Magic ignitions

[bbelk]

I knew I should have bought that new 800. My R65 has crapped out. I have gone through all the used points and while the problem changes, it doesn't go away. I think I am going to buy a Boyer tomorrow.

As far as I know, I have the original coils in my 1979. Should I order coils at the same time?

[Bamboo812]

What is the problem that changes, but won't go away? Coils could definitely be the problem at 35 years old, but first check that all the connections to the coils are good; sparkplug wires and the small one between the two. I assume, because you used the plural, you have two coils. I would switch coils first and see if that fixes it, before dumping big bucks in the Boyer.

[Major Softie]

What you should do is figure out what's wrong before you spend hundreds of dollars on an electronic ignition that might not fix the problem.

Nothing wrong with electronic ignitions, but they are an upgrade, not a repair.

[dwerbil]

I put an Omega on the /7 last May for cruddy points time and time again. Sorry I didn't electro the bike years and years ago. No'mo moola for points/condenser ever again.

[Roy Gavin]

If you buy the latest Boyer Micropower system it includes coils, leads and plug caps, so you know all the components are matched, and working perfectly.
And if , like me, you have to order virtually everything from overseas and wait two or three weeks until it arrives there is a certain benefit in having it all to hand and doing everything at the same time.

The new parts will work better than the old parts ever did anyway, so for me it is a no brainer, but not many people seem to think the same way as me---.
Thankfully..

[barryh]

I've got a 79 on the original pair of 6 volt coils and they are still fine although I accept they could be the problem. Absolutely nothing wrong with running an R65 on points and even if I wanted to install electronic ignition for some reason I'd want it running right on points first to provide a base line and to ensure that I could return to points if the electronics failed.

On whether to buy new coils at the same time as electronic ignition. If you want electronic ignition it would make sense as you won't otherwise get much improvement in spark energy; not because they might be knackered but because there is a limit to what you can get out of a pair of coils totaling 3 ohms. For me the only point of spend big bucks on an ignition system would be to have the capability of driving lower resistance coils like those fitted to the 81 - on bikes.

If you retain the 6 volt coils the only benefit you can get to spark energy is from the fact that the power transistor may switch faster than points particularly at low revs and speed of switching is a factor in the way coils work. Don't get me wrong it can be an improvement but it's not the same as the later bikes which have twice the spark energy.

[bbelk]

I have not determined for sure what is wrong with the bike. It may be points, but I switched from what was in there to another old set that looked a little better and didn't really change anything. It might be coils getting flaky. None of the three sources that I know of for BMW parts in Austin have either the points or the coils.

I am planning to take this bike (in the back of my truck) to Colorado and beyond in 8 more days so I am out of time.

I ordered a Boyer ignition, new coils, and new plug wires, which I hope will get here on Tuesday, leaving me one or two days to get them installed and debugged.

Bill Blake at Rocky Point Cycle was very nice and helpful. He says about 25% of the R65s have a problem with their tachometer after installing the Boyer. He says some people have had luck fixing that problem by unplugging and cleaning every electrical connector in the bike.

Does anyone have experiance with this Tachometer issue?

[Roy Gavin]

Most electronic tachs have a black wire from the Z terminal to the input side of the coil , and you can add your own wire to replace this, which should avoid any connection issues, and you can also check that you have almost full battery volts at the + terminal, with the motor running.

Mine works fine wired this way.

Most electronic ignitions are programmed to fire exactly 180 degrees apart, and have a good curve, which may give better results than old worn points and AR systems, and dwell is also massaged electronically for maximum spark voltage.

[audiowize]

If it is just fussy points, you could try a points booster instead of the full electronic ignition.

[bbelk]

If it is just fussy points, you could try a points booster instead of the full electronic ignition.

Pulling the front and blistering my forearms on the exhaust pipes has never been one of my favorite jobs. I am never confident that I ended up with things just right. This last set of points wore out too fast, so I think the capacitor may have failed. Weak starting and random misses could be failing coils. I won't miss any of these issues. I am ready for new, hot, properly timed spark.