Topic: Which should I buy: Pamco ignition or dwell meter?

[Holden]

I've never done anything with points.  I'm wondering if I should buy a dwell meter or put that money toward a Pamco ignition.  The Pamco installation seems pretty straightforward (cb750ignition.com), but setting up the points still seems a little mysterious to me.

What do you think?

[Spiider]

Hijack: Where did you find to buy a dwell meter? I can't find one locally here in Ontario.
Is there a decent one online that we can get?

[KingCustomCycles.com]

You will still need to time the ignition to the engine, electronic or not.  I also don't see the need for a dwell meter on an 750 points ignition?

[zzpete]

Hijack: Where did you find to buy a dwell meter? I can't find one locally here in Ontario.
Is there a decent one online that we can get?

I just saw a dwell meter at Sears. I think they have Sears in Canada.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10153_12605?keyword=dwell+meter
I read the Pamco thread, it looks like a good product. I am going to try out the HONDAMAN ignition on my 836.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

[DJ_AX]

While the points may seem mysterious if you've never adjusted them before, once you start tweaking you'll find it's not really that complex. I'd say ... give it a shot.

I plan on picking up the HondaMan Transistorized Ignition eventually but right now my points are workin' just fine. 

[Holden]

Hijack: Where did you find to buy a dwell meter? I can't find one locally here in Ontario.
Is there a decent one online that we can get?

http://www.amazon.com/Actron-CP7605-Tachometer-Voltmeter-Analyzer/dp/B00062YUUS

[Accolay]

+1 on doing your points first. It's not that hard, and although I hear the Pamco ignition is very nice, IMHO, I'd say learn how to do the points first just because. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and all that... disclosure- I'm using the Hondaman transistorized ignition system and I like it.

[BeSeeingYou]

A points ignition system has never let me down in 32 years.  I have had failures with electronic systems on various motors over that same time period.  Sure it's old fashioned and not as efficient.  Hondman's is a bit different and retains the original system in case of electronic failure.

[Holden]

You will still need to time the ignition to the engine, electronic or not.  I also don't see the need for a dwell meter on an 750 points ignition?

I set the ignition timing yesterday for the first time.  It was easy, although I couldn't get the base plate (cylinder 1 and 4) adjustment over quite enough.

[lrutt]

Yup, points will always get you home. unless you're going to race at 8k RPM's or ride 10k miles per year, stay with points. Electronics are just not worth it otherwise. Proper points will start almost immediately, run great right to redline, and hold an adjustment for many thousands of miles. Just follow the instructions WRT lubing the felt pads etc.

[TwoTired]

You don't need a dwell meter.  (Or the P ign.)

Just a feeler gauge and a 12v lamp with alligator clips and wires attached to it.  (...and a small addition to your knowledge base.)

There, I just saved you quite a bit of money and anguish.   

Cheers,

[Holden]

There, I just saved you quite a bit of money and anguish.   

I like that.  If anything, this bike has been a learning experience.  It's my first w/o FI and definitely my first w/o electronic ignition.  I do have a carburated lawn mower, but it's never needed any attention.

[immortal]

I got the transistorized ignition from "Hondaman" that people speak about on here. I am just getting ready to install it. If there were to be a failure of any kind you still have your points as a back up system. 

[bollingball]

Points and a HondaMan Ign.
The only reason I see for a dwell meter is to get the second set of points just like the first set .But not necessary if you are good with a wire (round) not flat feeler gauge.

                                          Ken

[dave500]

a multi meter would be handy to have though for checking charging etc,some cheap automotive ones have tach/dwell functions.

[Spiider]

Thanks everyone for the dwell meter suggestions.
I have the Hondaman ign, but you still need to set up your points properly with it.
I have adjusted them with a feeler gauge, and I have a test light I can use for setting basic timing but I think you really need the timing light and dwell meter to get it perfect.

Sorry to hijack...and now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

[Holden]

One thing I noticed while setting the timing is that the points on the left (for cylinders 1 and 4 IIRC) would noticeably let out a blue spark every once and a while.  Could anyone tell me the significance of this?

[xsmooth69x]

One thing I noticed while setting the timing is that the points on the left (for cylinders 1 and 4 IIRC) would noticeably let out a blue spark every once and a while.  Could anyone tell me the significance of this?

mine does that too the left points thing sometimes does the blue spark

[Skunk Stripe]

Always nice to see the axe anything but points crowd out. I would only use points if I had to again, they just are not as good in my experience. After all, if points were that great, why are they not being used today? Times change and again, people DO have failures with points too, do not let people kid you on that.

As for a dwell, sears makes a good one that also has a tach function which is useful for tuning your idle mix. If you do stick with points, a dwell meter is the most accurate you can get. Setting dwell is more precise than setting just gap.
A meter is about $50.

[xsmooth69x]

Always nice to see the axe anything but points crowd out. I would only use points if I had to again, they just are not as good in my experience. After all, if points were that great, why are they not being used today? Times change and again, people DO have failures with points too, do not let people kid you on that.

As for a dwell, sears makes a good one that also has a tach function which is useful for tuning your idle mix. If you do stick with points, a dwell meter is the most accurate you can get. Setting dwell is more precise than setting just gap.
A meter is about $50.

fuel injection anyone?

[Deltarider]

if points were that great, why are they not being used today?

You overlook the possibility that the cost of (mass!)manufacturing electronic components is actually lower than breakerpoints.

... a tach function which is useful for tuning your idle mix.

Definitely NOT in my experience.

I'd advise anyone to invest in an automotive DMM over a carb synchronizer that you can easily make yourself if you understand basic fysics.
Google Voltcraft AT400 for example. It offers practically everything. You can even check your capacitors, measure temperatures and if you want to do the latter by infrared an extension is available as an option. Overhere www.conrad.nl sells them. Check the specs. Click 'meertalig' under 'Gebuiksaanwijzingen' and you have the instruction manual in various languages including English.
 

[dave500]

any tinkerer should have at least a basic digital multi meter,,they take a hell of a lot of guess work/trial and error out of your fiddlings.

[Deltarider]

any tinkerer should have at least a basic digital multi meter

Right, and if you don't have one, consider yourself lucky, because now you can buy the automotive type rightaway that'll offer you everything.

[dave500]

this automotive one was cheap,like $70,with a socket set in a case that has every imaginable wierd screw driver/tamperproof/torx drive bit in the world that youve never even seen!the meter has a temp probe,duty cycle,rpm,dwell and all that other stuff you never use,i blew the fuse and made a dodgy modification and now have an external blade type on it,,the fuse was soldered inside behind the circuit board and a real mother to get to,i wasnt going there again.

[70CB750]

I learned points on my long gone CZ250.   For this Honda, I replaced points right away with PAMCO -  too much to tinker with to worry about points.

It needed new coils anyway,  went with the whole package.