Topic: Ignition Parts

[GaJet]

Where are you guys getting your ignition parts? Such as points and coils. I know there is a lot of Chinese junk out there that's not worth buying. I imagine I will have to mail order the parts, because I doubt any of the motorcycle shops nearby have them in stock. What mail-order parts shops do yall use?
Thanks

[denward17]

https://www.southsoundhonda.com/--xpartsstream#

good Honda parts and good price/service.....


https://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb-four_model7148/
They have a good supply, but out of the country and sometimes expensive to get to the US.

https://vintagecb750.com/
another good source

https://www.davidsilverspares.com/

[RAFster122s]

I think it is Parts N More that carries an inexpensive set of coils which are around 5 ohms that HondaMan recommends and uses on the 750 and 550/500. Last I looked they were under $100 for a pair, like $80
Best to get the complete oem points plate from Honda, around $80 if I recall correctly and it has new points, plate, felt rubbing block, and condensers for less than points and condensers. If they can get it, South Sound Honda of Olympia WA has good discount prices abd reasonable shipping costs last time I ordered.

[HondaMan]

Rafster has it right about PartsNmore if you don't go to Honda for the coils: their part #17-6823. Made by Sakura. I use them in whole-bike rebuilds.

There are reasonably good points out there (even from PartsNmore), but condensors are trouble right now. They don't wear out: use your old ones. When they sit for decades they lose some capacitance, but if they are TEC/Hitachi/Denso types they will heal themselves with heat cycling and use. They don't wear out, but because the old cars could cook them to death they were often replaced with the points for no good reason. Avoid condensors made in China, period: if Honda puts their parts out again they will be from TEC (Tokyo Electric Corporation) and are good ones. I have some old, but good, Japanese Daiichi points if you can't find some elsewhere, drop me a PM. When Daiichi moved to China mainland (around 2008 or so) their parts went straight into the sewer.

[Rayzerman]

Check ebay, I just got a set of NOS Honda points made by Nippondenso.  Near as I can tell, all the OEM points  had the plates flattened and you can see a pattern of punch marks on the face.....

[BenelliSEI]

This may create some division, but as an old school, “points guy” I’m slowly changing over. I sold a few of my cb750s this summer and the new owners asked for “electronic points”. Bought a few sets on EBay (well under $100). Took a bit of fiddling to get both sets of plugs to fire exactly when I wanted (and hit total advance together), but otherwise very painless. The new owners are happy and they’ll never have to set points gap or dwell…. I did square, clean and set the points in my Sandcast Project, but only to be able to say I reused what was on the bike in the ‘70’s.

Next time my K1 gets a tune up, I won’t be looking for the “good” points/condenser. 

[GaJet]

This may create some division, but as an old school, “points guy” I’m slowly changing over. I sold a few of my cb750s this summer and the new owners asked for “electronic points”. Bought a few sets on EBay (well under $100). Took a bit of fiddling to get both sets of plugs to fire exactly when I wanted (and hit total advance together), but otherwise very painless. The new owners are happy and they’ll never have to set points gap or dwell…. I did square, clean and set the points in my Sandcast Project, but only to be able to say I reused what was on the bike in the ‘70’s.

Next time my K1 gets a tune up, I won’t be looking for the “good” points/condenser. 

If I decide to keep this bike I eventually will go with electronic ignition. Right now I just want to get it running on all four cylinders so I can do a compression test and see what shape the engine is in. Number 2 and 3 cylinders are not firing,  so I would guess it's points, coils or wiring.

[HondaMan]

I created the Transistor Ignition originally to stop the wear on the points: it still does, while leaving the bike more OEM. It also provides 100% "backup" in case an EMP weapon detonates over your head somewhere: even if that did damage the transistors, you can still just unplug the wires to the points, plug them back into the coils, and ride on, electronics-free. But while it is working, the points simply do not wear.

[seanbarney41]

I have used Hondaman's ignition for several years now...no need for adjustment in around 30,000 miles.

I have a second cb750 which received brand new OEM points and condensors which have needed little (if any) adjustment in around 8 years and similar mileage.

If you have owned a Honda twin with points, fear not, the sohc4 ignition system works much better and is much more dependable, but you MUST use Honda OEM parts.

[Mark1976]

This may create some division, but as an old school, “points guy” I’m slowly changing over. I sold a few of my cb750s this summer and the new owners asked for “electronic points”. Bought a few sets on EBay (well under $100). Took a bit of fiddling to get both sets of plugs to fire exactly when I wanted (and hit total advance together), but otherwise very painless. The new owners are happy and they’ll never have to set points gap or dwell…. I did square, clean and set the points in my Sandcast Project, but only to be able to say I reused what was on the bike in the ‘70’s.

Next time my K1 gets a tune up, I won’t be looking for the “good” points/condenser.

   Well I'm still a points guy as well but, like you've noticed, most people I've sold bikes to lately want the pointless option and I get it, and well, I don't. Your buying a vintage bike and as much as people would like to believe, replacing the ignition with a more modern counterpart, it still doesn't make it a maintenance free ride. It's one less thing to worry about, especially for today's 'tech savy' populace who want a part of yesterday without the required knowledge of knowing how to take care of it, but its just part and parcel of owning an older bike. I'm thinkin of selling the next bike with a dwell meter and a free lesson on how to use it. But yeah, try selling one without one.
   Next best thing is hondaman's ignition upgrade, I've used several now with nary a complaint

[Rayzerman]

I vote keeping the points, and using Hondaman's module.  Just makes sense rather than putting all your eggs in a totally electronic basket.....

[Don R]

 I looked on Partzilla, they only have 2-3 points for sale, 2 different brands, Hitachi or Toyo.