees.

The Pamco (IIRC) is 120 degrees.

Dwell optimization refers to coil saturation time in crank angle degrees.  But, you haven't mentioned what coils you are using or what the manufacturer of the coils chosen requires for their coils.

Cheers,

TT - Unfortunately, I am uncertain of the coil manufacture. The gentleman I purchased this bike from used one of the kits off of 4into1 to rehab the ignition. I believe this one:

https://4into1.com/ignition-coils-and-caps-honda-cb350f-cb400f-cb500-cb550/

Without much knowledge on the subject whatsoever, I am only really wondering if there is a discernable and/or beneficial difference between the two models. It seems like Nova and a couple others have had success with the "non-optimized" variety and I'm wondering if it's a better choice to go with that versus the "optimized" variant.

[Jooky]

Now don't let us mistake dwell which is measured in degrees for duty cycle which we (and Tytronic) measure in percentages. Actually - without further knowing the Tytronic - what I think is smart, is that they limited the duty cycle to 50% or 45, 90 or 180 degrees dwell angle (depending on what scale you use) and so enable their product to be used on most bikes. Believe me: for saturation of either 3Ω or the standard 4,7Ω coils 50% is plenty and will safeguard you from too much draw.

Delta - Thank you. Again, I am a complete layman here trying to grasp some likely very trivial ignition concepts. I appreciate the input.

[Deltarider]

You'll be fine with both variants. I don't know the coils in https://4into1.com/ignition-coils-and-caps-honda-cb350f-cb400f-cb500-cb550/ but with 4,6Ω they have the same resistance as Honda had for OEM. Provided the quality is OK, that set is good value for money. Really good.

[TwoTired]

I think you are getting hung up on a sales/ marketing buzz word, if the manufacturer isn't explaining what their device is "optomized" for.

Cheers,

[Deltarider]

Bfore you order a Tytronic, you may do a search on CB550 Tytronic Advancer as I vaguely remember some had problems with the advance being hindered somehow. I don't know if it was serious.

[rotortiller]

I have had mine for a bit on a CB750. Here is a link if you are interested. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1691476597537846&type=1&l=e9e62094bb

[Jooky]

I have had mine for a bit on a CB750. Here is a link if you are interested. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1691476597537846&type=1&l=e9e62094bb

Sent you a PM

[Bailgang]

Been having intermittent ignition issues with my 550 for quite some time now.

Just a piece of advice but you need to figure out what those issues are because if the problem is electrical related such as bad connections then you're just passing that problem on to what ever electronic ignition you choose and may shorten the life of it because of it. I've got one of those "updated" Tytronics on my wife's 71 cb350 twin, it hasn't been on for a year yet but we took both her 350 and my 750 on a 320 mile road trip and both bikes never missed a beat but a week later her 350 started dropping a cyl and it turned out to be a poor fitting plug wire where it goes into the resistor cap and the spark was jumping to the cyl head instead. I took care of that but it's still dropping a cyl from time to time and I fear that maybe my coil for that cyl got damaged because of it or possibly one of the pickups for the Tytronic. I plan on reinstalling the old points and condensors to see if the problem persists so until then I'm not sure what the problem is.