electronic ignition

[painter]

1972 75/5 originally, now bored to 800, top end done over 7k miles ago, charging system upgraded to 240w, Thunderchild diode board, electronic voltage regulator, Accel coils. I think the next purchase and install will be an electronic ignition. Any recommendations for Dyna or Boyer? Amy warnings/caveats/advice?

Thanks for the help.


ken

[Kurt in S.A.]

http://www.largiader.com/articles/ignition/

I have a Dyna III on my /7. I like it...can independently time each cylinder. It does use the original advance unit...some think that is a weak point.

Boyer has built in advance curves since it eliminates the advance unit. Good for the R60/5 and /6 which were prone to ping. The advance curve tended to delay the advance onset which reduced the tendency to ping.

Recommend that whatever you put on, carry the stock system with you to change back in the event that the EI unit fails on the road.

Kurt in S.A.

[vanzen]

carry the stock system with you to change back in the event that the EI unit fails on the road.

In 30 years of using them –
Damn if I have ever had an electronic trigger fail !
Not saying that they cannot or will not fail,
but I will say that the mechanical points redundancy will be either antiquated or obsessive/compulsive thinking.
Suit yourself, by all means.

Conversely if I was headed off across the Al-Dahna – I would certainly want a spare points set on hand ...

[Major Softie]

I've never had one fail either, on ANY vehicle, but I've certainly heard of plenty of people who have. However, as far as I can remember, all those failures were in the early days of such components.

[Garnet]

I installed a Boyer in 1979 and it worked till I sold the bike in 95.

I have had I bit of grief with an MZ-B, but it was mostly my own fault.

I now have Boyer digitals on both of my 750s, and carry the points and advance in a lttle baggie.

[richard t]

my Dyn. 3 on my 1976 R75/6 quit me a few blocks from the house with out warning, it was the box part that went south, It was install on the bike many hears ago, it worked great until it quit. I believe Ken in OK had one quit him one time.

[Airbear]

Welcome to the forum, Painter. I've just fitted an Omega electronic ignition on my R90.

http://www.omegaignitions.com/

It is crank-mounted (therefore no sync issues), has a good range of advance curves and you get to keep your points as backup. I am delighted with the results - easier starting, smoother idle and acceleration.

[painter]

Thanks to all. The Omega is appreciably higher priced. Is it that much better?


ken

[Airbear]

Thanks to all. The Omega is appreciably higher priced. Is it that much better?

ken

Ken, I can't offer a comparison because I have no experience with Dyna or Boyer systems. My bike did have sync issues with the points and original advance unit and the Omega provided an instant solution - the bike has never run as smoothly since I've owned it (I can actually read the number plate of a vehicle travelling behind me - that's gotta be worth something). Others with more experience will hopefully chime in with a comparison.

[mattcfish]

I had a Boyer completely fail on me in a tunnel in downtown Seattle traffic at rush hour. Granted, it was quite old at the time, and the cam seal was weeping slightly. I got a Dyna after that. My cam nose is slightly bent and the threads on the advance are a little buggered by a previous owner. The Dyna gave me inconsistent timing every other stroke, which lead to over heating and rough idle until I adjusted the two pick-ups to compensate.
Now I have the crank mounted Omega. This is by far the best improvement I've made to the bike. Very smooth idle, adjustable advance curves, and at least 5 mpg better.