Topic: cycle x electronic igniton? who's used it?? im wanting t upgrade... cb750

[kopptl]

1976 cb750. im wondering who's tried cycle x's kit, how it work etc... or where to get a new electronic ignit. all thoughts welcomne!
~Thanks!

[bollingball]

I would try the HondaMan system at least if it craps out you can bypass it in 5 min an be back on the road

[KB02]

I'm running it. I really don't have a whole lot of time on the road with it. So far it's working alright. I've developed a strange symptom that makes it sound like I am banging off of a rev limiter when trying to accelerate. Not sure if it's a ignition or carb thing, but it feels like an ignition thing.

Takes creativity to mount the coils.

On my next build, I'll probably do a Dyna.

[Terry in Australia]

I'm running it. I really don't have a whole lot of time on the road with it. So far it's working alright. I've developed a strange symptom that makes it sound like I am banging off of a rev limiter when trying to accelerate. Not sure if it's a ignition or carb thing, but it feels like an ignition thing.

Takes creativity to mount the coils.

On my next build, I'll probably do a Dyna.

That's a pity mate, for 350 bucks I'd want electronic ignition perfection! 

[Freaky1]

I run it on my 77' F2 and I have some problems with it when the bike gets hot. Riding around the suburbs or out on the highway where you can keep moving it works good, however, when it gets too hot it can be a real pain in the butt. I went on a ride downtown where you can only move one block at a time and wating for pedestrians at every stinking crosswalk, I could tell the bike was getting hotter than usual and sure enough when we got out on to some more major streets I'd hit about 5,000 rpm and it would be backfiring, hacking, coughing and generally running like crap. Once the bike cooled down a bit the problem was gone. That's just one example, I have a few others, running very hard on the highway and pull off and the same thing happens, and on and on. Ken at Cycle X has been great about trying to resolve this, he did send me out a new system which worked great except for the one trip downtown. This system has been around for years and from what I was told this is an issue they haven't had before. I know of two other people who started running this system this last year and have had the same issues. The three of us all have F2's which run a bit hotter anyway but still it can be a real pain. I think it is possible they got a bad batch and I have some work to do this winter and will probably see if Ken will hook me up with another one and see what happens then.

Nothing personal but I would suggest the Hondaman ignition also, as I have never read anything bad about it. Also like bollingball said if you have any issue it's a quick bypass and your back on the road.

[kopptl]

ok... i know im gonna get hell for saying this.... but, Hondaman? huh?

[swellguy]

ok... i know im gonna get hell for saying this.... but, Hondaman? huh?

I looked at the cycle x system but just got fed up with never having emails returned for simple questions, having to call in several times a day. And jus the general hassle of trying deal with him. His service is much improved but in the meantime I bought a new Dyna system with coils and wires. Everything fit properly and install was easy. Bike runs nice, too.

[Bwana]

I run it on my 77' F2 and I have some problems with it when the bike gets hot.

Are you running an oil cooler?

I have one on my 78K now and I've not got it quite dialed in.   However, I've made other changes that are probably causing me some issues.   I need to sort out jetting before I get too worked up.  I haven't had any overheating issues but I'm running an oil cooler.  I've been out on some pretty hot runs in stop and go traffic too.   The slow jets are pressed in and if they're at all like the mains were when I replaced them some ages ago they look like lunar surface in the bores under a microscope.   That can't help running issues.   Anybody installed these in a 77 or 78 bike that can give tips on removal of the OEM set and installation?
I've done BMW press fit float seats, but they involve tapping threads in the seat and fabricating a mini-puller (easily done) boiling water, a fridge, and a lot of patience on top of moving fast as those little tiny bits heat up quickly once they hit hot carb bodies.

BTW, I had a Dyna fail on me at a most inopportune time.   I was at a patch wearing club gathering and we were readying for a ride and it gave up the ghost.    Threw the points plate back in and was up & gone in 5 minutes.   But not without being subject to a lot of ridicule. 

[Patrick]

Hondaman:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Patrick

[Duke McDukiedook]

I'm running it. I really don't have a whole lot of time on the road with it. So far it's working alright. I've developed a strange symptom that makes it sound like I am banging off of a rev limiter when trying to accelerate. Not sure if it's a ignition or carb thing, but it feels like an ignition thing.

Takes creativity to mount the coils.

On my next build, I'll probably do a Dyna.

That's a pity mate, for 350 bucks I'd want electronic ignition perfection! 

No #$%*!!! For $350US it better make that puppy run like a top!!!

[dave500]

ive got the boyer ignition,runs fine,the advance curve is all in the black box,i have it siliconed to the top of the plenum,3 years no worries.

[swellguy]

No #$%*!!! For $350US it better make that puppy run like a top!!!

I think when you add up the cost of certain Dyna modules, matching coils, spark plug wires and plugs . . . You're going to get close to $350, at least where I live.

[Terry in Australia]

The Hondaman ignition amplifier is great, I've got one on my K0 and while I've only done 500 or so miles with it, I've had no problems. Something to be aware of though, is that if you do have to bypass it, it's not quite as easy as everyone says.

