Topic: Is there any reason not to use metal plug wires with a Dyna S?

[Kong]

I've got a Dyna S trigger system and a pair of 3 Ohm coils, now I need to finish it off with wires and caps.  I don't know any reason not to get metal conductor wires with non-resistor caps other than a comment by Hondaman that suggested that metal wire with resistor caps might be a better combination.  I do not know enough about the systems to understand the utility of resistor caps in any event, they just don't make sense to me, but that's not really the question here.  Can someone recommend the optimum wires and caps to use on a 550 with the system described above.

Oh, and as long as I'm askin' wire questions, what angle caps are best?

On Edit:  Just for clarification, I've done the arithmetic and as best I can determined the 550's charging system can't make enough power for both the ignition and the H-4 light, even with LEDs everywhere else.  But I'm not concerned about that - I've got a couple of good chargers.

[Roach]

imo its not a matter of having a good charger if your bike dies a couple blocks out and my 550 has with the dyna s a 3ohm coils with H-4 the kickstart wont even get me going.

[FunJimmy]

Kong

Switch to Dyna 5 ohm coils and get some Accel copper core wires.
Resistor caps or resistor plugs, it's your choice, but resistors are a good thing.
There have been a number of sellers on ebay that have the NGK caps for 550's.
That's what I bought.

[Kong]

Roach,

As I do the math I'm about a half an amp short, the bike puts out a little over 10 amps at 2000 RPM or above but as I calculate the total draw its going to come out to about 10.6 amps.  This bike I'm building will never see a trip much more than about 100 miles (or very many much less than that either) and so putting it on a charger would be an absolute necessity - if I leave it as is.  Forearmed with that knowledge I'm sure I could tend to it well enough not to get stuck.  I've got other bikes so its not like I'll ever be riding this one every day and forget, but you're right to remind one of the pitfalls of using the green things with the small bikes.  You helped me change my mind about keeping what I've got.

FunJimmy, I think you're right:  I'd be a damned fool to tempt fate where there is no reason to.  I'll either sell the 3 Ohm ones and buy a 5 Ohm set.  Actually I think I'll go to the Parts for sale Forum and see if anyone is interested in trading them straight up.  One never knows.

Thanks guys.

Oh, how about the cap angles - are short straight caps good enough or do I want angles?

[Bodi]

I think Dyna suggests resistor caps to avoid electrical interference with itself. Not sure about this, but I think one section could trigger from picking up interference from the other's. A resistor in the plug circuit reduces the interference pulses in the bike's electrical system.

[bollingball]

Kong HondaMan wrote about 3 pages on this in his book and I type with two fingers so here is the short story. You need 5K ohm caps or plugs but not both, not for noise. also check the caps from time to time change them when they get over 5% of each other on the same coil. All Kettering (who is this guy) coil systems require this. If you want the long story and a lot more information on anything about SOHC4 get the book it is worth to me. 

[Skunk Stripe]

Doesnt the 550 already have copper wires? I know my 750 does. I would just stick with copper core, resistor caps and non-resistor plugs. Thats what I use now.
As for plug caps, The inner 2 caps are straight on my bike, thats is how it came and that is what I replaced them with. The outer 2 are 120 degree elbow caps. On the z1 site, I use 12mm caps. I suspect you will too.