When you install the HM box you need to remove or at least disconnect the condensors from the points, so most folks will probably remove them entirely, as they're no longer required.

If the HM box fails, you'll need to reinstall/reconnect the condensors as well as bypass the HM box. Make sure you carry a set of condensors and some tiny wrenches with you, just in case. Cheers, Terry.

[heyjones]

Are you sure you have to disconnect the condensors? I don't recall having to do that when I installed mine.

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah mate, the condensors aren't used to store energy as the points are only used as switches, unless HM has changed his installation instructions since I bought HM ignition #1. Cheers, Terry.

[dave500]

i like the idea of a standby back up,but in all honesty,i fitted a points replacment in my car in 92,its a quality bosch one now discontinued for my bosch distributor,ive still got a spare points and condensor on a plate in the boot(trunk)i still have this car and drive it every day,no modern car has had points for years,bikes had electronic ignition way before cars factory fitted,sure electronics cant be tweaked like the old point systems can even just to get you home,how many late model bikes are broken down all over the highways?they are good,odds are a full stoppage on some thing late will be a crank or cam angle sensor or a faulty manifold absolute pressure sensor giving the check engine light,dont be scared of electronics,its the way of the present,who knows what the future holds?years ago at a kentucky chicken drive thru,in my mates ford xy 351 windsor fairmont wagon,it died,dead coil,it had points,and was a heavy car to push out of the way.

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah, I agree Dave, EI's are fantastic, I reckon the Hondaman ignition is excellent on my "stock as a rock" K0, it smoothed out the idle (not that easy with individual throttle cables) and it'll rev way past redline, which it never did before I fitted it. But the spark doesn't look any brighter, whereas the Dyna S and Dyna 3 Ohm coils on my gold K2 throw a fat blue spark and for anything with a big bore kit and a hotter cam, I wouldn't recommend anything less. Horses for courses, and all that. Cheers, Terry.

[KB02]

I'm running it. I really don't have a whole lot of time on the road with it. So far it's working alright. I've developed a strange symptom that makes it sound like I am banging off of a rev limiter when trying to accelerate. Not sure if it's a ignition or carb thing, but it feels like an ignition thing.

Takes creativity to mount the coils.

On my next build, I'll probably do a Dyna.

That's a pity mate, for 350 bucks I'd want electronic ignition perfection! 

No #$%*!!! For $350US it better make that puppy run like a top!!!

Granted, I still only have a few hundred miles on the bike. I'm actually hoping to get out in the garage today for a bit to work on some carb issues. Then I can get back to riding (just about time, too. My Ducati needs new tires as I have run over a nail). I'm going to ground one of the ignition wires (Blue one) and see what that does once I get the carbs straightened out.

[Freaky1]

I must say my bike does run better with the Cycle X igniton over stock points, but that shouldn't be surprizing.

I am not running an oil cooler, but I have thought about it.

As far as the Hondaman ignition, I don't own one and am just working off of what I have read.

I ran both extra wires, the ground advance curve wires, to switches I mounted and run them with full adavance 90% of the time. I had 110's in my earlier model carbs that I put on my '77 and since changing them to 120's it seems to run a bit better, but until I do some plug chops, I'm not changing jets again.

With any type of electronic ignition you run the risk of sitting roadside, but what are we to do? run plain jane stock points? 

[Spanner 1]

There are many,many thousands of SOHC Hondas happily 'burbling' away on ' plain jane stock points'..... much less on any type of electronic ignition......  ..... mechanical ignition has to be more reliable IMO.

[Terry in Australia]

There's nothing wrong with points, although I have been stuck on the side of the road when a mate's CB750 with new OEM points fitted suddenly started to run on 2 cylinder due to a points arm breaking in half, but it wasn't a big issue as he still had his old points sitting in his tool bag because he took them in case my Martek 440 failed. (which it didn't) that Martek has been in 3 CB750's that I know of and is still doing excellent service in my F2)

As has previously been said, on an old bike like ours anything can fail, and I've heard story's about Dyna's failing too, but I've never experienced it personally, they're a simple system and are used in just about every old race bike I've ever seen, so I'm confidant that they're just as reliable as points, and as they're pretty cheap, there's no reason why you couldn't carry a spare Dyna like a lot of folks carry a spare points plate. Cheers, Terry.

[kopptl]

i cant decide wether to get new points, or get an electronic ingit...   hmm...   choices.

[Spanner 1]

If your too lazy to set your points and timing then go ahead and get an 'electronic' ignition... you will still have to time your bike with the new purchase at least once.... so it will save you doing it every 3000 miles with stock point ignition... woohoo, what a saving!!

[MRieck]

There are many,many thousands of SOHC Hondas happily 'burbling' away on ' plain jane stock points'..... much less on any type of electronic ignition......  ..... mechanical ignition has to be more reliable IMO.

Are they still using points in cars?

[dave500]

There are many,many thousands of SOHC Hondas happily 'burbling' away on ' plain jane stock points'..... much less on any type of electronic ignition......  ..... mechanical ignition has to be more reliable IMO.

Are they still using points in cars?

not since the eighties,mostly phased out by 90.,billions of cars are running around with out them.